Producer Paula Wagner leaves Tom Cruise at the helm of United Artists
This Wednesday, one of the most successful partnerships in Hollywood today concluded in the midst of the greatest mystery. Producer Paula Wagner announced her resignation from the position of executive and head of United Artist, the legendary film company that she acquired along with Tom Cruise and that both have tried to revive lately, but under the MGM affiliation.
Although she will still hold interests in those companies, Wagner appears to have thrown in the towel at how slow and complicated it was getting to revive the company founded many decades ago by Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith.
Until now, the only film that the duo premiered with this company was Lions for Lambs, which, as you know, was received very tepidly in every way.
Apparently the production company had many conflicts from the beginning between its efforts discussed with Cruise, and the policy of the MGM producers. Even the first response of the directors of this house was to say that "she should have done better." Now they also insist that Cruise will be the one to take command without problems from day to day, which would conflict with the actor's attempts to revive his career, which in recent months has been overshadowed by his little more than "peculiar" family life. made the talk of the most sensational tabloids.
Regardless, Wagner has indicated that her long-standing friendship and business relationship with the star (dating back to 1993) remains the same, despite the disappointment that United Artists clearly seems to have been to her. As he carefully states:
I have truly enjoyed working with my long-time partner Tom Cruise to reinvigorate United Artists, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished in the last two years, reinvigorating the brand and developing a fine lineup of films. “But I always tell my kids to 'follow your passion,' and I have to follow that advice myself. As much as I've enjoyed my time as an executive, I have to get back to my true love, which is making movies, that's what I've decided to do. I continue to believe in our vision for United Artists, and I am confident that colleagues at MGM will see that vision through to reality.
For now, Wagner wastes no time and continues to work with her partner on several projects that were previously in full process. One of them includes is the film version of the English television series Champions, which was originally developed by director Guillermo Del Toro. Another is the complicated Valkyrie, whose premiere could be advanced in order to sneak into the Oscar springboard.
