Germany has barred the makers of a movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler from filming at German military sites because its star Tom Cruise is a Scientologist, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.

Cruise, also one of the film’s producers, is a member of the Church of Scientology which the German government does not recognize as a church. Berlin says it masquerades as a religion to make money, a charge Scientology leaders reject.

The U.S. actor has been cast as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the Nazi dictator in July 1944 with a bomb hidden in a briefcase.

Defense Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer said the film makers “will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult”.

“In general, the Bundeswehr (German military) has a special interest in the serious and authentic portrayal of the events of July 20, 1944 and Stauffenberg’s person,” Kammerbauer said.

Cruise’s publicists could not be reached for comment.

Stauffenberg had been deeply opposed to the Nazis’ treatment of the Jews and planted a briefcase bomb under a table near Hitler in his “Wolf’s Lair” headquarters on July 20, 1944. The bomb went off but only wounded the Fuehrer.

The film, slated for a 2008 release and to be directed by Bryan Singer and co-starring Kenneth Branagh, is called “Valkyrie” after Operation Valkyrie, the plot’s codename.

The main site of interest would be the “Bendlerblock” memorial inside the Defense Ministry complex in Berlin. This is where Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators hatched the plot and where he and his closest comrades were executed when it failed.

Kammerbauer said the ministry had not yet received official filming requests from the producers of “Valkyrie”.

Source

Tom Cruise is reportedly launching a $80 million takeover bid of friend David Beckham’s new soccer club.

The Hollywood actor is a huge soccer fan and wants to give his financial backing to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

A source said: “To have Tom’s backing would be amazing - there’s no way Galaxy bosses would turn down that opportunity.”

Beckham signed for Galaxy this January on a reported £128 million five-year deal although he doesn’t start playing for them until next month.

Cruise watched Beckham at Real Madrid’s home ground the Bernabeu on Sunday to see the Spanish team win the league title.

He was joined in the stands by wife Katie Holmes and the sport ace’s wife Victoria and their three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.

After seeing Beckham’s team crowned as champions, the two couples celebrated into the early hours with a meal in an exclusive Madrid restaurant, followed by dancing at a local club.

They finally left for home at 7am the next morning.

Source via ONTD

That last picture of Tom & Suri is too cute…

Those are weird fitting shorts…

*IMAGES REMOVED*

Katie Holmes is reportedly expecting her second child with Tom Cruise.

Rumours began that Holmes, 28, was pregnant after she was spotted with a suspicious bump under her loose-fitting dress in Madrid over the weekend.

The A-list couple were there with their close friends the Beckhams to watch David’s triumphant last game at Real Madrid.

“Katie and Tom are thrilled about having another baby on the way,” a source told The Sun. “She is glowing with happiness.”

The couple already have a one-year-old daughter Suri, who was left in Berlin where Tom has been working on a new film.

Meanwhile, Tom is also getting ready for a new role as marriage celebrant.

The Mission: Impossible star has apparently agreed to conduct his first Scientology wedding ceremony for his close friend James Packer.

The 39-year-old Australian billionaire is set to tie the knot with his fiancée Erica Baxter, a model and singer on the French Cote d’Azur.

Source