Steven Spielberg stunned by Redstone’s actions at Paramount

By Stone Martindale Aug 25, 2006, 15:04 GMT

Steven Spielberg - Never saw it coming for Tom Cruise at paramount.. © Adam Bielawski / Photorazzi

Mega director and producer Steven Spielberg insists he had no prior knowledge of Paramount's decision to end their partnership with Tom Cruise, declaring he was stunned by the news.

Spielberg's Dreamworks company is owned by Paramount Pictures, and directed Cruise in Minority Report and War Of The Worlds.

Spielberg also a part owner of talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which represents Cruise.

New York Daily News reports that when the chairman of Viacom - Paramount's parent company - Sumner Redstone - announced the studios would not be renewing Cruise's 14-year production deal due to his "recent conduct", internet gossips claimed Spielberg was aware of the decision.

Despite rumors and insiders saying Speilberg was not happy with Cruise's Scientology information tents set up on his film sets and other antics, his spokesman Marvin Levy tells the New York Daily News, "Steven had no advance knowledge of Sumner Redstone's position. The story broke when Steven was on an airplane. He found out when the plane landed."

Spielberg's producing partner Kathleen Kennedy has lashed out at reports the director was unhappy with Cruise's manic behavior during the War Of The Worlds publicity campaign last year, when he indulged in bizarre and over the top public displays of affection with fiancee Katie Holmes on red carpets all over the world.

Kennedy says, "It's not true. Tom was a consummate professional. He's done nothing wrong."