The Untold Story of Tom Cruise and Reese Witherspoon's Rodeo Love Affair

The Big Picture

Tom Cruise's career took a different turn in 2011, as his attempts at branching out into non-action roles were largely unsuccessful.

Cruise's inclination towards a romantic Western comedy titled Paper Wings hints at an alternative trajectory his fame could have followed. His previous triumphs in romantic and comedic roles, like in Risky Business and Jerry Maguire, showcase his adaptability and skill beyond the realm of action movies.

Any discussions about Tom Cruise being "past his prime" are completely ridiculous, as Cruise has consistently demonstrated why he remains the biggest movie star on the planet. The extraordinary critical acclaim and massive box office success of both Top Gun: Maverick and the recent installments of the Mission: Impossible franchise have definitively established Cruise's enduring appeal and unwavering draw for audiences worldwide. However, a decade ago, Cruise's career took a different trajectory as he sought to explore non-action roles, a pursuit that yielded relatively limited success. During this brief period of uncertainty, Cruise came close to signing on for a Western romance film alongside Reese Witherspoon, signaling a potential alternative path that his stellar fame and fortune could have followed under different circumstances.

Tom Cruise's Career in 2011 Was Very Different

In early 2011, director Brian Kirk, known for Game of Thrones, was said to be considering a romantic Western comedy titled Paper Wings. The concept was reminiscent of Urban Cowboy and Rhinestone, telling the story of a rugged rodeo star who falls for a country singer. The script, penned by Marty Bohen (writer of Twilight), had originally been submitted to New Line Cinema in 2006. Reese Witherspoon became involved in the project when Gabriele Muccino, director of The Pursuit of Happyness, was attached to it. Surprisingly, Tom Cruise also expressed genuine interest in taking on the role. It may be hard to believe now, but at that time, Cruise's career was in a completely different place.

Cruise had a tough few years following Mission: Impossible III. He attempted to revive his reputation as a serious actor with Lions and Lambs and Valkyrie, but both films flopped, showing that he was not yet able to compete in prestigious award season discussions. Although he surprisingly received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Tropic Thunder, his co-star Robert Downey Jr. was the only one recognized by the Oscars. In 2010, Cruise tried to return to familiar territory with Knight and Day, but it turned out to be a rare critical and financial disaster in his career.

Unfortunately, development of Paper Wings was put on hold as Cruise, Witherspoon, and Kirk pursued other projects. Witherspoon received a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for her performance in Wild, and she became equally popular in both film and television with The Morning Show, Big Little Lies, and Little Fires Everywhere. Kirk continued his work in television, directing episodes for Lucifer, Boardwalk Empire, and Dexter. He later transitioned to the big screen, directing Chadwick Boseman in one of his final films, the 2019 crime thriller 21 Bridges.

'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Was a Box Office Hit

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Cruise's lack of success in various movie genres made it all the more important for him to showcase his versatility by accepting an exciting script alongside Witherspoon, a renowned star. Little did anyone anticipate the overwhelming success of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, which established Cruise's unrivaled status as the ultimate action hero and solidified his position at the heart of the franchise. Despite suggestions that Renner could replace him, Cruise proved that Ethan Hunt was the character he could truly rely on.

In 2012, Cruise seemed on the brink of launching another successful franchise with Jack Reacher. However, the disastrous sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back in 2016 put an end to any potential. (The character would later be rebooted in the television series Reacher on Amazon Prime Video, with Alan Ritchson taking the lead.) Cruise's other notable failures included his foray into the musical genre with Rock of Ages and the underwhelming science fiction adventure Oblivion. His involvement in the ill-fated cinematic universe with 2017's The Mummy further highlighted the fact that Cruise excelled when working with familiar material. This might have inspired him to revisit one of his most iconic roles in the nostalgia-infused legacy sequel, Top Gun: Maverick.

Tom Cruise Needs To Do More Movies Like 'Jerry Maguire' and 'Risky Business'

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The lack of progress made by Paper Wings is disappointing, considering how rarely Cruise receives recognition for his romantic and comedic abilities. Although he has become primarily associated with action films, it's easy to overlook the fact that Cruise initially gained fame in 1983 with the coming-of-age romantic dramedy, Risky Business. At a young age, Cruise's portrayal of sensitivity and earnestness greatly contributed to his subsequent success. Additionally, one of Cruise's finest performances was in the 1996 romantic comedy Jerry Maguire, which became one of his career highlights and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, despite the role initially being intended for Tom Hanks.

Cruise also took risks by appearing in various types of romantic films. Vanilla Sky combined the romantic comedy formula with elements of science fiction, showcasing a more sensitive interpretation of masculinity by Cruise. He further demonstrated his versatility in the arthouse dramas Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia. Unfortunately, projects of this nature have become rare for Cruise. His last non-action film was American Made in 2017, which received negative reviews and may have influenced his decision to further focus on blockbusters. Although the Mission: Impossible franchise is highly regarded, Cruise can only push his physical limitations for so long before retirement from the action genre becomes inevitable. Perhaps when Ethan Hunt's story eventually concludes, Cruise will revisit projects like Paper Wings. After all, who wouldn't want to see Cruise portray a cowboy?