Tom Cruise ‘extremely worried’ about ‘Lions’

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

It seemed curious that Katie Holmes was in heels and promoting hubby Tom Cruise’s new movie, “Lions for Lambs,” just hours after she ran the NYC marathon, but as it turns out, there’s a good explanation.

“Tom is extremely worried about his new movie,” one insider tells me.  In other words, not only does his better half have to pull her weight to help promote the flick, but so does every Scientologist who’s ever uttered Xenu’s name. (Cruise’s rep counters predictably: “Mr. Cruise is not nervous about the release of his film.”) “Lions” is the poorest-tracking Tom Cruise flick ever made, according to reports, and if it tanks, as many insiders predict it will, Cruise could have an uphill battle when it comes to raising money for future flicks.

“In this business, appearances are everything. This is Tom’s first film under his resurrected United Artists studio,” says a source, “and he’s worried about how the industry will view him [if the film does poorly]. This has to be a home run, and it isn’t looking good.”

Weekend box-office predictions
In addition to “Lions for Lambs,” this is opening weekend for “Fred Claus.” Not only is it too early for a Santa-themed film, it’s way too early for an PG-rated Santa movie that is more sappy than silly. I’m going to go predict that last week’s number one, “American Gangster,” hangs on to its spot. 

In case you missed it
The court of public opinion — at least in the Hamptons — feels that Paul McCartney is not a homewrecker. The New York Daily News claims gal pal Nancy Shevell’s marriage has been "unraveling for many years. ... Enjoy next week’s new episode of “The Office” because it will be the last until the writer's strike is resolved. ... It's been a while since Nick Lachey had any big hits, but that didn't keep him from signing the wall at The Palm at the El San Juan Hotel and Casino. A source there says he's hoping to get his caricature up on the wall soon.

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