Mogul Redstone: Cruise can star in next 'Mission Impossible'

[May 06, 2008]  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Entertainment mogul Sumner Redstone said Tuesday he has no objection to Tom Cruise starring in the next segment of the popular "Mission Impossible" movie series, despite cutting his relationship with the actor in 2006.

Redstone -- executive chairman and controlling shareholder of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corp. -- ended a 14-year relationship with Cruise and his producing partner in August 2006, kicking them off the Paramount Pictures lot and ending their lucrative deal to develop projects for the studio.

Despite the severed relationship, Cruise, 45, is in talks with Paramount to star in a fourth "Mission: Impossible" film. Viacom is Paramount's parent company.

"I consider Tom Cruise a great actor and a good friend," Redstone said. "And if Paramount decides -- and they will make the decision -- to move ahead with him, I will not object."

Redstone, who was seen dining with Cruise in Beverly Hills in March, was responding to a reporter's question after a speech at a conference in South Korea.

When Redstone cut the relationship with Cruise he cited the actor's "recent conduct." Their split came after Cruise jumped on a couch while he was a guest on Oprah Winfrey's TV show and had a tussle with "Today" show host Matt Lauer over antidepressant drugs.

The 84-year-old Redstone said Tuesday that he did not know if Cruise would be chosen for the film.

"That's up to Brad Gray, who runs Paramount," Redstone said. "He will make the decision.

[Associated Press; By STEVE LeBLANC]

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