Colin Farrell’s On-Set Drinking Angers Tom Cruise: 46 Takes for One ‘Minority Report’ Scene!

Colin Farrell disclosed on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert that during the filming of Steven Spielberg’s “Minority Report,” Tom Cruise was displeased with him. At the time, Farrell was struggling with substance abuse and had spent the evening before his birthday, which coincided with a day of filming, out celebrating.

Farrell confessed, “That day turned out to be one of the most challenging I’ve ever experienced on a movie set. It happened to be my birthday, May 31, and despite my audacious request to the producers of a $120 million movie to have the day off, I was scheduled to start at 6 a.m. I indulged in reckless activities the night before, and just as I turned off the lights and got into bed, my phone rang. It was my driver informing me it was already past 6 a.m. I was late.”

Upon his arrival on set for “Minority Report,” Farrell was in such a disordered state that the assistant director, David H. Venghaus Jr., stopped him and remarked, “You can’t go to the set like this.”

Farrell’s response was to ask for “six Pacifico Cervezas and a pack of 20 Marlboro Reds.” He reflected, “It’s not something I’m proud of because I ended up in rehab two years later. However, at that moment, it seemed like the only solution. We often hear from spiritual leaders that we should focus on the present, and that’s exactly what I was doing.”

After having a few beers, Farrell went to the set, but his performance was far from satisfactory. He recalled, “I couldn’t deliver my lines properly. The line I struggled with was, ‘I’m sure you’ve all grasped the fundamental paradox of pre-crime methodology.’ The crew suggested I step outside for some fresh air, but I was worried that leaving would only increase the pressure on me. So, I decided to push through it.”

Farrell ended up doing 46 takes of the scene. “Tom was understandably upset with me. I really appreciate Tom, but he was not pleased that day!” he shared.

“Minority Report,” loosely inspired by Philip K. Dick’s 1956 novella, explores a futuristic world where the police use psychics to prevent crimes before they occur. In the film, Cruise portrays a police chief who is wrongly accused of a future crime, leading to a desperate bid to clear his name, while Farrell plays the law enforcement officer tasked with apprehending him. The film was well-received by critics and earned an impressive $358 million globally.

For more details, watch Colin Farrell’s complete interview on “The Late Show” in the video below.