Germany to Cruise: Willkommen

Thu., Jun. 28, 2007 8:39 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

Germany wants Tom Cruise to know he's not verboten there because he's a Scientologist, after all.

The German Defense Ministry said Thursday that, despite previous reports to the contrary, the country has no problem with Cruise shooting the upcoming war drama Valkyrie within its borders, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Valkyrie, which will be produced by Cruise's recently rejuvenated United Artists shingle, is based on a true story about the unsuccessful plot crafted in 1944 by members of the German military to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The film's title comes from the plan's code name, Operation Valkyrie.

The second seat of the Minister of Defense is situated at the Bendlerblock building in Berlin, the actual spot where Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, to be played by Cruise, met with his fellow conspirators. Valkyrie's producers had been looking to shoot part of their film on site, which is also where Stauffenberg and his fellow plotters were executed after Hitler survived the attempt on his life.

Ministry officials said that, while it hadn't actually received an official request to film in Germany, it would "look agreeably" at such an application.

On Monday, however, Defense Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer said that the production "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."

But, per the Hollywood Reporter, the root of the controversy rested with conservative parliament member Antje Blumenthal, who posted a statement on her Website last week claiming Defense Minister Franz-Josef Jung had vowed that Cruise and his Scientologist ways would not receive permission due to the dangers of Scientology, which is not recognized as a religion by the German government.

Instead, the house that L. Ron Hubbard built is considered a dangerous cult, on par with neo-Nazism, and is under official observation.

The German film industry, however, sees Cruise and production partner Paula Wagner's film as an important piece of historical nonfiction, with Studio Babelsberg heads Christoph Fisser and Carl Woebcken—who are in talks with UA to sign on as co-producers—calling Valkyrie one of the "too few examples of military opposition to Hitler's regime."

"The assassination attempt against Hitler is hardly known outside Germany," Fisser told the Hollywood Reporter. "We should therefore be delighted and welcome this wonderful opportunity to improve the image of our country."

Defense officials also said that it is the Finance Ministry that has the authority to approve film shoots at the Bendlerblock.

Bryan Singer is attached to direct Valkyrie, with Kenneth Branagh set to costar alongside Cruise.

"Aside from his obvious admiration of the man he is portraying, Mr. Cruise's personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie's plot, themes, or content," Wagner said earlier this week. "And even though we could shoot the movie anywhere in the world, we believe Germany is the only place we can truly do the story justice."