Brad Grey and Bill Mechanic’s Scientology shake downs

By Stone Martindale Sep 15, 2006, 19:01 GMT

Allegations have come to light that Tom Cruise had heavies from the Church of Scientology try to intimidate Redstone's studio boss, Brad Grey.

Radar is reporting that media executive, Paramount Pictures Grey had a nasty confrontation with the Church during his tense negotiations with Cruise over Mission: Impossible 3.

Radar reports that Grey entered the negotiations with a mind set to have Cruise accept a smaller share of the gross revenues than he had from the first two installments in the franchise.

“Leaving the office one night, Grey, walking to his car in the Paramount lot, suddenly found himself surrounded by more than a dozen Scientologists, who pressured him to ease up on the actor, according to the source.” Reported Radar.

“Following a terse exchange, the visitors allowed Grey to get into his car and leave, but the message was clear.”

It is reported that Grey “stood his ground.”  Cruise eventually had to agree to a lesser deal.

Church of Scientology disputes the Radar report, saying, "The Church has nothing to do with anybody's business affairs." But Radar reports, not so. 

The incident is deja vu of a past Scientology skirmish involving John Travolta and Fox’s Bill Mechanic.

Radar reports that in the late nineties, scientologist John Travolta “furiously lobbied” reticent Fox studio chief Bill Mechanic to produce the ill-reviewed L. Ron Hubbard story Battlefield Earth, released in 2000. Directed by Roger Christian, it featured Travolta playing the lead alien, natty dreaded Terl.

"He had Scientologists all over me," Mechanic told Radar last year. "They come up to you and they know who you are."

Despite the religion's heavy intimidation and threat of lawsuits against its enemies, Mechanic, like Grey, was held his ground: "Do you think in any way, shape, or form that weirding me out is going to make me want to make this movie?" he said.