Tom Cruise's Hidden Movie Contract Clause Has Sparked Major Debate Amid The SAG-AFTRA Strike

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Have you ever wondered why there isn’t an official Mission Impossible video game starring Tom Cruise? Or why don’t you usually see his face on merch? That’s because of his contracts.

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According to LadBible via News International, Cruise has reportedly included a secret clause in all of his film contracts that reads: “The actor’s likeness may not be used in the manufacture of merchandise.” And he has literally had that for years (just like Dwayne ” The Rock” Johnson and Uma Thurman)!

For this reason, his face cannot legally be used in images that do not appear in the film. For this reason, his image was not used in the PlayStation games Mission: Impossible III and War of the Worlds.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE, (aka MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7), from left: Hayley Atwell, Tom Cruise, 2023. Photo: © Paramount Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

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Well, as I said, he’s had this for years and long before the SAG-AFTRA strikes happened in 2023.

While the strike has fought for many different rights, one of the biggest points of contention is the fight against AI in the film. The strike was aimed at the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), specifically to find a compromise in setting rules in AI when it comes to the use of actors’ faces.

While Cruise reportedly wanted to promote his move during the strikes, revealed that he advocated for AMPTP to hear SAG-AFTRA’s concerns about AI.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 14: Members of the Hollywood actors union SAG-AFTRA walk a picket line with screenwriters outside FOX Studios on the second day of the actors’ strike on July 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Members of SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood’s largest union representing actors and other media workers, joined striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers in the first joint strike against the studios since 1960, marking the third month of their strike against Hollywood studios. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Now this resurfaced detail about his contract has been part of a months-long debate on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter. Quite a few people have sided with Cruise and his unique contract clause.

“You have to give Tom Cruise credit for completely refusing to ever give in to his own image and staying one step ahead of the AI thing. Say what you want about him, but he treats himself as if he were the brand, not allowing his name to be bought, sold and reproduced.” said one X user.

Another wrote: “I will serve on the website by Tom Cruise in the war against AI.”

However, many pointed to Cruise’s ties to Scientology and how he was essentially already selling his likeness to the controversial church as he was considered its “face.” Many X users have written about this, the most popular being one X user Musing Text: “I’m sorry his name isn’t bought and sold,” because the public face of a cult is funny.”

Before you go, click here to see all the celebrities who supported the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.

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