The 95th Academy Award nominees luncheon took place on Monday, bringing all of the best actors from this previous award season together ahead of the big finale. Tom Cruise, who enjoyed a bit of a comeback with his 2022 box office and critical hit Top Gun: Maverick, and Guillermo del Toro, who were virtually guaranteed the Best Animated Feature award thanks to Pinocchio, were the protagonists in one of the most enjoyable moments of the evening.
While the actor was being mobbed by a group of fans – because even industry professionals can fangirl or fanboy out – the director approached him, calling out “Tomás!”, which is about the greatest Del Toro thing we’ve ever heard.
Del Toro and Cruise are a bit of a star-crossed duo in the film industry. Although they have never teamed up in the past, it wasn't because of their desire to.
Back in the early aughts, a H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness was being written and penned by the director, with Cruise at some point joining the cast, but budget constraints and artistic limitations prevented it from ever going forward.
Del Toro has stated that he may continue to direct At the Mountains of Madness one day, but Cruise's participation in the film may be a deal breaker because to his 15 years of age.
The Champions, a British thriller/sci-fi series from the 60s, was also recreated by del Toro with the master of espionage. Is it still possible?
Del Toro may at some point find a way to collaborate with "Tomás," whatever the project. And with a dynamite duo like that, it would only be a hit.