Could Tom Cruise and Spielberg Reunite for a Sci-Fi Sequel?

Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg once formed a formidable partnership, delivering two major science fiction films before their working relationship hit the rocks. Their adaptation of H.G. Wells’s classic, The War of the Worlds, proved a box office juggernaut, raking in over $600 million globally. Audiences and critics alike praised its pulse-quickening narrative and modern visual flair, with many hoping the pair would team up again. Yet, a well-publicised falling out put paid to any such plans for years.

Behind the Rift: Public Rows and Private Tensions

Their split stemmed from a series of public incidents. Cruise’s notorious leap onto Oprah’s sofa and his heated exchange with Matt Lauer over psychiatric medication did little to endear him to Spielberg. The director, it’s said, was less than thrilled when these antics overshadowed the film’s promotional campaign. Matters worsened after Spielberg, in Cruise’s presence, spoke favourably of a psychiatrist who had helped a family member. Not long after, Scientologists staged protests outside the psychiatrist’s office, deepening the rift between the two men.

For years, the silence between them was deafening. But in 2023, the ice finally thawed. At an Oscar nominees’ luncheon, Spielberg was effusive in his praise for Cruise’s work on Top Gun: Maverick.

“You saved Hollywood’s ass and you might have saved theatrical distribution.”

Cruise, by all accounts, was left rather red-faced by the compliment, but the moment signalled a proper reconciliation. Fans, naturally, began to wonder if a new collaboration might be on the cards.

Sequel Speculation: A New Chapter for Martian Mayhem?

Before their estrangement, Cruise had been keen to work with Spielberg again, offering up several ideas, one of which was the adaptation of Wells’s alien invasion tale. The resulting film, with a script initially penned by Josh Friedman and later reworked by David Koepp, saw Cruise as a dock worker desperately trying to shield his children from extraterrestrial devastation. Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, and Tim Robbins rounded out the cast.

Should the pair decide to revisit this world, they wouldn’t be short of inspiration. In 2017, Stephen Baxter published The Massacre of Mankind, an authorised sequel to Wells’s original. The novel picks up 14 years after the first Martian assault, introducing a fresh protagonist but leaving ample room for a modern adaptation to bring back familiar faces. There’s even talk among fans that a grown-up Dakota Fanning could play a pivotal role.

Mixed Reception: A Blockbuster with Divided Opinion

Despite its commercial triumph, War of the Worlds didn’t quite win over everyone. The film holds a 76% score from critics, but audiences were less impressed, with a notably low 42% rating. For Spielberg, it stands as one of his least beloved efforts among the public.

While the film showcased Spielberg’s directorial prowess and Cruise’s star appeal, some viewers found its depiction of chaos and destruction uncomfortably reminiscent of recent real-world events. The imagery of dust-choked skies and collapsing buildings struck a nerve, and the emotional beats—particularly Cruise’s attempts to connect with his on-screen children—didn’t always land. The ending, which saw the family reunited against all odds, left some feeling it didn’t quite fit the preceding drama.

Legacy and Future Prospects

Nonetheless, the film garnered critical acclaim for its technical achievements, earning Oscar nods for visual effects and sound. With the original now available to stream, speculation about a sequel continues to simmer. Whether Cruise and Spielberg will seize the opportunity to revisit their sci-fi triumph remains to be seen, but the prospect has certainly set tongues wagging.