No Party in Cannes: Blame the British Royals
Tom Cruise is swapping Palais for Palace and flying back to the U.K. after the film’s special screening at the festival.
Would Paramount bring an aircraft? Would there be shirtless football on the beach? Anything seemed possible, especially with the festival set to return to its partying past after COVID-hit years.
While Tom Cruise will be getting an all-star welcome at the Palais by Thierry Fremaux on Wednesday, May 18 ahead of a special screening of Top Gun: Maverick, there will be no after-party.
Instead, Cruise will be flying to London that evening, with him playing a starring role in Queen Elizabeth II’s ongoing Platinum Jubilee celebrations and him also set to hit the red carpet alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton on Thursday night.
The U.K. premiere of Top Gun: Maverick — a special Royal Film Performance hosted by Paramount and the U.K.’s Film and TV Charity — is taking place in London’s Leicester Square on May 19, with the royals introduced to Cruise alongside director Joe Kosinski and Paramount execs.
Cruise may be biggest name on the Croisette this year (and the giant Top Gun helmet in front of Grand hotel arguably the most eye-catching film promotion), but his festival visit appears to be minor detour in the midst of his royal engagements.
On Sunday, he was among the hosts for major televised event at Windsor Castle to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
Cruise introduced a performance by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, saying it was “one of the most enthralling, thrilling, heart-in-mouth displays” he had seen.
For Cannes festivalgoers, with hopes of Top Gun: Maverick party dashed, eyes are now on Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis to provide the star-studded studio shindig.