It’s difficult to picture Tom Cruise envying anyone. He’s been the face of Hollywood for decades, an action legend whose career has been defined by gravity-defying stunts, high-octane thrillers, and a relentless dedication to entertainment. From scaling skyscrapers to piloting fighter jets, Cruise has crafted a cinematic legacy that few could hope to match.
Yet, back in 2002, the actor—then 40—expressed a rare moment of introspection. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Cruise admitted there was something missing from his career. Specifically, something that Clint Eastwood had found with Unforgiven.
“I wish I had that great story like Clint Eastwood with Unforgiven,” Cruise revealed. “He held onto that script for a decade before making the film. He directed it, starred in it—it became the culmination of his entire career.” He admired Eastwood’s patience and vision, calling him “smart” for recognizing the perfect moment to bring the project to life. “That was just perfect for him,” Cruise continued. “And so I don’t have that Unforgiven. I don’t have it.”
Eastwood’s 1992 classic wasn’t just a film—it was a genre-defining masterpiece. The story, which follows an aging bounty hunter reluctantly returning to his violent past, was conceived in 1976 but didn’t make it to the screen for over 15 years. Originally, Francis Ford Coppola had plans to direct it, even considering John Malkovich for the lead role. But fate had other ideas, and Eastwood ultimately took the reins, both in front of and behind the camera.
It proved to be a brilliant move. Unforgiven became a critical and commercial triumph, earning nine Academy Award nominations and winning four, including Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood. More than just another Western, it subverted long-standing genre conventions, offering a gritty and introspective look at violence, morality, and redemption. It was so culturally significant that in 2004, the U.S. National Film Registry preserved it as a film of historical importance.
For Cruise, the appeal of Unforgiven wasn’t just its Oscar success. “If it doesn’t happen, I won’t be disappointed,” he said of the Academy Awards. At the time, he had three nominations under his belt—for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia. Since then, he’s had just one more nod, as a producer for Top Gun: Maverick, but the coveted golden statue has remained out of reach. Not that he seems too concerned.
Now, more than 20 years after Cruise first voiced his desire for a defining Unforgiven-style project, it still hasn’t materialized. Not because of a lack of talent or ambition—Cruise has both in spades—but because of just how rare and special a film like Unforgiven truly was. Eastwood, a legendary cowboy actor, used it to deconstruct the very genre that made him famous. Meanwhile, Cruise, despite redefining the modern action hero, has yet to take on a project that breaks down his own cinematic persona in a similar way.
Ironically, Cruise is now the same age—62—that Eastwood was when he made Unforgiven. Perhaps his ultimate passion project, the one that redefines his career in ways even he couldn’t predict, is still out there waiting for him. Maybe, just maybe, there’s still time for Cruise to find his Unforgiven.
