Louis Theroux has revealed his dream interview subjects, with Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise taking the top spot after the documentarian’s 2015 film on the Church of Scientology.
Tom Cruise has has been an infamous mainstay of the church, founded by American sci-fi author L Ron Hubbard, since 1986 and on previous trips to the UK he stayed at its British headquarters.
In Louis’s My Scientology Movie documentary, he sought to reveal the inner workings and alleged abuse of the mysterious organisation by meeting with its former members.
Louis has long been interested in deep-diving into Scientology, but repeated requests for access and interviews over a decade went ignored.
Although the documentary featured previous interviews Cruise, 59, gave over Scientology, Louis never got the chance to discuss the religion with its most high profile member himself.
He has now said the action film star is his dream interview subject because of his “history” with the Church, which Cruise has come under fire for in the past.
Louis said: “I feel as though people are either scared to ask them about it or they feel like it'll create an awkward mood.
“I just think someone talking to Tom Cruise about what's really going on inside Scientology would be really valid.”
On other wish-list interviewees, Louis said he would like to chat with Lisa Marie Presley and Zadie Smith, adding that he felt he “missed” the story around the rise of ISIS.
Louis said he would have interviewed “anyone in a position of authority” in the so-called Islamic State, such as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi if he were still alive or a regretful IS recruits, such as Shamima Begum.
He said: “I tried to get out there and it was my hope that I would be able to interview some of the repentant or quasi repentant jihadist's and that's never happened.”
He continued: “I would like to interview Zadie Smith. I had a podcast called Grounded and she was the guest that I never had on.
“She lives quite close to me and it might be more of a podcast interview. If we did another series of Grounded I think she would be on the list.”
This comes as Louis Theroux is set to return to screens with new series Forbidden America.
The three-part series explores the impact of the internet and social media on some of the most controversial corners of American entertainment, with episodes including Extreme and Online, Rap’s New Frontline and Porn’s MeToo.
