Hollywood Flashback: When Tom Cruise Starred in Ridley Scott’s Unicorn Movie

Prior to achieving stardom with the hit film “Top Gun”, Tom Cruise teamed up with director Ridley Scott on a fantasy movie that he’d rather overlook. Forty years ago, Cruise played Jack in the film “Legend” where he pursued a love affair with Princess Lili (Mia Sara), all while trying to prevent the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) from annihilating unicorns and causing an endless night. The movie’s production began when Scott approached author William Hjortsberg about writing a screenplay for a fairy tale. As Hjortsberg wrote in 2002, “Ridley said he wanted the story to include unicorns: ‘The fastest steed on earth,'” and the script seemed to flow effortlessly from his mind. He felt he had the essential elements: a quest for a ring, unicorns, a frozen lake, and eternal winter.

After the success of “Risky Business” in 1983, Cruise encountered a warm phase. However, the prolonged production of “Legend,” which was marred by a set fire at Pinewood Studios three months into filming, left an unpleasant aftertaste. In an interview with “Interview” in 1986, Cruise expressed his bewilderment, saying, “I can’t figure out how Harrison Ford has managed to star in so many films like that.” He further shared his disinterest in similar projects with “Rolling Stone” later that year, stating, “I have no desire to do another movie like that again.

In 1985, the Venice Film Festival commenced with the premiere of the movie Legend. The festival’s president, Gian Luigi Rondi, expressed his admiration for the film to THR, stating, “I view Legend as a film of remarkable beauty, an engaging visual experience, and a delight to the senses.” Universal Studios distributed Legend on April 18, 1986. The film grossed a modest $23 million ($66 million in current value) at the worldwide box office.

The legendary beast makes its comeback on the silver screen in “Death of a Unicorn,” produced by A24, set to premiere in theatres on March 28, featuring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as the main actors.

The tale you’re reading was published on March 6th in The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To stay updated, consider subscribing by clicking here.

Read More

2025-03-08 22:25