According to a new report, Warner Bros. has decided to not move forward with Deeper, just as the project was preparing to start filming. The studio is concerned over the film's reported $230 million production budget.
After a resurgence of star-driven franchise pics with 2018's Mission: Impossible – Fallout ($791M) and 2023's Top Gun: Maverick ($1.49B), Cruise-led tentpoles have seen their box office returns cool a bit as 2023's Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One ($571M) and 2025's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning ($564 and counting) have fallen short of expecations.
This likely factors into WB's decision to pull the plug on Deeper, which carries such a hefty price tag.
Still, the premise for the film is very interesting and Cruise, along with director Doug Liman, are reportedly now shopping the project around.
Deeper, penned by Max Landis in 2016, centers on a former astronaut, portrayed by Tom Cruise, who is given a chance at redemption through a high-stakes deep-sea mission. Tasked with exploring a newly uncovered ocean trench, he soon finds himself facing an unknown and potentially deadly force lurking in the depths.
Christopher McQuarrie, a frequent and trusted collaborator of Tom Cruise, recently joined the Deeper project to refine the existing screenplay by Max Landis. McQuarrie's involvement brings his renowned scriptwriting expertise to the supernatural thriller, promising to further elevate the narrative.
On the project, Liman previously stated, "We plan to make a 'scary' movie. I have never done one and neither has Tom Cruise."
Liman also categorized the film as a "supernatural thriller," hinting at elements beyond conventional horror. His desire to explore this uncharted genre with Cruise suggests a fresh and intense cinematic experience for audiences, moving beyond their typical action-oriented collaborations.
Ana de Armas is also attached to this highly anticipated project. She recently revealed that she and Tom Cruise have been undergoing rigorous deep-sea diving training, an essential preparation for their roles
This commitment to authentic performance is a hallmark of Cruise's films, and De Armas's dedication underscores the physical demands of the movie's underwater setting.
In development for nearly a decade, Deeper has seen a number of A-list actors attached to the project over the years, including Idris Elba, Bradley Cooper, and Gal Gadot.
Stay tuned for additional updates as we continue coverage on the project and await to see if Deeper is dead in the water or if another studio agrees to put some wind in its sails.