Tom Cruise’s commitment to Scientology is well-documented — and, if Seth Rogen’s memory serves, occasionally a little too enthusiastic. According to resurfaced interviews, the Top Gun star once attempted to pull Rogen and frequent collaborator Judd Apatow into the Church of Scientology during what was supposed to be a lighthearted pitch meeting about a comedy film.
In a 2021 appearance on Howard Stern’s radio show — which has made the rounds again following Cruise’s latest Scientology-adjacent headlines — Rogen described a “very absurd” afternoon at Cruise’s house circa 2006, just after the birth of Cruise and Katie Holmes’ daughter, Suri. Rogen said Holmes had a “vague ‘please rescue me from this place’ look on her face,” which, in hindsight, might’ve been the first red flag.
The conversation reportedly veered from movie talk to a passionate Scientology pitch, with Cruise insisting, “If you let me just tell you what it’s really about… just give me like 20 minutes… you’d say, ‘No f***ing way.’” Rogen admitted he and Apatow exchanged a glance as if to say, “Are we strong enough to survive this?”
To be fair, Rogen described himself as a “generally weak-willed, weak-minded person,” adding, “Thank God Judd was like, ‘Eh, I think we’re good. Let’s just talk about movies and stuff.’” Cruise, meanwhile, allegedly warned them about Big Pharma’s plot to discredit him, a reference to his infamous anti-antidepressant stance — the same one that helped cement his reputation as a Hollywood wild card.
This resurfaced anecdote comes just weeks after Cruise’s Mission: Impossible premiere was disrupted by a peaceful protest led by former Scientologists in London, underscoring how the actor’s faith still looms large over his public image. And while Cruise hasn’t publicly mentioned Scientology in over a year, insiders insist he’s still aligned with the church — even as he courts new audiences and, allegedly, a new partner.
Cruise is rumored to be dating Ana de Armas, a devout Catholic who has reportedly discussed his beliefs and their potential impact on their future. And if Rogen’s story is any indication, those “20 minutes” of persuasion might be harder to say no to than anyone expects.
Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have left the Church of Scientology. 
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