Tom Cruise and producer Christopher McQuarrie are reportedly “fixated on” the Tropic Thunder character, and could be working on a movie based around Les Grossman.
Tropic Thunder was an iconic action-comedy that debuted in 2008, the movie was praised for its satirical approach and criticism of the movie-making industry. Well received, the movie has an 82% Rotten Tomatoes rating, a 70% audience rating and is considered a “triumphant late Summer comedy”, “With biting satire, plenty of subversive humour, and an unforgettable turn by Robert Downey Jr.”
And now there might be more hilarious missions on the horizon.
Les Grossman
Tom Cruise showing up as an unrecognisable balding, overbearing movie studio executive named Les Grossman was arguably one of the funniest and biggest surprises for audiences of Tropic Thunder. He was so appreciated in his role that he was offered a Golden Globe for his performance.
The character was best known for his ruthless and callous personality and satirical depiction of how ruthless studio executives of Hollywood can be, as well as their habit of putting money over the happiness and health of the actors they employ.
Fans were delighted to catch wind of a Les Grossman spinoff movie in the works and immediately started to ask who else would be reprising their role for the film.
Actors Returning
As reported from an exclusive insider, FandomWire revealed that Ben Stiller, Matthew McConaughey, and Robert Downey Jr. are all involved in the conversation about who will reprise their roles from the original movie – however, details about the nature and involvement of these roles in the Les Grossman spinoff movie are still yet to be discussed publicly.
Tom Cruise would have to return for the award-winning role, a great opportunity to see him treating the rarely trodden comedic route.
Robert Downey Jr.’s character is quite controversial, wearing blackface to portray an African American soldier, however, the film received little to no backlash as audiences seemed to understand that the subject was being used to criticise the movie industry. Although the spinoff will probably push controversial boundaries as well, it remains to be seen if Downey Jr.’s character will retain this controversial trait.
Tropic Thunder’s Legacy
Tropic Thunder follows an action movie star Tugg Speedman (played by Ben Stiller) whose acting career is in a downward spiral. The wannabe star wants to be considered a serious actor but his roles have resulted in negative reviews and ridicule.
Jeff Portnoy (played by Jack Black) is a comedian known for his roles in comedies but is secretly addicted to drugs.
Five-time Oscar winner Kirk Lazarus (played by Robert Downey Jr.) is a serious method actor, always wanting to immerse himself in his role, even a controversial surgical skin dying procedure for his role as a black man in the movie.
The stars are on location in Southeast Vietnam filming for the movie Tropic Thunder, directed by rookie Damian Cockburn (played by Steve Coogan) who is unable to control the stars. It is decided that the stars, alongside rapper Alpa Chino (played by Brandon T. Jackson) and newcomer Kevin Sandusky (played by Jay Baruchel), need to work together as a unit and are abandoned in the jungle with nothing but a map and prop weapons, unknowingly deposited into a real drug war led by a local gang, the Flaming Dragons.
When Speedman is captured and tortured, the lot realise that this isn’t just a movie, while movie producer Les Grossman (played by Tom Cruise) and Speedman’s agent Rick Peck (played by Matthew McConaughey) argue about how to resolve the situation.
Not much is known about the Les Grossman spinoff movie but it’s an exciting prospect to know that iconic characters may return.