is tom cruise in the outsiders

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‘Tom Cruise was an intense kid’: How Francis Ford Coppola made The Outsiders

‘I was famous for casting unknown actors. I had Nicolas Cage, Robert Downey Jr and Matt Dillon in a circle watching each other try for parts’

Francis Ford Coppola , director After my 1982 film One from the Heart failed commercially, my production company American Zoetrope was bankrupt – it was a low period for me. But then I received a letter written by Jo Ellen Misakian, a junior school librarian from Fresno, California. It read: “We are all so impressed with the book, The Outsiders by SE Hinton , that a petition has been circulated asking that it be made into a movie. We have chosen you to send it to.” It contained about 15 pages of children’s signatures written in different-coloured pens. It was very moving.

I read Susan Hinton’s book, written when she was in her late teens, and was touched by the level of regard these poor “Greaser” kids had for each other, even though they didn’t have the advantages of their “Social” rivals. I’ve always believed that kids have many more feelings than we give them credit for, and I wanted to make the story. When I was about 17, I had been a drama counsellor at a summer camp, and the idea of being with half a dozen kids in the country and making a movie seemed like being a camp counsellor again. I’d forget my troubles and have some laughs.

If my company was famous for anything, it was casting new, unknown actors. I believed in the concept of open casting calls – but I tried to do them in a way that was appropriate for the film we were making. For The Outsiders, I had all the candidates – which included Nicolas Cage, Mickey Rourke, Robert Downey Jr, Patrick Swayze, Dennis Quaid, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez – sitting on benches in a circle watching each other trying for the different parts. No one knows more about acting than other actors. Tom Cruise, who ended up in a small role, was an intense kid who would do anything to make his part better.

Often I err on the side of being too collaborative. I re-edited The Outsiders because Warner Brothers felt it was long, and that was a mistake. My father had also written a soaring, romantic score for it. I wondered if it was the right choice, but I couldn’t say that to him. By the time I recut the movie in 2005 he had passed away, and I balanced the schmaltzy music with more of what the Greasers would have listened to: early Elvis Presley and stuff like that.

There are parallels between the rivalry of the Socs and the Greasers, and the inequality in American today. Most of the bads of contemporary civilisation are not caused by nature. Civilisation invents fictions that people will kill for, which is absurd. Why is there such inequality when we’re all one family?

C Thomas Howell , who played Ponyboy Curtis I had established myself in my teens as a junior rodeo competitor. Pressure for me was riding a bull, not meeting someone called Francis Ford Coppola, or auditioning against the other guys. I only auditioned for one character, Ponyboy Curtis, and read with hundreds of actors in four or five cities. The only time I ever felt any pressure was when Norman Mailer’s son came in to read for it weeks after I felt I had already owned the role. But I think actually that was more about relieving me for half a day.

There was an envy that was intentionally dialled in to the Soc and Greaser actors. We played football and basketball against each other – they had matching jumpsuits, while we’d show up in whatever we brought from home. The Socs stayed on floor 18 or 19 of the hotel, while the Greasers were on four or five. It was like a fraternity house in there; some pretty crazy stuff took place. Once I got home at three in the morning after an 18-hour shift; I couldn’t wait to get into my room and go to sleep. And I went in there, two of the Socs had turned everything in my room upside down.

We rehearsed and shot the whole film on videotape first, which allowed us to get to know each other and created a trust. I was very green at 15. I had been in ET, but I had never played a lead. Francis was a master communicator, and taught me about film-making. He was patient enough to not just bully his way around and tell you what to do. And he’d cook you pasta for lunch.

One lesson I learned was to never, as an actor, cut a scene. During the scene at the drive-in cinema , at one point Matt Dillon fell off his chair, and I turned to the camera and started laughing, thinking they’d cut. But he told me I shouldn’t stop, but that I should adapt to what was happening: it creates something very natural, more real and connected than anything that could be written. Later, in the church scene, a dolly grip’s foot fell through the floor – it was a real abandoned building – so I just said: “I think there’s a monster outside.” And Francis ended up cutting to a shot of a raccoon outside. The film is peppered with real moments like that.

I still get letters about The Outsiders because it’s required reading in a lot of schools. People tell me it’s their comfort film, or they have a Stay Gold tattoo, or they used the Robert Frost poem for their wedding vows. I get asked all the time what the poem means. I had no idea when I was 15 that it represents the circle of life. Even the two boys don’t understand what it means – they’re just sharing a moment – until one of them dies. The fans are crying and upset that [Ralph Macchio’s character] Johnny is dead, and then they contact me and they realise Ponyboy is now 54 – and they cry even harder.

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Uncovering Tom Cruise’s Role in The Outsiders: A Closer Look

With his Hollywood charm and chiseled​ good looks, Tom Cruise‍ has ⁤captivated‍ audiences for decades with his iconic roles in blockbuster⁢ films. However, before he became a household name, Cruise made a memorable appearance ⁢in ‌the 1983 ⁣film adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s classic novel, ‍The Outsiders. As we⁣ delve deeper into Cruise’s role in ⁤the film, we uncover the impact he had ⁢on the coming-of-age story ⁤and the potential influence⁣ it had on his future career. Join⁣ us⁢ as​ we take a closer ‌look at Tom Cruise’s early days in Hollywood⁣ and⁤ his intriguing role in⁢ The Outsiders.

Table of ⁤Contents

• The Outsiders:‍ Tom⁢ Cruise’s‍ Breakout Role

Cruise’s Portrayal of Steve Randle

• The ​Impact of The⁣ Outsiders ‌on Cruise’s​ Career
• How The Outsiders Still Resonates with Audiences Today
• Why ‌The Outsiders is ⁤a Must-Watch⁤ for Tom Cruise Fans
• Cruise’s Experience Working ⁣on‍ The Outsiders
• The Outsiders: A Turning Point for Tom ⁣Cruise
• Key‌ Takeaways

The‍ Outsiders:‍ Tom Cruise’s Breakout Role

The Outsiders is a timeless classic that ⁢has solidified ⁢itself as a ⁢pivotal moment in Tom Cruise’s career. In the 1983 American coming-of-age drama film, Cruise played the‍ role of Steve Randle, a high-spirited and loyal member of the “Greasers”‍ gang. This breakout role allowed Cruise to ‌showcase his acting⁣ chops and⁣ captured the attention of audiences and ⁤critics alike.

The film,​ directed by Francis Ford Coppola,⁢ was based on the novel of the same name by S.E. ‌Hinton‍ and featured‍ a star-studded cast, including‌ Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, and Rob ‌Lowe. Cruise’s ⁤performance as Randle solidified his place as a rising star in ‌Hollywood, and his on-screen presence left a lasting impact on the audience.

Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Steve Randle in The Outsiders showcased his ⁢ability to‍ bring depth and‍ authenticity to his characters. His​ performance added ‌layers to the⁢ storyline ⁤and captivated the⁣ audience, solidifying⁤ his status ⁣as a versatile and ⁣captivating⁢ actor. ​The Outsiders marked a significant‍ turning‌ point in ‍Cruise’s career,⁢ setting the stage for his ⁣future successes in the entertainment industry.

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The portrayal‌ of Steve Randle by Tom Cruise in the film “The Outsiders”⁢ is a testament to ⁤Cruise’s versatile ⁤acting abilities. In the 1983 adaptation of S.E.⁣ Hinton’s classic novel,⁣ Cruise ⁢brought the character of Steve to⁣ life with his trademark charisma and ⁣intensity. As a key member of the Greasers gang, Steve⁤ is known for his hot-headed nature and loyalty to his friends. Cruise’s performance captured the essence of⁣ Steve, portraying​ him as⁣ a fiercely loyal and passionate individual who would do anything⁣ for his gang.

One⁣ of the most memorable aspects of ‌ is his ability to convey the ‌character’s inner turmoil ⁤and vulnerability. Despite his ⁢tough exterior, Steve is depicted as a sensitive and complex character, and Cruise expertly ⁣portrays these‍ layers with​ depth and ⁢nuance. His performance ‌showcases ⁣Steve’s inner conflicts and struggles, making the character⁤ relatable to audiences and adding depth to the overall narrative of “The Outsiders.”

in “The Outsiders” remains an iconic example of his early acting prowess. His ability‍ to bring ​depth and complexity to a⁤ character like Steve‌ solidified his status​ as a talented⁢ and versatile⁤ actor. Cruise’s performance as Steve ⁤continues to resonate with audiences, further cementing his reputation⁤ as one ‍of Hollywood’s ⁣most enduring talents.

The Impact of The Outsiders on⁤ Cruise’s Career

Tom Cruise’s career ⁤was significantly impacted by his role in “The Outsiders,” a ‌1983​ film adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s novel. Starring alongside other‌ up-and-coming actors such as Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, ​and Rob Lowe,‌ Cruise’s portrayal of Steve Randle ⁣showcased his talent ⁢and charisma,​ setting ⁣the stage for his future success in Hollywood.

His⁤ performance in “The Outsiders” helped‍ establish Cruise as a​ versatile actor capable of ⁢taking on complex and diverse roles. It also showcased his ability to hold his own among a talented ⁣ensemble ‌cast, ​a skill that would serve ‌him well in his‌ later career.⁣ The film’s success and acclaim bolstered ‌Cruise’s reputation in the industry and paved the way for‍ his future leading roles in iconic films such as ⁣”Top‍ Gun,” “Mission: Impossible,” and “Jerry Maguire.”

How⁢ The Outsiders Still Resonates ‍with Audiences Today

It’s been over three decades ⁢since the release of “The ‌Outsiders,” but this classic film still manages to captivate audiences today. The story of rival teenage gangs in ⁤a small Oklahoma town continues to resonate with viewers⁢ of all ⁤ages, thanks to its timeless themes​ of friendship, loyalty, and the struggle between the haves and the have-nots. ⁣The ‍movie’s ⁣enduring popularity ⁢can be attributed to its relatable characters, compelling storyline,‌ and⁣ powerful performances by a talented ensemble cast , including ‍a young Tom Cruise in one of his earliest roles.

The Outsiders’​ ability to connect with⁤ modern audiences is a‌ testament to⁣ its universal appeal and ⁤the ‍enduring ⁣relevance of its⁣ themes. The issues of class division, youth struggle, and ⁤the ‌search for⁣ identity explored in the film are just​ as pertinent today as they were in the 1980s. As society continues to grapple with these same⁢ challenges, viewers continue to find inspiration and insight ‌in the ‌timeless⁣ story of Ponyboy, Johnny, and their gang of “greasers” ‌as⁢ they navigate the complexities of adolescence and the harsh​ realities of ⁢the world around them.

The ⁢enduring ‌legacy of “The Outsiders” is also a⁤ testament to the talent ‌of its creators, from S.E. Hinton’s original ⁣novel to ‌Francis Ford Coppola’s faithful ‍adaptation. The film’s impact goes‍ beyond its entertainment value, serving as ⁤a poignant reflection of the human experience⁤ and a reminder of the ⁣importance of empathy, understanding, and the enduring power of friendship. As new generations continue to​ discover and⁣ embrace this timeless​ classic, it becomes increasingly clear ⁢that “The Outsiders” will remain a beloved and​ influential⁣ story ⁢for years ​to⁣ come.

Why The Outsiders is a Must-Watch for Tom Cruise Fans

The Outsiders,⁢ a classic coming-of-age film based on​ the novel by⁤ S.E. ⁣Hinton, is a must-watch for any Tom Cruise fan. This movie, which was ​released ⁣in 1983, showcases a young Tom Cruise in one ‌of his earliest roles, and it’s a great ‍opportunity for fans⁤ to see the star in his formative years. ⁤The Outsiders is packed with emotion, drama, ⁤and the timeless‍ struggle ⁤of finding one’s place​ in the world, making it a captivating watch for any fan of Cruise’s work.

Tom Cruise plays the character ⁤of Steve Randle, ‍a member of the greaser gang⁣ in the film. His⁤ performance ​in The Outsiders is a testament to his talent⁤ and range as an actor,⁤ and ⁣it’s fascinating⁤ to see him take on a role that is‍ so different from many of‌ his later,‌ more action-oriented characters. Fans⁣ of Cruise⁣ will ⁤undoubtedly appreciate ​the chance‍ to see​ him ⁤in a more nuanced and⁢ dramatic setting,‍ and The Outsiders ​offers‍ exactly that.​ In⁤ addition to Cruise’s compelling performance, the film also ⁣features an impressive ensemble cast , ​including other up-and-coming⁤ stars such as Rob‌ Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Patrick Swayze.

The ‌Outsiders not only provides a⁤ glimpse into‌ Tom Cruise’s early career, but it also offers a ⁣poignant‍ and timeless⁣ story that continues ⁤to resonate with audiences today. The film’s exploration of friendship, loyalty, and the universal struggle to find one’s identity is sure⁤ to captivate viewers of all ages. So, ⁣if you’re a fan ⁤of ⁢Tom Cruise and looking for a compelling ⁢and emotional film to add ⁢to your watchlist, be sure to check out The Outsiders for an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Reasons to​ Watch‌ “The Outsiders” for Tom⁤ Cruise Fans:

• Witness Tom Cruise in one of ‌his earliest ⁢roles
• Experience a more dramatic and nuanced performance‌ from the actor
• Enjoy ⁤a timeless coming-of-age story with a⁢ talented ensemble cast
• Appreciate the emotional depth and universal themes of the film

Cruise’s Experience⁣ Working on The Outsiders

Tom ‍ was a crucial moment in his early career. The 1983​ film, ‍based on S.E.​ Hinton’s‍ novel, showcased Cruise’s talents and helped establish him as a⁤ rising​ star in Hollywood. Playing the role of Steve Randle, ​a member of the Greasers gang,‌ Cruise demonstrated his‌ versatility and ability to bring depth to his ⁣characters.

During his ‍time filming ⁤The Outsiders,‍ Cruise ​formed lasting ⁣friendships with some of his co-stars, including Emilio ⁤Estevez and Matt Dillon. The experience not only ‌allowed⁢ Cruise to showcase his acting skills ​but also solidified his place in the industry. The ⁣success of The Outsiders paved the way for Cruise to take on⁢ more significant roles in the years that followed, ultimately leading to his iconic status as one​ of Hollywood’s‍ leading actors.

The Outsiders: A ⁤Turning Point for⁢ Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise’s role in “The Outsiders” marked a significant turning​ point in ⁤his career.‍ The 1983 film, based on the novel by S.E. Hinton, featured an ensemble cast of up-and-coming‍ young ‌actors, including Cruise, Matt​ Dillon, and Rob Lowe. As​ the character of Steve Randle, Cruise ‌delivered ⁢a ‍memorable⁢ performance‍ that showcased his range as an ​actor and set the stage for his future success in Hollywood.

In‍ “The Outsiders,” Cruise’s portrayal of Steve Randle, a loyal friend and greaser gang ‍member, demonstrated his ability to bring⁣ depth⁤ and authenticity⁣ to his characters. His on-screen presence ⁤and charisma captured the attention of audiences and critics alike, earning him praise for his portrayal of the ‍tough yet endearing character. The film’s success paved​ the way ⁣for Cruise to take‌ on larger and more‌ diverse ⁤roles, ultimately propelling him to become one of Hollywood’s most iconic and influential‍ actors.

**The impact of “The Outsiders” on Tom Cruise’s career can be seen in the following ways:**

– It showcased his talent as a versatile⁢ actor capable of taking on complex ‌and challenging roles. – The film garnered attention and critical acclaim, ⁢helping to elevate Cruise’s⁣ profile‍ in the industry. – “The Outsiders” served as a launchpad⁤ for ⁤Cruise’s future success, leading to opportunities ⁢in major blockbuster films and establishing him as a leading man in Hollywood.

In conclusion, “The Outsiders” was a⁤ pivotal moment for Tom Cruise, shaping the​ trajectory of his career and solidifying his status as a powerhouse ⁣in the film​ industry. Cruise’s standout⁢ performance ‌in the film ‍solidified ‌his reputation ‌as a formidable talent, setting the stage for‍ the numerous ⁢iconic‍ roles he would take ‌on in the years to come. From “The Outsiders” onward, Tom ⁢Cruise’s career ‌continued to​ soar, cementing his place as a Hollywood legend.

Q: Who is Tom Cruise ⁣and what is his role ‍in the movie “The Outsiders”? A:⁤ Tom ‌Cruise is a renowned Hollywood actor known for his⁢ roles in iconic films such as‌ “Top Gun”‍ and the “Mission: Impossible” series. In “The Outsiders,” he plays the character of ​Steve Randle, a member of the Greasers gang.

Q:​ What is “The ‍Outsiders” about ​and why is it significant in Tom Cruise’s career? A:⁢ “The ⁤Outsiders” is a film adaptation of the‌ classic novel⁣ by⁣ S.E.​ Hinton, which tells the story ​of‌ two rival teen ⁣gangs in 1960s Oklahoma. The film is significant in Tom Cruise’s career as it was one of his early breakout roles, showcasing his talent and versatility as⁣ an‍ actor.

Q: How​ did ‍Tom‍ Cruise prepare for ‍his role in “The Outsiders”? A:⁤ To prepare for his role‍ as Steve Randle,⁤ Tom Cruise immersed ​himself ⁤in the world⁢ of‍ 1960s teen culture, studying⁣ the mannerisms and attitudes ​of the character to bring authenticity⁢ to his ⁢performance.

Q: What impact did‌ “The Outsiders” have on Tom Cruise’s career? A: “The‍ Outsiders” helped to⁢ catapult⁣ Tom Cruise into the spotlight, paving the way for future​ leading ⁢roles in blockbuster films. His portrayal of Steve Randle in the movie showcased his potential as a ⁤versatile ‌actor‌ with ⁤a promising career ahead.

Q: What is the legacy⁢ of “The Outsiders” ⁤and how does Tom⁣ Cruise’s role contribute to it? A:‌ “The Outsiders” remains a beloved classic, cherished by⁣ fans for its timeless themes and memorable performances. Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Steve ​Randle contributed to the film’s enduring legacy, solidifying⁤ his‌ status as a rising ⁢star in Hollywood.

Key Takeaways

In conclusion, Tom Cruise’s role as Steve⁤ Randle in “The Outsiders” marked‌ a turning point in his career, showcasing his ⁤talent ‍and versatility as an ​actor. His portrayal⁢ of the ⁤tough but loyal greaser left a lasting impact ​on audiences ‌and⁣ solidified​ his place in Hollywood. Cruise’s ⁤performance ​in the film continues to be celebrated by fans and critics alike, further cementing ‍his status‍ as a cinematic icon.​ As we reflect on the ⁢timeless appeal of “The Outsiders” and Cruise’s‍ unforgettable ⁤contribution to the film, it’s clear that his place in movie ‌history ⁣is secure. Cruise may‍ have come a long way since his ⁤breakout role, but his performance as Steve Randle will⁤ always hold​ a special⁣ place‌ in the hearts of his fans.

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Screen Rant

What rob lowe said about working with tom cruise on the outsiders.

The Outsiders launched several actors into stardom, and Rob Lowe's The Outsiders memories hilariously underline Cruise's eccentric behavior.

• The Outsiders launched the careers of Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise, who went on to achieve global stardom in various genres.
• Rob Lowe's memories of Tom Cruise during The Outsiders suggest that Cruise has always had his hot-headed flair, even when he was relatively unknown.
• The remarkable cast of The Outsiders, including Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane, and Ralph Macchio, went on to become A-list celebrities in their own right.

The Outsiders started Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise's careers, but Rob Lowe's memory of Tom Cruise while shooting The Outsiders is particularly humorous. Based on the iconic S.E Hinton novel of the same name, the story, set in the 1960s, chronicles the lives of two rival groups, the Greasers and the Socs, representing different socioeconomic backgrounds. Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise were among the young actors who brought this intense narrative to life. Lowe portrayed Sodapop Curtis, the charismatic middle brother of the Curtis family, and Tom Cruise played the role of Steve Randle, a tough and loyal member of the Greasers.

The movie was pivotal in launching the careers of its young cast members, including Lowe and Cruise. As The Outsiders actors embarked on their journey in Hollywood, they carved out incredible filmographies for themselves. Lowe became known for his roles in St. Elmo's Fire, Parks and Recreation, and The West Wing , showcasing his versatility across genres. Cruise, on the other hand, soared to international fame with blockbuster hits like Top Gun, Mission: Impossible, and Jerry Maguire . Their journey from The Outsiders to global stardom is a testament to their talent and dedication, but Rob Lowe's The Outsiders memories suggest Cruise has always been his eccentric self.

The Outsiders: 15 Big Differences Between The Movie & The Book

Rob lowe said tom cruise wasn't happy to share a hotel room with him.

Lowe's experience with Cruise extended beyond the set, recalling their first stay at The Plaza Hotel: " First time I ever stayed at The Plaza Hotel. We check in and Tom finds out that we're sharing a room, and just goes ballistic . " This isn't exactly atypical of Cruise either, as he's been known to behave over the top from time to time, such as his rant on the set of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning when the crew wasn't following strict COVID-19 rules. However, before The Outsiders, Cruise was far from a household name, which makes it amusing that he's always had that hot-headed flair even when he was an unknown.

Lowe added that it was this mentality that helped Cruise become a movie star . The actor said, " To me, what's great about the story is, there's certain people who have always been who they are... I remember going, 'Wow, this guy is the real deal.' But at the end, you can't argue with the results, he's had his eye on the ball since day one. " This perspective from Lowe offers an objective and insightful look into the early career traits of Tom Cruise that have propelled him to immense success.

Rob Lowe's reflections on working with Tom Cruise during The Outsiders also shed light on Cruise's intense ambition and competitive spirit (via ET Online ). The West Wing actor revealed, "Tom was ambitious, never met anybody more ambitious, and I am ambitious, " emphasizing the competitive environment on set. He noted how even with a smaller role, Cruise's determination was palpable. Lowe also recounted a unique aspect of their preparation for the film, where director Francis Ford Coppola envisioned the cast as gymnasts :

Tom's part of Steve Randle was not a huge part, but Tom being Tom, he was ambitious. Francis also thought that we should all be gymnasts, for some reason. So we all had to learn to do backflips. Tom took it so seriously... He ended up being the only one who could do a backflip. It is in the movie The Outsiders for no reason. He runs out of the house and does a backflip for no reason, just to do it.

Lowe's TBT Photo Shows The Outsiders Cast Was Full Of Future A-List Actors

In a nostalgic throwback, Rob Lowe took to Instagram to share a photo highlighting the remarkable cast of The Outsiders (via Entertainment Weekly ). The post, featuring a hotel cast list, not only recalled the early days of these actors but also underlined how many of them went on to become A-list celebrities. This photo included The Outsiders actors like Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane, and Ralph Macchio, alongside Lowe and Cruise, each of whom would later carve out their own unique path in Hollywood.

The Instagram post served as a reminder of the extraordinary talent pool present in The Outsiders . Patrick Swayze gained fame with Dirty Dancing , Matt Dillon with There's Something About Mary, Emilio Estevez with The Mighty Ducks , Diane Lane with Streets of Fire , and Ralph Macchio became a household name with The Karate Kid . These actors, along with Lowe and Cruise, have since been recognized for their diverse and impactful contributions to the film industry, demonstrating the enduring legacy of The Outsiders as a launching pad for their astonishing careers.

Where to Watch The Outsiders

Source: ET Online , Entertainment Weekly

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'The Outsiders,' 38 years later

• S. E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders" was adapted into a 1983 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
• It follows two opposing groups — lower-class greasers and upper-class socs — and the tension between them.
• The cast was filled with unknowns who went on to become some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

C. Thomas Howell played the sensitive Ponyboy Curtis, the main character of the novel and the film.

Howell was 16 years old while filming "The Outsiders," which was only his second role ever — he had a brief part in 1982's "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial."

After taking on the role of Ponyboy, Howell was one of Hollywood's most in-demand young stars. In the '80s alone, he appeared in "Tank," "Grandview, USA," "Red Dawn" (alongside "Outsiders" brother Patrick Swayze), "Secret Admirer," "The Return of the Musketeers," and, most infamously , "Soul Man."

C. Thomas Howell, 54, has worked extensively but never again had a leading role like Ponyboy.

Howell appeared in multiple direct-to-video films throughout the '90s and 2000s. He also appeared in a long-delayed sequel to "The Hitcher" in 2003, "The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting," and had a small role in "The Amazing Spider-Man" in 2012. More recently, Howell played longtime political aide Walter Jenkins in 2016's "LBJ."

He's also had a career in voice acting, with roles in "Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox," "Justice League: Gods and Monsters," "Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay," and video games "Injustice 2" and "Lego DC Super-Villains."

On the TV front, he's appeared in episodes of dozens of TV shows, including "24," "Criminal Minds" as the Boston Reaper, "Castle," "Sons of Anarchy," "Grimm," "Stitchers," "The Punisher" in the MCU, "Animal Kingdom," and "Bosch," among others.

Howell was married to his "Soul Man" co-star Rae Dawn Chong from 1989 to 1990 . He then married Sylvie Anderson in 1992, and they have three kids together. She filed for divorce in 2016 .

Matt Dillon played the unstable and hardened greaser Dallas "Dally" Winston.

Dillon was 19 when "The Outsiders" was released, fittingly, as Dally was an older character in the novel and the film. He meets a heartbreaking end that we won't spoil, but it's possible the trend of "broken" teenage boys may have started with Dally.

Dillon had already appeared in another S. E. Hinton adaptation , "Tex," the year before "The Outsiders," along with films "Over the Edge," "My Bodyguard," and "Little Darlings." He solidified his teen-idol status with "Outsiders," another S. E. Hinton adaptation "Rumble Fish," "The Flamingo Kid," "Kansas," and "Drugstore Cowboy," which earned him an Independent Spirit Award .

He continued to establish Hollywood dominance in the '90s with roles in "Singles," "There's Something About Mary," and "Wild Things."

During this time, he also dated multiple A-listers, like Cameron Diaz, Heather Graham, and Brooke Shields.

Dillon, 57, was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 2004's "Crash."

Dillon made his directorial debut with 2002 film "City of Ghosts," to mixed reviews. Two years later, he starred in "Crash," which garnered him a Golden Globe nomination, an Oscar nomination, and a SAG nomination, among others. The film itself won the Oscar for best picture.

He then appeared in comedies such as "Herbie: Fully Loaded," "You, Me and Dupree," "Girl Most Likely," "The Art of the Steal," and "Old Dogs," in addition to dramatic films like "Loverboy," "Sunlight Jr.," and most recently the Tom Hardy-led "Capone." Dillon starred in the 2018 Lars von Trier film "The House That Jack Built."

He's also moved into TV, appearing on "Modern Family," and the first season of "Wayward Pines," which earned him a Saturn Award nomination.

He's set to appear in "American Dreamer," based on a segment from "This American Life," alongside Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine, Danny Glover, and Danny Pudi.

Dillon has famously never married .

Ralph Macchio played the sweet Johnny Cade, who cautions Ponyboy to "stay gold."

While Macchio has a baby face, he was actually 22 when he played Johnny, Ponyboy's best friend who comes from an abusive home. He eventually kills a "soc," jump-starting the events of the film.

Macchio, of course, is most famous for "The Karate Kid," which was released the year after "The Outsiders." It became a global phenomenon and spawned a franchise that had two sequels (1986's "The Karate Kid Part II" and 1989's "The Karate Kid Part III"), and is still running to this day.

Daniel LaRusso remains his signature role, but Macchio also appeared in "Teachers," "Crossroads," "Distant Thunder," and "My Cousin Vinny" throughout the '80s and early '90s.

He married his wife, Phyllis Fierro, in 1987 . They have two kids.

Ralph Macchio, 59, is reprising his role of Danny LaRusso in Netflix's "Cobra Kai."

The '90s and 2000s were a bit slow for Macchio , as he mainly cashed in on nostalgia. He appeared as himself in a 2010 short called "Wax On, F--- Off" for Funny or Die — a reference to Mr. Miyagi's famous mantra in "The Karate Kid" — and played himself in 2013's "He's Way More Famous Than You." He also appeared as himself in an episode of "How I Met Your Mother" and at the roast of his "Outsiders" co-star, Rob Lowe in 2016.

Since 2018, Macchio has been starring on "Cobra Kai" as the adult version of Daniel LaRusso, sparring off once against Billy Zabka's Johnny Lawrence, this time through their teenage kids. The show was nominated for outstanding comedy series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Season four will drop on Netflix in December 2021.

Rob Lowe played Ponyboy's older brother Sodapop, who is described as "beautiful."

Lowe was 19 when he played the handsome and popular Sodapop. It was his debut film role, and it led to him becoming one of the biggest stars of the '80s and a founding member of the Brat Pack , a group of '80s movie stars that frequently appeared in films together.

Lowe starred in "Class," "Oxford Blues," "St. Elmo's Fire," "Square Dance," "Youngblood," "About Last Night," and "Bad Influence" with various members of the Brat Pack throughout the '80s. However, his career was temporarily derailed when he was caught in the middle of a sex-tape scandal in 1988. It wouldn't be until the 2000s that he really got his career back on track.

He married his wife, Sheryl Berkoff, in 1991 . They have two sons together, Matthew and John.

Rob Lowe, 57, is now best known for his TV roles in shows like "The West Wing," "Parks and Recreation," and "9-1-1: Lone Star."

Lowe mounted his comeback when he began starring as the idealistic speechwriter Sam Seaborn on "The West Wing" from 1999 to 2003, which earned him an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations .

Soon after, he starred on "Brothers & Sisters" from 2006 to 2010, before moving to "Parks and Recreation," starring as the unbelievably optimistic Chris Traeger.

He's also starred in shows like "The Grinder," which earned him another Golden Globe nod, "Code Black," and currently "9-1-1: Lone Star." Lowe was nominated for another Golden Globe for his role in the TV film "Behind the Candelabra."

Emilio Estevez played the mouthy Two-Bit Mathews, a greaser and friend of Ponyboy.

Estevez was 21 at the time of "The Outsiders." Along with Lowe, Estevez — whose father is Martin Sheen and brother is Charlie Sheen — became a major member of the Brat Pack, with roles in "Tex" (alongside Matt Dillon), "The Breakfast Club," "St. Elmo's Fire," another S. E. Hinton adaptation "That Was Then... This Is Now," and "Young Guns." He also made his directorial debut with 1986's "Wisdom," co-starring his then-girlfriend Demi Moore.

Estevez had his biggest adult role in 1992's "The Mighty Ducks," which led to two more sequels in the '90s, "D2: The Mighty Ducks" in 1994 and "D3: The Mighty Ducks" in 1996 as prickly coach Gordon Bombay.

He has two kids with former model Carey Salley — their relationship overlapped with Estevez's engagement to Moore . In 1992, he married Paula Abdul . They were divorced by 1994.

Estevez, 59, is frequently working behind the camera, though he reprised his role as Gordon Bombay in "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers" in 2021.

Estevez has directed seven more movies since "Wisdom": "Men at Work," "The War at Home," "Rated X," "Culture Clash in AmeriCCa," "Bobby," "The Way," and "The Public." He last acted in a film in 2005's "The L.A. Riot Spectacular."

On the TV side, he's directed numerous episodes of "The Guardian," "Cold Case," "CSI: NY," and an episode of his brother's sitcom "Two and a Half Men." He also had a cameo in "The West Wing" as the younger version of his father Martin Sheen's character, Jed Bartlet.

In 2021, Estevez returned to the "Mighty Ducks" franchise to appear as Bombay in the Disney+ series "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers."

A young unknown by the name of Tom Cruise played Steve Randle, another greaser.

Maybe you've heard of him now, but at the time, Cruise was a relatively green 21-year-old actor who had only been in two movies: "Endless Love" and "Taps." He had small roles in all three films.

But, five months after "The Outsiders," a film called "Risky Business" was released, catapulting Cruise to the A-list. Here's  some  of Cruise's filmography in the late '80s and '90s: "Top Gun" and "The Color of Money" (1986), "Cocktail" and "Rain Man" (1988), "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), "Days of Thunder" (1990), "A Few Good Men" (1992), "Interview with the Vampire" (1994), "Mission: Impossible" and "Jerry Maguire" (1996), and "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Magnolia" (1999) ... not that Cruise's career really slowed down after that either.

Cruise was married to actress Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990. He then married Nicole Kidman in 1990 and the two were together until 2001 and adopted two children together.

Cruise, 59, has been nominated for three Oscars and is one of the highest-grossing movie stars of all time.

Cruise's strong filmography continued through the early 2000s, alternating "Mission: Impossible" installments with movies like "Vanilla Sky," "Minority Report," "War of the Worlds," "Edge of Tomorrow," and a hilarious performance in "Tropic Thunder."

This was followed by a few flops, including "Rock of Ages," "Valkyrie," "Knight and Day," and "American Made." He's also made a few (failed) attempts at starting more franchises like "Jack Reacher" and " The Mummy ."

He's set to star in the seventh "Mission: Impossible" next year, and he will reprise his role as Maverick in "Top Gun: Maverick" in November 2021.

In his personal life, Cruise was in one of the biggest couples of the 2000s as one-half of "TomKat" with Katie Holmes. The two got divorced in 2012, and since then, Cruise hasn't publicly been linked with anyone, though there's some speculation he's dating "Mission: Impossible 7" co-star Hayley Atwell.

Glenn Withrow played Tim, the leader of another greaser gang and a friend of Dally's.

Withrow was 30 when he played a fellow greaser in "The Outsiders." Before that, he had appeared in a few episodes of TV soaps like "Knots Landing" and "The Waltons," and other films like "The Hollywood Knights" and "The Lady in Red."

After "Outsiders," he appeared in another S. E. Hinton adaptation, "Rumble Fish," along with Matt Dillon and Diane Lane, and then appeared in a few other '80s classics, like "The Cotton Club," "Armed and Dangerous," and "Beverly Hills Cop II." His last acting role was a TV movie called "By Dawn's Early Light" in 1990.

He's been married to Hallie Todd , best known for being Lizzie McGuire's mom in the Disney Channel classic, since 1992.

Withrow, 67, now works behind the scenes at his production company, In House Media, Inc.

Withrow started In House Media in 1999, according to LinkedIn . In 2012, he produced, wrote, and directed the horror film " The Mooring ." He co-wrote the film with his wife and their daughter, Ivy. Todd also starred in the film.

His second directorial effort , "The Last Champion," starring Cole Hauser, was completed in 2020.

Diane Lane played the pivotal role of Cherry Valance, a soc who bonds with Ponyboy.

Lane was 18 when she was cast as the soc with a heart of gold, Cherry, but she already had an impressive résumé. She co-starred with Laurence Olivier when she was just 13 in 1979's "A Little Romance" and had appeared in "National Lampoon's Movie Madness," among other roles. The same year as "Outsiders," she appeared in "Rumble Fish," and then appeared in "The Cotton Club" the following year.

In 1989, she starred in the miniseries "Lonesome Dove," which earned her an Emmy nomination .

She married actor Christopher Lambert in 1988, but they were divorced in 1994 . They have one daughter together.

It took a few years for Lane's career to really kick off, but now the 56-year-old is a timeless star.

It wasn't until 1999's "A Walk on the Moon" that Lane's career really took off. After that, she went on a real run, starring in "The Perfect Storm" in 2000, and then "Unfaithful" in 2002. Her role as Connie Summer earned her Oscar, Golden Globe , and SAG nominations.

Since then, she's been in other films like "Under the Tuscan Sun," "Must Love Dogs," "Secretariat," and "Nights of Rodanthe," and had a voice role as Riley's mom in "Inside Out." Lane has also appeared in multiple DC Extended Universe movies as Martha Kent, Superman's mother. She was in "Man of Steel," "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," and both versions of "Justice League."

Lane also had a role in Netflix's "House of Cards," Prime Video's "The Romanoffs," and will appear in the upcoming FX on Hulu adaptation of "Y: The Last Man."

In her personal life, she began dating Josh Brolin and married him in 2004. They were together until February 2013 .

Leif Garrett had already been a teen idol when he was cast as soc Bob Sheldon.

Bob is one of the socs who fights with Johnny and Ponyboy and almost drowns Ponyboy, leading Johnny to stab and kill him in defense.

At the time, 22-year-old Garrett had already been a successful teen idol with multiple Hot 100 hits in the '70s — playing the violent Bob was a real change from his public persona of a child star, with early roles in "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," "Three for the Road," "Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion," and "Skateboard."

He dated future "Desperate Housewives" star Nicollette Sheridan for five years on and off until 1985. He also dated other '80s stars like Justine Bateman and Tatum O'Neal.

Garrett, 59, has had a long and hard road in Hollywood stemming from drug abuse.

Garrett, who began using drugs when he was just 14, went through extensive periods of legal troubles throughout the '90s and 2000s. He hasn't released an album since 2007, nor a single since 1981.

In 2010, he appeared on "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew." In 2019, he published an autobiography , "Idol Truth," in which he wrote about his life as a child star and teen idol.

Darren Dalton played another soc, Randy.

Dalton, who was 18 at the time, played Randy, one of Bob's friends who refuses to participate in a final rumble between the socs and the greasers, claiming it won't change anything. It was his debut film role.

After the film, he appeared in "Red Dawn" alongside some of his "Outsiders" castmates. He also had an uncredited role in "Soul Man" alongside C. Thomas Howell.

Through the rest of the '80s, he appeared in the series "The Best Times," "Cagney & Lacey," and "Freddy's Nightmares." In 1990, he appeared in an episode of "Quantum Leap."

Dalton, 56, hasn't acted since 2012. He's now primarily a screenwriter.

Dalton took a 10-year break from acting between 1997 and 2007, before returning to appear in "The Stolen Moments of September." His last role was in 2012's "The Cottage."

In 1992, he wrote his first screenplay, "To Protect and Serve," which starred "Outsiders" co-star Howell. He also wrote screenplays for "The Day the Earth Stopped" and "The Land That time Forgot." He has a film, "The Lurking Fear," his directorial debut, in post-production.

Michelle Meyrink made her film debut as Marcia, Cherry's friend.

The 21-year-old's first film was "The Outsiders," but she wasted no time appearing in iconic '80s films after, such as "Valley Girl," "Real Genius," and "Revenge of the Nerds." She also co-starred with Darren Dalton in 1984's "National Lampoon's Joy of Sex." Meyrink also appeared in an episode of "Family Ties."

She retired from acting in 1988 — her last role was in "Permanent Record."

Meyrink, 58, founded an acting school in Vancouver.

Meyrink left behind acting to instead teach it — she founded the Actorium , an acting school, in Vancouver.

Patrick Swayze played Ponyboy and Sodapop's older brother Darry, who was taking care of them after their parents died.

"The Outsiders" was only the 31-year-old's second film role after his debut in 1979's "Skatetown, U.S.A." The year after "Outsiders," he joined some of his fellow cast-mates in "Red Dawn."

But it wasn't until 1987 that Swayze really popped off — that year, he starred alongside Jennifer Grey in "Dirty Dancing," which remains iconic. He then starred in "Road House" in 1989, "Ghost" in 1990, "Point Break" in 1991, and "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" in 1995. He also had an iconic "SNL" appearance in 1990, and he was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 1991, a year after his "Outsiders" co-star Cruise was bestowed the title.

He was nominated for three Golden Globes , for his work in "Dirty Dancing," "Ghost," and "To Wong Foo."

He was married to Lisa Niemi from 1975 until his death in 2009.

Swayze died in 2009 at age 57.

Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2008. He continued to work while getting treatment, appearing in the 2008 film "Jump!," and the TV series "The Beast." His final role, Velvet Larry in the 2009 film "Powder Blue," was released in May 2009. He died in September 2009.

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The Outsiders (1983)

Tom cruise: steve randle.

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Quotes 

Steve : Hate to tell you this, buddy, but you have to wear clothes to work. There's a law or something.

Steve : Where are Soda, and Super-dope, anyhow?

Darrel Curtis : Super-what?

Steve : All brawn, no brains.

Darrel Curtis : [the Greasers are on their way to the rumble to fight the Socs]  Listen, Soda. You and Ponyboy, if the fuzz show, you beat it out of there. Hey, we'll get jailed, but you two will get the boys home, you know what I'm sayin'?

Steve : Ain't nobody gonna call the fuzz in this neighborhood! Cause they know better!

[laughs] 

Darrel Curtis : [trying to get their attention again]  All the- Hey, hey! All the- Hey! All the same, you two beat it out of there, ya hear me?

Steve : Beer for breakfast there, Two-Bit?

Dallas : [after Ponyboy gets jumped]  How's the kid?

Ponyboy : I'm fine. What are you doin' outta the cooler, Dal?

Steve : Yeah? And what are you doin' walkin' by your lonesome on the street?

Ponyboy : It's none of your business, smarty.

Steve : What do you mean, none of my business? It is my business. Look at my nose!

Ponyboy : It's huge.

Steve : Smartass. He is a smartass kid.

Sodapop Curtis : Hey, after we beat those Socs tonight, good me and Steve are gonna throw a huge party, and everyone's gonna get ripped!

Steve : OWWWW! WHOOO!

Darrel Curtis : Where you gonna get the dough, li'l man?

Sodapop Curtis : Uhhh... I'll think of something.

[Sits on couch] 

Sodapop Curtis : Hey Two-bit, Mickey's on TV!

[Two-bit sits in front of the TV to watch] 

Steve : What do you think, man? You think it makes me look tough?

Sodapop Curtis : I think it makes you look different.

Steve : What'd you mean, "different"?

Sodapop Curtis : Well, you got a hole in your mouth.

Ponyboy : [reading the paper]  They're thinking about putting me and Soda in a boys' home. No way! They ain't putting me in no boys' home.

Steve : Don't worry, Ponyboy, they don't do that to heroes. Hey, where is Soda and Super-dope, anyhow?

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Arts & Culture | January 31, 2023

S.E. Hinton Is Tired of Talking About ‘The Outsiders.’ No One Else Is

The author reflects on her classic 1967 novel, its 1983 film adaptation and its legacy today

Patrick Sauer

History Correspondent

In late October 2022, a big-time streaming star returned to the city where it all began for him. Ralph Macchio (most recently of “ Cobra Kai ” fame) was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to promote his memoir, Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me . Hosted by Magic City Books , the live conversation in the Art Deco auditorium at Will Rogers High School featured another pop culture icon: S.E. Hinton , the writer whose teenage words would forever be emblematic of young adult literature and whose most famous creation, The Outsiders , helped launch Macchio’s career some 40 years earlier.

Prior to the event, Hinton was quietly going about her business, wandering the school’s halls absent-mindedly. “It was funny when I first came into the building,” she said near the end of a phone conversation last Halloween, a week and a half after her appearance with Macchio. “It’s been a long time, so I was kind of looking around … and a woman came up and asked me, ‘Is this your first time inside the school?’ I said, ‘No, not really.’”

More than half a century ago, Susie Hinton (soon to be known by her gender-neutral pen name) was a student at Will Rogers, where she received a D in creative writing because class assignments were nowhere near as important to her as working out the plot and characters of The Outsiders . The story would come to define her life—even though these days she would rather discuss just about anything else.

“I am very tired of talking about [it],” says Hinton, now 74. “I don’t give speeches about it anymore. The thought of getting into it one more time is almost paralyzing. You’re lucky. This may be the last interview on The Outsiders I’ll ever give. … Oh god, for once, I’d like to discuss Rumble Fish .”

While Rumble Fish is certainly a fine book (and a terrific artsy film ), it isn’t ranked 32nd in PBS’s “ The Great American Read ” poll of the top 100 English-language novels. Over its 56-year lifespan, The Outsiders has sold more than 15 million copies , been published in more than 30 languages and never gone out of print. The 1967 book is a foundational text in the young adult fiction canon, and the 1983 movie version (featuring Macchio as 16-year-old Johnny Cade) plays an outsized role in bringing tourists to Hinton’s lifelong home of Tulsa.

Hinton has nine books to her name , from children’s picture books to a horror novel to a collection of intertwined short stories with adult characters to the coming-of-age works that built her literary career. But none of the others matches the ongoing cultural phenomenon that is The Outsiders . It’s still an English class staple, taught (and occasionally banned ) in middle and high schools across the country. The heartfelt movie adaptation has staying power, too. One of its ramshackle filming locations, the Curtis brothers’ home, opened to the public in 2019 as the Outsiders House Museum . And in 2021, the film underwent a 4K restoration that reinstated several beloved scenes from the book that failed to make the original cut.

Hinton may have said all she has to say about The Outsiders , but it remains an American classic, as relevant and beloved today as when it was published more than five decades ago.

The origins of The Outsiders

Writing was an oasis from a rough upbringing Hinton rarely mentions but did describe to the New York Times in 2005. As author Dinitia Smith wrote:

Ms. Hinton’s, father, Grady, was a door-to-door salesman, her mother, Lillian, an assembly-line worker. “My mother was physically and emotionally abusive,” Ms. Hinton said. “My father was an extremely cold man.”   It’s clearly a difficult admission to make, and one she has almost never made. The family attended a “fundamentalist, hellfire and brimstone” church, she said. “It turned me off religion.”

By the time she was 15, Hinton had already been churning out stories and poems for eight years. She wrote about what she knew: the ongoing battles between the haves and have-nots. In interviews over the years, Hinton described herself as an observer who grew up in North Tulsa “greaser” (slang for their greased-back hairstyles) territory but wasn’t beholden to any one group. She was a tomboy who loved to read and yearned for honest teenage representation.

The genesis for The Outsiders was an incident in which a friend of Hinton’s was jumped by a carload of upper crust “Socs” (short for “Socials”) and beaten up for being a greaser. The escalation in the high school cliques’ long-running rivalry fueled a creative burst that found the 16-year-old finishing the first draft in a week in 1966.

“What I was talking about was real,” Hinton says. “Books at that time for teenagers were ‘Mary Jane goes to prom,’ but [they] didn’t include sneaking in the liquor, which was the main point. Nobody was writing about what was going on in my high school: the social and class warfare.”

The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel told through the eyes of 14-year-old Ponyboy, the youngest of the three orphaned Curtis brothers. He’s a sensitive, Robert Frost -reciting soul whom Hinton once described as “the closest I’ve come to putting myself into a character.” She aimed for realism, so the Socs and greasers smoke and drink, chase girls, and fight.

The book covers two weeks in the chaotic lives of Ponyboy and his best friend, Johnny. The plotting is concrete and relatively sparse. In short order, Johnny kills a Soc who was trying to drown Ponyboy, forcing the greaser friends to go on the run. Seeking shelter in an abandoned church, the boys bond over cigarettes, sunsets and a yearning for life without socioeconomic unrest. Deciding to return home to the face the music, the outlaws become heroes, rescuing children from a burning building at great personal cost.

By the book’s end, three characters are dead, including Johnny and Dallas Winston, a rebellious East Coast transplant who goes down in a hail of police bullets. The violence is frank, as is the utter lack of nurturing adult figures. But what stands out is how much these tough, wrong-side-of-the-tracks teenagers care for one another. They share a depth of feeling and a fraternal love among young American men that hadn’t been displayed before Hinton put her experiences on paper.

“I’ve known many men in my life with an availability of compassion underneath that they’re afraid to show, which is not the case with Susie’s main characters,” says Rilla Askew , an author who has written multiple novels set in her home state of Oklahoma, including the award-winning Fire in Beulah . “They have a tenderness and a decency about them, and it’s probably not a coincidence that it was a young female author writing young male characters.”

Bringing the book to the public

Not long after Hinton finished the manuscript, a friend of a friend advised her to send it to an agent named Marilyn Marlow. In response, Marlow wrote that the novel, originally called A Different Sunset (other rejected titles include The Switch-Blade Boys and The Leather Jackets ), had “captured a certain spirit.” On Hinton’s last day of high school in 1966, she learned Viking Press wanted to publish her book. It came out in 1967—Hinton’s freshman year at the University of Tulsa—with “S.E.,” a gender-neutral name suggested by editor Velma Varner , on the cover. Susie Eloise went out and bought herself a Camaro.

The Outsiders: 50th Anniversary Edition

Celebrating 50 years of the novel that laid the groundwork for the young adult genre, this is the ultimate edition for fans of "The Outsiders."

Initially marketed as a dime-store paperback alongside books by pulp fiction writer Mickey Spillane and the like, The Outsiders saw sluggish sales. Eventually, Viking caught on that the book was selling well where teachers were teaching it. Students and educators kept sales growing year after year through word of mouth, proclaiming that this was the book in which teenagers could see themselves.

“I think The Outsiders is the biggest of all my books because I wrote it at the right time in my life,” Hinton says. “By the time I wrote [the companion novel] That Was Then, This Is Now four years later, I could well remember what it was like being 16, but it’s still not the same as being 16. The Outsiders still resonates because it captures how teenagers feel—the mix of over-the-top emotions and idealism.”

After years of turning down offers from film studios, Hinton eventually sold the rights to The Outsiders to Francis Ford Coppola , an Oscar-winning director in need of a hit. Soon, a large cast of fresh-faced young actors—a future “who’s who” of Hollywood—descended upon Tulsa. The movie would find a whole new audience for Hinton’s debut novel and permanently alter the city for the better.

Bringing The Outsiders to the screen

In 1972, Jo Ellen Misakian was a parent with a new job as a librarian at the Lone Star School in Fresno, California. She gave the book to her 13-year-old son, later telling the New York Times , “I had been so frustrated because the kids, the boys especially, didn’t read. Somehow, The Outsiders caught on.” Misakian decided the book should be turned into a movie, so she contacted a Fresno Bee newspaper columnist who pointed her to Parade magazine’s movie editor. The editor, in turn, suggested contacting Hinton, who never responded.

Undeterred, Misakian wrote a letter to Coppola, who had recently produced The Black Stallion , a 1979 film adapted from the classic 1941 children’s book. She pitched him on The Outsiders with an enclosed paperback copy of the novel. Luckily for her, she mistakenly sent it to his New York City office, where he received almost no fan mail. Coppola handed the book off to producing partner Don Roos, who found the cover illustration tacky and didn’t crack it for weeks, but eventually decided to give it ten whole pages on a flight to see if it was any good. Roos read it cover to cover. Not long after, he flew to Tulsa to meet with Hinton. She wasn’t dazzled by Coppola’s cinematic pedigree, including films like The Conversation , The Godfather and Apocalypse Now , but as Roos explained when The Outsiders was released in March 1983, “she likes horses and felt The Black Stallion showed we had some affinity for young adult fiction.”

Coppola began filming in March 1982, secure in knowing The Outsiders could be completed on the cheap. He’d just blown $26 million, a huge sum at the time, directing One From the Heart , a wayward musical that grossed a mere $636,796 at the box office and eventually bankrupted Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios . The director found salvation in the Socs and the greasers, once saying , “I used to be a great camp counselor, and the idea of being with half a dozen kids in the country and making a movie seemed like being a camp counselor again. It would be a breath of fresh air. I’d forget my troubles and have some laughs.”

A wide-net call that auditioned virtually every known Hollywood actor— a grueling process for all—produced a cast that is, in hindsight, remarkable for its talent: Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, C. Thomas Howell, Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez and Diane Lane. The nimble, stripped-down nature of shooting The Outsiders allowed for a lot of back and forth and a lot of down time, creating a real bond between the actors (or the greasers, anyway).

“It always does something when you take a group of people out of their own element and stick them in a new space. It forces them to turn to each other for support,” says 56-year-old Howell , who played narrator Ponyboy Curtis and will soon appear in the Netflix series “ Obliterated .” “On the weekends, we were playing football and basketball against the Socs. Coppola set it up in good nature, but subconsciously and psychologically, it was creating a real competitive atmosphere and a dislike that wasn’t malicious by any means but definitely gave us a needed sense of rivalry.”

Photojournalist David Burnett saw the insular vibes firsthand after being asked to take publicity stills. Photos that weren’t used for promotion at the time were placed in a reject box and stashed away in a file cabinet. Some 35 years later, Burnett, now 76, heard about the opening of the Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa and offered to dig up and donate some snapshots. This, in turn, led to Burnett’s new book, The Outsiders: Rare and Unseen , a collection of long-shelved stills of the bright young cast. Burnett, whose illustrious career has taken him all over the globe, shooting events like the liftoff of Apollo 11 , the Iranian Revolution and a Bob Marley tour , has fond recollections of his week in Oklahoma.

“It was a very low-key operation, so I just hung around, and every time an actor had a break, I’d ask them for five minutes to get a few shots,” he says. “Nobody knew who these guys were, so they were happy to do it. They were all striving to do something interesting and career-building in ways they didn’t even realize.”

The Outsiders: Rare and Unseen

Photography by David Burnett. This book showcases never-before-seen photos from the set of the 1983 film.

Burnett adds, “If The Outsiders were filmed today, they would be bulkier and in peak physical shape, but what the movie called for was a cast of skinny, innocent-looking, young working-class boys. Tom Cruise didn’t even hide his gnarly teeth . [These were] different times. Being part of it was a real pleasure.”

Howell recalls Hinton’s presence as an important part of the process. She offered wardrobe and hairstyle tips, answered questions about Tulsa back in the day, gave personal insights, offered character motivations, explained the differences in the everyday lives of Socs and greasers, and generally acted as the group’s den mother. She still keeps in touch with most of her “guys,” which is why she acquiesced to Macchio’s overtures to join him on stage last fall.

Though neither Hinton nor Coppola received a screenplay credit—it went solely to Kathleen Rowell , an early drafter of the project—the duo shaped the story and the scenes to keep it authentic to the author’s world.

As a reward for getting the book into Coppola’s hands, Misakian and her Fresno community got their own early screening attended by cast members including Howell, Macchio and pop star-turned-Soc Leif Garrett . Misakian received a standing ovation, calling the experience a fairy tale—and her story didn’t end there.

In September 2021, the name “Jo Ellen Misakian” went up in lights on Tulsa’s Circle Cinema marquee, where the librarian appeared as a guest star at a special screening of the movie she made possible. Misakian also autographed the celebrity wall inside the Curtis brothers’ home, a gathering place for Hinton devotees that was rebuilt by a former hip-hop luminary repaying The Outsiders for helping to save his life.

Preserving The Outsiders ’ legacy

Located in North Tulsa’s Crutchfield neighborhood at 731 North St. Louis Avenue, the 1920s Craftsman bungalow looks more or less the same as it did when Coppola used it as the home of Darry, Sodapop and Ponyboy Curtis. It’s a simple one-story dwelling, a cream-and-white wooden abode featuring a concrete porch dotted with midcentury metal porch furniture to ride out those steamy Oklahoma nights. A rusty chain-link fence surrounds the modest property, where the 1949 Plymouth Special De Luxe driven by Two-Bit Matthews (played by Estevez) rests on the lawn and personalized donation bricks encourage guests to “ stay gold .”

In 2009, Danny Boy O’Connor , whose defunct hip-hop group House of Pain hit it big with “ Jump Around ” in 1992, was touring in Tulsa when inspiration struck. He paid a cabbie $100 to drive him around in search of Outsiders filming locations. Discovering that the Curtis brothers’ house still existed led him to found the Delta Bravo Urban Exploration Team (“Delta Bravo” sounded less corny than “Danny Boy,” he thought), a group of online friends who make pilgrimages to pop culture and true crime sites to photograph them for posterity. It was a way to reconnect with his life, which had spiraled into the abyss after House of Pain broke up in the mid-1990s.

O’Connor was born into a rough Brooklyn life. His father was in and out of prison and would eventually die drunk on the street, he says. After remarrying, his mother moved her son to Los Angeles for a fresh start, but two years later, his alcoholic stepfather died of cirrhosis of the liver. It was the type of upbringing that would culminate in the hip-hop artist burning through millions of dollars on alcohol and drugs.

The young O’Connor found solace in The Outsiders ’ story of orphans and brotherly sensitivity. Unable to afford the house when he first encountered it, he sprang into action and bought it when he saw it go up for sale in 2015.

“If I didn’t save the [house], I knew I was going to be miserable for the rest of my life,” says O’Connor. The property was in terrible condition, he recalls, likening its look to the home of the serial killer in David Fincher’s Se7en . He didn’t have the $150,000 it would take to turn it into a livable home; despite the fact that his only memorabilia from the film was a poster, he decided to turn it into a museum. Preserving the Curtis brothers’ home became his reason for being, a chance to give back and be of service in his new surroundings. Before he undertook the project, however, he needed to connect with Hinton.

“Danny called and asked if we could meet up. I didn’t know anything about his musical career, or even what he looked like, but I knew by the end of lunch that we were going to end up close friends,” Hinton says. “He asked if I had any interest in buying the house. I said, ‘God no, I can barely keep up with my own house,’ but I told him to go ahead if he wanted to.”

Hinton gave more than her blessing. She made the first large donation, $10,000, and provided O’Connor with a brown leather jacket worn by both Dillon and Howell in the film. O’Connor’s original estimate was that it would take six months to get the museum up and running. It took more than three years and $175,000, but for all involved, it was a labor of love.

Today, the 1,400-square-foot interior is filled with furniture, memorabilia, paintings, foreign editions, Burnett’s photographs, multiple switchblades, wardrobe pieces like Estevez’s sleeveless Mickey Mouse shirt (and a faux chocolate cake to boot), and Ponyboy’s desk. An obscure period detail honors another famed Oklahoman: a 1958 record album of Mickey Mantle’s favorite hits (fortunately not sung by the Yankee slugger).

In August 2019, the Outsiders House Museum officially opened its doors, welcoming school groups during the week and the general public on the weekends. O’Connor estimates that some 20,000 people visited in 2022—a sizable uptick from the previous pandemic-plagued years. Private tours allow docents like Donnie Rich to explain their personal connections to the book. As a teenager who didn’t do the reading for class, Rich says he knocked on Hinton’s door in an unsuccessful attempt to secure her help with a book report on what he calls the “Oklahoma Bible.” The museum also hosts concerts, movie screenings and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. True Curtis brother diehards can even crash across the street at the Greaser Hideout Airbnb or, for the full experience, in the still-vacant lot where Macchio’s Johnny slept under a pile of newspapers.

“Danny has done a great job with the Outsiders House,” says Hinton. “People come from all over the United States, and even the world. He said teenage girls have walked in and burst into tears. It floors me.”

For O’Connor, the museum has been a life-changing experience, offering a sense of direction as well as a literal place to live. He relocated from Los Angeles to be the full-time keeper of The Outsiders ’ flame. He was integral in the publishing of Burnett’s photo book and recently signed a contract with Penguin to write the film’s oral history. Nearly everyone from The Outsiders , extras and big stars alike, have dropped by the museum (excluding Cruise, at least so far). So have fanboys like musician Jack White, Leonardo DiCaprio (while filming Martin Scorsese’s upcoming Killers of the Flower Moon ) and the members of Green Day. O’Connor is such a fixture around Tulsa that Mayor G.T. Bynum gave him a key to the city.

Hinton’s life today

Apart from a few years spent in Northern California, Hinton never left Tulsa. She still lives in the house where she and her husband, David Inhofe, a software engineer by trade, raised their son, Nick Inhofe, who now works as an audio engineer in the movie business. She’s down to earth and not wild about discussing herself (Hinton makes it abundantly clear there will “never be a memoir”), but she also chats with fans on Twitter and in the neighborhood writ large. Tulsa provided all she ever needed, and she’s comfortably woven into the fabric of the community, walking unknown through the halls of her alma mater before bringing the local house down.

“I still get recognized sometimes at the grocery store. It’s not a J.D. Salinger situation. I haven’t got the temperament for that or the talent to deserve it,” says Hinton, adding dryly, “You might not know it from reading my books, but my sense of humor is a strong part of my personality.”

Teresa Miller can attest to Hinton’s fun-loving, grounded personality, as well as her central role in the local literary scene. In 1994, Miller founded the Center for Poets and Writers at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa. She spent two decades running it and hosting the PBS television show “ Writing Out Loud .” Along the way, she and Hinton became professional colleagues and close friends—but before they even met, Miller, 70, was thrilled that somebody had upended the standard perception of who Oklahomans are.

Miller explains, “I come from a little Cherokee community called Tahlequah and began working in Tulsa before moving here decades ago, so I’ve lived both a rural and urban life. Growing up, Oklahoma was known for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and The Grapes of Wrath , both of which my father hated because of the Okie stereotypes.”

She adds, “ The Outsiders changed that. It took the Oklahoma story to a different level. [Hinton] showed Tulsa as a regular city with regular city problems and handled it in a unique but universal way. She wrote a [novel about] Oklahoma that had nothing to do with singing cowboys or the Joads . It didn’t eliminate the stereotypes … but The Outsiders and Susie’s subsequent books changed how the outside world viewed us and even how we viewed ourselves.”

It certainly changed how Okie transplant O’Connor sees himself. It’s become his life’s work—and he’s just getting started. Renovations are underway at the iconic DX gas station featured in the film, and he’s aiming to raise enough money to restore other abandoned locales like the Rexall Drug Store . He also has designs on something bigger for his favorite author.

“I want to open, for lack of a better name, the S.E. Hinton Museum, which she absolutely hates,” says O’Connor. (Hinton replies, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”)

The former hip-hop star adds, “I was lost after House of Pain. [Hinton’s] brilliant work gave me purpose. Bringing her legacy to the people is what I’m meant to do.”

If O’Connor’s vision ever comes to fruition, it will honor Hinton’s full literary career, not just the book that put her on the map. At the end of the day, though, the author understands the significance of The Outsiders .

“I’m known best for the first thing I’ve written, but it’s better than not being known at all,” she says. “I just don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

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Raised in Billings, Montana,  Patrick Sauer  is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer who primarily covers sports, history and sports history. His work has appeared in the New York Times , Smithsonian , Defector , Los Angeles Times , Montana Quarterly and countless publications that no longer exist.

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See Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, and Others Read the Same Role for ‘The Outsiders’ Casting

By Kory Grow

Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has made an Instagram post about the unique way he cast his adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders . The movie, which came out in 1983, starred several notable actors — Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon , Diane Lane , Patrick Swayze, and Ralph Macchio , among others — but they didn’t necessarily audition for the roles they got; they auditioned for all the roles.

“Forty-two years ago we cast The Outsiders in a unique way,” Coppola wrote in the caption for his post. “We had all the actors together on a soundstage and would alternate different actors reading for different roles. It was interesting because each of them was watching their competition, so while it could’ve been a volatile situation, it turned into a very positive one. There emerged the natural respect and sense of colleagueship among them. The result worked beautifully and reminded me of my days as a camp counselor.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Francis Ford Coppola (@francisfordcoppola)

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Longer clips of the footage , which originally came out as bonus material on home-video releases, has leaked online in recent decades.

The movie depicts the rivalry between two Oklahoma gangs, the Greasers and the Socs, in 1964. As in Hinton’s book, which came out in 1967, the tension mounts after one gang member is killed by a rival gang member.

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Francis Ford Coppola shares The Outsiders audition footage, with young Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, and more

The audition process for the 1983 film asked each actor to read lines for every role.

Francis Ford Coppola is celebrating The Outsiders with an adorable blast from Hollywood's past.

More than 40 years after its release, the 1983 adaptation of S.E. Hinton's classic novel remains highly regarded, in part because of the many young cast members who would go on to achieve major success. In honor of those star-making performances, the film's director shared footage of the auditions that started it all — including the likes of Patrick Swayze , Tom Cruise , Emilio Estevez , Diane Lane , Ralph Macchio , Matt Dillon , and Rob Lowe .

"42 years ago we cast The Outsiders in a unique way," Coppola wrote in an Instagram post Wednesday. "We had all the actors together on a soundstage and would alternate different actors reading for different roles."

He continued: "It was interesting because each of them was watching their competition, so while it could've been a volatile situation, it turned into a very positive one. There emerged the natural respect and sense of colleagueship among them. The result worked beautifully and reminded me of my days as a camp counselor."

As promised, the footage features the actors reading the parts of various characters from the coming-of-age story, including roles they wouldn't go on to play. Anthony Michael Hall appears in one audition tape, reading for the role of main character Ponyboy — ultimately, it was C. Thomas Howell who booked the part.

A few of the stars chimed in with comments on Coppola's post, reminiscing about the experience. "The people that came to these auditions… so many went on to have great careers," Howell wrote. "Amazing."

"These auditions and this film experience still inform me today," Macchio wrote, thanking the Oscar-winning filmmaker, while Lowe added, "Feels like this was just yesterday!" 

Everett Collection

The film, like the novel, revolves around rival teen gangs in a rural Oklahoma town: the poor Greasers and the wealthy Socs. After Ponyboy and Johnny (Macchio) get into a deadly brawl, they're forced to go into hiding as both gangs come to terms with the consequences of their violent lives. 

The Outsiders stars previously spoke of the intense audition process, filled to the brim with up-and-coming talent, while reflecting on the experience for EW's 2021 oral history of the movie . 

"Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, Dennis Quaid, Mickey Rourke… it was a movie everybody wanted to be in," Macchio recalled. "Leif Garrett was probably the most famous guy who walked in."

Garrett, who eventually landed the role of Bob Sheldon, remarked, "It was all day long, and it was a process of elimination. I really wanted to be Ponyboy, because that's the role. But I wasn't right for it. I'm not that greasy."

Coppola concluded, "It was competitive. But it only spurred them on."

Footage of the auditions was also included as bonus material in previous home-video releases. You can watch the clips shared by Coppola above.

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

Related content:

• Stay gold with your first look at The Outsiders Broadway musical
• Angelina Jolie hires 15-year-old daughter as assistant for Broadway production of The Outsiders
• S.E. Hinton on The Outsiders ' 50th anniversary: 'I could never be that un-self-conscious again'
• An oral history of The Outsiders

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Francis ford coppola shares ‘the outsiders’ audition tapes from tom cruise, patrick swayze.

The film, based on the beloved teen novel, was released in 1983.

By Zoe G Phillips

Zoe G Phillips

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Four decades after its release, director Francis Ford Coppola took to Instagram on Thursday to share audition tapes from his 1983 film, The Outsiders .

The film, based on the 1963 novel by S.E. Hinton, is known for, among other things, launching the careers of many of its young stars, including Rob Lowe , Tom Cruise , Patrick Swayze , Ralph Macchio , Diane Lane , C. Thomas Howell , Matt Dillon and Emilio Estevez .

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Like its namesake book, Coppola’s film tells the story of rival teen gangs in rural Oklahoma: the poor Greasers against the wealthy Socs. Howell played Greaser protagonist Ponyboy, with Macchio as his close friend Johnny. Filling out the cast was Lowe’s Soda Curtis, Swayze’s Darry Curtis, Dillon’s Dally Winston, Estevez’s Two-Bit Mathews and Lane as Cherry Valence.

The director continued: “It was interesting because each of them was watching their competition, so while it could’ve been a volatile situation, it turned into a very positive one. There emerged the natural respect and sense of colleagueship among them. The result worked beautifully and reminded me of my days as a camp counselor.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Francis Ford Coppola (@francisfordcoppola)

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The Outsiders Scene That Made Tom Cruise Physically Ill

At this point in his legendary career, there's almost nothing that Tom Cruise hasn't done onscreen. That statement extends far beyond just delivering solid character work. In fact, Cruise's reputation for doing his own stunt work in films precedes him these days. That reputation is well earned, as Cruise has personally participated in high-speed chases, flown jets and helicopters, dangled from skyscrapers, repelled down buildings, leaped between buildings, and more, in service of big screen spectacle over the years. And if everything goes to plan, he'll even punch a ticket to actual space before all is said and done.

During a 2021 interview on " The Graham Norton Show ," the seemingly ageless Cruise claimed in no uncertain terms he still gets a sincere kick out of doing his own stunt work in his films, and admitted he's even been told by some directors to stop smiling during the death-defying scenes. While Cruise has willingly sacrificed his body in service of such spectacle over the years, it seems one scene from his early career hit "The Outsiders" pushed the famed cinematic daredevil to the absolute limits. And the "Top Gun: Maverick" superstar was clearly not smiling by the time the shot was in the can. 

Cruise apparently went into sugar shock shooting a scene for The Outsiders

If you've followed Tom Cruise's illustrious career since the early days, you know he worked with some of cinema's biggest names prior to his "Top Gun" breakout. And during the same interview with " The Graham Norton Show ," Cruise regaled the talk show host and his fellow guests with a couple of hilarious tales, one of which involved an unfortunate culinary decision he made for Francis Ford Coppola's stylish 1983 ensemble drama " The Outsiders ."

That decision found Cruise caught in a tricky digestive loop in a scene where he and several of the film's esteemed cast members hash out a family problem. The talky scene finds Cruise's Steve Randle contributing to the conversation while chomping down on chocolate cake. According to Cruise, the decision to actually eat cake in the scene was innocent enough. "I was working with Coppola," he said, "and I was like, 'You know what, I'm going to eat chocolate cake in the scene ... it's part of the character, I'm going to eat chocolate cake.'"

The choice soon came back to haunt Cruise as the scene took longer than anticipated to shoot. "We ended up shooting this scene for three days," he told Norton, "and we did like 100 takes of me eating chocolate cake, and I had to keep eating it." Cruise continued by adding the first few takes were pretty enjoyable. But by the end of day three, he'd had more than enough, claiming, "I was in sugar shock, I was vomiting." Culinary regrets aside, the cake scene stands as proof that even early in his career Cruise would do anything necessary to make a moment memorable.

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Breaking news, ‘the outsiders’ star matt dillon visits broadway show — poses with producers angelina jolie, her daughter vivienne .

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Stay gold, Ponyboy. 

Matt Dillon, 60, who starred in the 1983 movie “The Outsiders,” stopped by the Broadway musical adaptation (in previews) Wednesday night. 

Angelina Jolie, 48, and her daughter, Vivienne, 15, are among the show’s producers, and also posed for snaps with Dillon, along with cast members Sky Lakota-Lynch, Kevin William Paul, Brent Comer, Joshua Boone, Joshua Schmidt and Brody Grant. 

In the photos, Dillon is all smiles with the young cast, while Vivienne looks poised and also smiles. 

Vivienne is one of Jolie’s children with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, 60, who she split from in 2016. The couple also have Knox, 15, and Shiloh, 17, along with adopted kids Maddox, 22, Zahara, 19, and Pax, 20. 

Jolie has kept a low profile since her bitter divorce from Pitt , not appearing in many movies since 2019’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.”

About Vivienne producing the play, Jolie told People , “Viv reminds me of my mother in that she isn’t focused on being the center of attention but in being a support to other creatives,” she said, referring to actress Marcheline Bertrand , who died of cancer in 2007 at 56. 

“She’s very thoughtful and serious about theatre and working hard to best understand how to contribute,” Jolie added. 

Based on the 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton, “The Outsiders” is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the ‘60s. It follows conflicts between poor teens who are divided into groups known as “greasers” and more affluent teens, known as “Socs.” 

The movie, which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starred C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy Curtis; Patrick Swayze as his brother, Darrel; Rob Lowe as their other brother, Sodapop; and their friends Johnny Cade (Ralph Macchio) and Dallas Winston (Dillon, who was only 19 at the time of filming). Tom Cruise and Emilio Estevez were also in the movie, making it a “who’s who” of big ’80s stars before they were famous.

“Stay gold, Ponyboy” is a famous line that Johnny says to Ponyboy during the bittersweet ending. 

“She is wonderful, She was on the sets… and she really understands the way kids think – especially male kids,” Dillon said about author Hinton, during a 1983 interview about the movie.

“She was the first person to ever write a book that really understood teenagers. Well, of course ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ I shouldn’t forget; it was very honest. I read it and I liked Holden Caulfield because he was so tough and so simple. And with Hinton, I got the same feeling,” he said.

“The Outsiders” on Broadway officially opens April 11. 

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The Outsiders Star Matt Dillon Visits Broadway Show, Poses with Producers Angelina Jolie, Daughter Vivienne

Preview performances for the musical adaptation are currently underway, with an opening night of April 11

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Matt Dillon is staying gold on the Great White Way.

The actor, who starred as Dallas "Dally" Winston in the 1983 film The Outsiders , stopped by the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City on Wednesday, April 3, for a performance of the story's Broadway musical adaption, which is currently playing in previews.

Dillon, 60, posed for multiple group photos with the cast and crew, which included two of its producers: Angelina Jolie and her 15-year-old daughter Vivienne .

The star posed in the middle of a large group shot with Vivienne seated below him, while Jolie, 48, was pictured near the right of the photo.

A smaller group snap featured several of the musical's core cast — Sky Lakota-Lynch, Kevin William Paul, Brent Comer, Joshua Boone, Joshua Schmidt and Brody Grant — along with Dillon and Jolie.

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Based on S. E. Hinton 's beloved 1967 coming-of-age novel, The Outsiders movie takes   place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s and follows brothers Ponyboy Curtis ( C. Thomas Howell ), Darrel Curtis ( Patrick Swayze ), Sodapop "Soda" Curtis ( Rob Lowe ) and their group of friends some time after the death of the Curtis brothers' parents. Its plot largely revolves around conflicts between the group of greasers and more affluent teenagers in the city, known as Socs.

The Francis Ford Coppola -directed movie also stars Ralph Macchio as Johnny Cade, Emilio Estevez as Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews, Tom Cruise as Steve Randle and Diane Lane as Cherry Valance.

Jolie is one of the lead producers on the musical, a project she was inspired to take on after Vivienne saw the out-of-town tryout at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. The teenager will be involved closely in the production, Jolie said in August.

"Viv  reminds me of my mother  in that she isn’t focused on being the center of attention but in being a support to other creatives," Jolie said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. "She’s very thoughtful and serious about theatre and working hard to best understand how to contribute."

Nancy Moran/Sygma via Getty

Last month, PEOPLE shared the exclusive first listen and music-video premiere of one of the musical's most poignant songs: "Stay Gold," a phrase that will be familiar to fans of  The Outsiders .

Inspired by  Robert Frost ’s poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay," it's a line told to protagonist Ponyboy (played in the Broadway adaptation by Grant) by close friend Johnny (played by Lakota-Lynch) during one of the story's most pivotal moments.

The musical cites both the novel and film as source material. Aside from writing the score, Justin Levine is also credited as the co-book writer with Adam Rapp. Levine provided music arrangements and orchestrations, too, with additional orchestrations by musical director Matt Hinkley.

Danya Taymor directs, with choreography by Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman.

Tickets for  The Outsiders, which officially opens April 11, are on sale now at  outsidersmusical.com .

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In 2012, Cruise was Hollywood's highest-paid actor. Sixteen of his films grossed over $100 million in the United States, and 23 have grossed in excess of $200 million worldwide. As of September 2017, Cruise's films have grossed more than $3.7 billion at U.S. and Canadian box offices and more than $9.0 billion worldwide, making him the eighth highest-grossing actor in North America and one of the top-grossing actors worldwide.

He has won Golden Globe Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture in Drama in 1990 for  Born on the Fourth of July ; Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture in Comedy/Musical in 1997 for  Jerry Maguire ; and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in 2000 for  Magnolia . In 2002, Cruise won the Saturn Award for Best Actor for  Vanilla Sky . In 2003, he won an AFI Movie of the Year Award for  The Last Samurai  and an Empire Award for Best Actor for  Minority Report .

Cruise is an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology and its associated social programs, and credits it with helping him overcome dyslexia. In the 2000s, his Church affiliated criticisms of psychiatry and anti-depressant drugs, particularly for 9/11 rescue workers, and his efforts to promote Scientology as a religion in Europe sparked controversies, as did a leaked video interview of him promoting Scientology.

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• 2.2.1 Break with Paramount
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Early life [ ]

Cruise was born in Syracuse, New York, the son of Mary Lee ( née  Pfeiffer), a special education teacher, and Thomas Cruise Mapother III, an electrical engineer, both originally from Louisville, Kentucky. He has three sisters: Lee Anne, Marian, and Cass. They are of English, German, and Irish ancestry. One of Cruise's paternal great-great-great-grandfathers, Patrick Russell Cruise, was born in north County Dublin in 1799; he married Teresa Johnson in County Meath, in 1825. They left Ireland for the United States that same year and settled in New York. They had a daughter, Mary Paulina Russell Cruise, whose son Thomas Cruise Mapother was Cruise's great-grandfather. A cousin, William Mapother, is also an actor; he and Cruise have appeared in five films together.

Cruise grew up in near poverty, and had a Catholic upbringing. The family was dominated by his abusive father, whom Cruise has described as "a merchant of chaos." Cruise has said that he was beaten by his father, whom he has called a "bully and coward." He stated, "He was the kind of person where, if something goes wrong, they kick you. It was a great lesson in my life—how he'd lull you in, make you feel safe and then, bang! For me, it was like, 'There's something wrong with this guy. Don't trust him. Be careful around him.'"

Cruise spent part of his childhood in Canada. His family moved to Beacon Hill, Ottawa, in late 1971 so that Cruise's father could take a position as a defense consultant with the Canadian Armed Forces. There, Cruise attended the newly opened Robert Hopkins Public School for much of grade four and grade five. In grade four, Cruise first became involved in drama, under the tutelage of George Steinburg. Cruise and six other boys put on an improvised play to music called  IT  at the Carleton Elementary School drama festival. Drama organizer Val Wright, who was in the audience that night, reflected, "The movement and improvisation were excellent. It was a classic ensemble piece." Cruise also enjoyed sports at the school and played floor hockey, though he was known more for his aggression than his talent.

In sixth grade, Cruise went to Henry Munro Middle School in Ottawa, Canada. However, in the spring of that year, Cruise's mother left his father, taking Cruise and his sisters back to the United States. His father died of cancer in 1984. Cruise briefly attended a Franciscan seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, on a church scholarship and aspired to become a Catholic priest, before his interest in acting. In his senior year, he played football for the varsity team as a linebacker, but he was cut from the squad after getting caught drinking beer before a game. In total, Cruise attended 15 schools in 14 years, including stints in at least two suburban New Jersey towns, including Glen Ridge.

Cruise first appeared in a bit part in the 1981 film  Endless Love , followed by a major supporting role as a crazed military academy student in  Taps  later that year. In 1983, Cruise was part of the ensemble cast of  The Outsiders . That same year he appeared in  All the Right Moves  and  Risky Business , which has been described as "A Generation X classic, and a career-maker for Tom Cruise", and which, along with 1986's  Top Gun , cemented his status as a superstar. Cruise also played the male lead in the Ridley Scott film  Legend , released in 1985.

Cruise followed up  Top Gun  with  The Color of Money , which came out the same year, and which paired him with Paul Newman. 1988 saw him star in  Cocktail , which earned him a nomination for the Razzie Award for Worst Actor. Later that year he starred with Dustin Hoffman in  Rain Man , which won the Academy Award for Best Film and Cruise the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. Cruise portrayed real-life paralyzed Vietnam Warveteran Ron Kovic in 1989's  Born on the Fourth of July , which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama, the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Actor, a nomination for BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Cruise's first Best Actor Academy Award nomination.

Cruise's next films were  Days of Thunder  (1990) and  Far and Away  (1992), both of which co-starred then-wife Nicole Kidman as his love interest. In 1994, Cruise starred along with Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas and Christian Slater in Neil Jordan's  Interview with the Vampire , a gothic drama/horror film that was based on Anne Rice's best-selling novel. The film was well received, although Rice was initially quite outspoken in her criticism of Cruise having been cast in the film, as Julian Sands was her first choice. Upon seeing the film however, she paid $7,740 for a two-page ad in  Daily Variety  praising his performance and apologizing for her previous doubts about him.

In 1996, Cruise appeared as superspy Ethan Hunt in the reboot of  Mission: Impossible , which he produced. It was a box office success, although it received criticism regarding the Jim Phelps character being a villain despite being a protagonist of the original television series.

In 1996, he took on the title role in  Jerry Maguire , for which he earned a Golden Globe and his second nomination for an Academy Award. In 1999, Cruise costarred with Kidman in the erotic Stanley Kubrick film  Eyes Wide Shut , and took a rare supporting role, as a motivational speaker, Frank T.J. Mackey, in  Magnolia , for which he received another Golden Globe and nomination for an Academy Award.

In 2000, Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in the second installment of the  Mission Impossible  films, releasing  Mission: Impossible 2 . The film was directed by Hong Kong director John Woo and branded with his gun fu style, and it continued the series' blockbuster success at the box office, taking in almost $547M in worldwide figures, like its predecessor, being the third highest-grossing film of the year; despite being a success it along with its predecessor received a mixed reception. Cruise received an MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance for this film.

His next five films were major critical and commercial successes. The following year Cruise starred in the romantic thriller  Vanilla Sky  (2001) with Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz. In 2002, Cruise starred in the dystopianscience fiction thriller  Minority Report  which was directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick.

In 2003, he starred in Edward Zwick's historical drama  The Last Samurai , for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor. In 2005, Cruise worked again with Steven Spielberg in  War of the Worlds , a loose adaptation of the H. G. Wells novel of the same name, which became the fourth highest-grossing film of the year with US$591.4 million worldwide. Also in 2005, he won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie Star, and the MTV Generation Award. Cruise was nominated for seven Saturn Awards between 2002 and 2009, winning once. Nine of the ten films he starred in during the decade made over $100 million at the box office.

In 2006, he returned to his role as Ethan Hunt in the third installment of the  Mission Impossible  film series,  Mission: Impossible III . The film was more positively received by critics than the previous films in the series, it grossed nearly $400 million at the box office. In 2007, Cruise took a rare supporting role for the second time in  Lions for Lambs , which was a commercial disappointment. This was followed by an unrecognizable appearance as "Les Grossman" in the 2008 comedy  Tropic Thunder  with Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. This performance earned Cruise a Golden Globenomination. Cruise played the central role in the historical thriller  Valkyrie  released on December 25, 2008 to box office success.

In March 2010, Cruise completed filming the action-comedy  Knight and Day , in which he re-teamed with former costar Cameron Diaz; the film was released on June 23, 2010. On February 9, 2010, Cruise confirmed that he would star in  Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol , the fourth installment in the  Mission: Impossible  series. The film was released in December 2011 to high critical acclaim and box office success. Unadjusted for ticket price inflation, it is Cruise's biggest commercial success to date.

On May 6, 2011, Cruise was awarded a humanitarian award from the Simon Wiesenthal Centre and Museum of Tolerance for his work as a dedicated philanthropist. In mid-2011, Cruise started shooting the movie  Rock of Ages , in which he played the character Stacee Jaxx. The film was released in June 2012.

Cruise starred as Jack Reacher in the film adaptation of British author Lee Child's 2005 novel  One Shot.  The film was released on December 21, 2012. It met with positive reviews from critics and was a box office success grossing $216,568,266 worldwide. In 2013, he starred in the science fiction film  Oblivion  based on director Joseph Kosinski's graphic novel of the same name. The film met with mixed reviews and grossed $285,600,588 worldwide. It also starred Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko.

As of mid-2015 Cruise's films have grossed about $8.2 billion worldwide.

Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in the fifth installment of the  Mission: Impossible  series,  Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation , which he also produced. Returning cast members included Simon Pegg as Benji and Jeremy Renner as William Brandt, with Christopher McQuarrie as director.

Cruise starred in the 2017 reboot of Boris Karloff's 1932 horror movie  The Mummy . The new film, also titled  The Mummy , is the second installment in the Universal Studios' Monsters Cinematic Universe, intended to be a shared universe with reboots of all the studios' classic monster characters. The film was produced by Alex Kurtzman, Chris Morgan, and Sean Daniel. It was written by Jon Spaihts and directed by Kurtzman.

Producing [ ]

Cruise partnered with his former talent agent Paula Wagner to form Cruise/Wagner Productions in 1993, and the company has since co-produced several of Cruise's films, the first being  Mission: Impossible  in 1996 which was also Cruise's first project as a producer.

Cruise is noted as having negotiated some of the most lucrative film deals in Hollywood, and was described in 2005 by Hollywood economist Edward Jay Epstein as "one of the most powerful – and richest – forces in Hollywood." Epstein argues that Cruise is one of the few producers (the others being George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Jerry Bruckheimer) who are regarded as able to guarantee the success of a billion-dollar film franchise. Epstein also contends that the public obsession with Cruise's tabloid controversies obscures full appreciation of Cruise's exceptional commercial prowess.

Cruise/Wagner Productions, Cruise's film production company, is said to be developing a screenplay based on Erik Larson's  New York Times  bestseller,  The Devil in the White City  about a real life serial killer, H. H. Holmes, at Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition. Kathryn Bigelow is attached to the project to produce and helm. Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way, is also developing a film about Holmes and the World's Fair, in which DiCaprio will star.

Cruise has produced for multiple films in which he has been. He produced  Mission: Impossible ,  Without Limits ,  Mission: Impossible 2 ,  The Others ,  Vanilla Sky  and many others.

Break with Paramount [ ]

On August 22, 2006, Paramount Pictures announced it was ending its 14-year relationship with Cruise. In the  Wall Street Journal , chairman of Viacom (Paramount's parent company) Sumner Redstone cited the economic damage to Cruise's value as an actor and producer from his controversial public behavior and views. Cruise/Wagner Productions responded that Paramount's announcement was a face-saving move after the production company had successfully sought alternative financing from private equity firms.

Industry analysts such as Edward Jay Epstein commented that the real reason for the split was most likely Paramount's discontent over Cruise/Wagner's exceptionally large share of DVD sales from the  Mission: Impossible  franchise.

Management of United Artists [ ]

In November 2006, Cruise and Paula Wagner announced that they had taken over the film studio United Artists. Cruise acts as a producer and star in films for United Artists, while Wagner serves as UA's chief executive.

Production began in 2007 of  Valkyrie , a thriller based on the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler. The film was acquired in March 2007 by United Artists. On March 21, 2007 Cruise signed on to play Claus von Stauffenberg, the protagonist. This project marked the second production to be greenlighted since Cruise and Wagner took control of United Artists. The first was its inaugural film,  Lions for Lambs , directed by Robert Redford and starring Redford, Meryl Streep and Cruise.  Lambs  was released on November 9, 2007, opening to unimpressive box office revenue and critical reception.

In August 2008, Wagner stepped down from her position at United Artists; she retains her stake in UA, which combined with Cruise's share amounts to 30 percent of the studio.

• 1 Dallas Winston
• 2 Ponyboy Curtis
• 3 Johnny Cade

Matt Dillon poses for photo with Angeline Jolie, the cast of 'The Outsiders' musical on Broadway

Dillon played Dallas Winston in the film adaption of the S.E. Hinton novel.

Matt Dillon, a star of the 1983 classic film "The Outsiders," dropped by the Broadway adaption of the movie which is currently in previews before opening night on April 11.

Dillon also posed on Wednesday with Angelina Jolie , who is a producer on the project.

MORE: Brian d'Arcy James, Kelli O'Hara discuss Broadway show

Dillon, who played Dallas Winston in the adaption, smiled alongside cast members at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

The "Wild Things" star can be seen posing with the Broadway group, representing the "Greaser" team he initially starred in more than four decades ago alongside Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, and more.

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"This thrilling new Broadway musical navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them," according to the musical's website.

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Tom cruise's teeth before and after photos and dental procedure

Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood's best action stars. He's a real action star who is not afraid to get down and dirty, doing crazy stunts himself. It is amazing how much he's been able to pull off in his movies, including hanging on the side of a plane, skydiving, and climbing the world's tallest building. However, regardless of how remarkable he is as an actor, fans cannot help but notice Tom's smile has one tooth that is a bit out of place. And he has been putting great effort into having a great smile. You will be impressed by Tom Cruise’s teeth before and after his dental procedure. So, how does he look today?

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Tom Cruise has always been that Hollywood actor that never disappoints. All his movies are top-notch, with stunts out of this world. But, even though he's been consistent throughout his career, his teeth are a different story, as he has had a dental procedure done to improve his grin. So, what year did Tom Cruise get his teeth fixed?

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Tom Cruise’s profile summary

What is wrong with tom cruise’s smile.

When Tom Cruise came into Hollywood in the early 1980s, his smile was far from perfect. His grin then was noticeably crooked and didn't look natural. The main issue was his top incisor that took over his dental midline. It looked unnatural.

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Since Hollywood seeks perfection in their actor's looks, more so dental formula, he didn't quite fit. But still, he got the roles and did an amazing job.

The actor has never been shy about flaunting his less-than-perfect smile. In 1983, he voluntarily removed the cap from his front tooth that had been chipped by a flying puck in a hockey match to perfectly fit the role.

Tom Cruise’s teeth before and after

Tom Cruise fixed his tooth, undergoing extensive treatment to have his current smile. However, if you have checked out some of the actor's photos, you will notice that the tooth is just a bit out of place. You will also see that his teeth are not symmetrical with the centre of his face. So, what is the story behind Tom Cruise’s middle tooth?

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How were tom cruise's teeth while young? Tom Cruise was only 20 years old and started his acting career in the early 1980s. Then, his teeth were misaligned and were also discoloured. So he only worked on it using teeth whitening products and alignment operations .

Tom Cruise is not only famous for his remarkable acting skills but his smile. So, in 2002, he decided to have his teeth fixed to obtain the smile he has now. The entertainer had ceramic braces on his teeth when he was 40 years old, just after his split from the Australian actress Nicole Kidman.

The braces are colour matched to one's teeth and are virtually invisible. Thanks to the braces that resulted in the improved dental midline, Tom Cruise had his smile restored.

People were impressed by Tom Cruise's smile when he attended the Jerry Bruckheimer Hand and Footprint Ceremony in May 2010. It was a significant difference from 25 years ago when he appeared in The Outsiders, where he had the cap removed from the front of his teeth.

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Tom Cruise's teeth improved, which was quite visible when he attended the Rock of Ages premiere in 2012. His smile's asymmetry was impressive.

December 2012 - 2022

Tom Cruise has been attending different events over the years, and people have been impressed by his improved smile. For instance, fans noticed the good-looking, all-smiling Cruise on the red carpet of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back improved teeth. However, they also noted that the actor's middle incisors appeared larger than his right.

Quick facts about Tom Cruise

• What did Tom Cruise do to his teeth? Tom Cruise volunteered to have the cap of his front tooth removed to perfectly fit the role of Steve in 1983's The Outsiders.
• Did Tom Cruise have his teeth fixed? Yes, Tom Cruise has had cosmetic surgery on his teeth to alter their appearance.
• When did Tom Cruise get new teeth? Tom Cruise got his teeth fixed in the early 2000s.
• How long did Tom Cruise have braces? Tom Cruise had braces for approximately two years. He got them installed in 2002 when he was 40 years old.
• What disease does Tom Cruise have? Tom Cruise suffers from dyslexia. He spent his childhood trying to hide it from his peers.
• How did Tom Cruise lose his front teeth? The famous actor chipped his front tooth when a flying puck hit him in a hockey match.
• Is Tom Cruise's face symmetrical? Unfortunately, Tom Cruise's teeth are not symmetrical. One of his central incisor teeth is at the centre of his face.

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Thanks to braces, you can notice a big difference in Tom Cruise's teeth before and after he underwent the dental procedure. The actor's teeth are now aligned, and his dental midline is restored.

Are you looking for more information about celebrities with hand deformities that you have never noticed? Tuko.co.ke featured an informative article about popular personalities with such physical deformities but has not stopped them from being successful.

For instance, did you know that Denzel Washington has a crooked pinky finger? However, it is hardly noticeable in his movies, and you must pay close attention to spot it. So, who else has unusual physical features?

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Matt Dillon poses for photo with Angeline Jolie, the cast of 'The Outsiders' musical on Broadway

Matt Dillon, a star of the 1983 classic film "The Outsiders," dropped by the Broadway adaption of the movie which is currently in previews before opening night on April 11.

Dillon also posed on Wednesday with Angelina Jolie , who is a producer on the project.

MORE: Brian d'Arcy James, Kelli O'Hara discuss Broadway show

Dillon, who played Dallas Winston in the adaption, smiled alongside cast members at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

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The "Wild Things" star can be seen posing with the Broadway group, representing the "Greaser" team he initially starred in more than four decades ago alongside Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, and more.

"This thrilling new Broadway musical navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them," according to the musical's website.

MORE: 'Back to the Future' musical heading to Broadway

"The Outsiders," originally adapted from S.E. Hinton's 1967 novel of the same name, tells the story of a group of teenagers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose quintessential 1960's style and attitude towards society captivated audiences in the 1983 film adaption. The book and film's classic line "Stay golden, Pony Boy," has transcended generations.

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‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Bounces Past Ginormous Global Box Office Milestone

'Kung Fu Panda 4' is now the second-biggest installment of the franchise domestically.

The Big Picture

• Kung Fu Panda 4 has grossed $410 million globally, surpassing previous installments domestically but still lagging behind worldwide.
• Universal is handling the release of Kung Fu Panda 4 , which sees the return of Jack Black, opposite Ian McShane, Viola Davis, Ke Huy Quan, and more.
• Directed by Mike Mitchell, the movie has received positive reviews.

Having completed a month in theaters worldwide, Universal’s Kung Fu Panda 4 passed two massive box office milestones this weekend. The fourth installment in the long-running animated series has been quietly building steam in the last few weeks , as it receives a staggered global roll-out, which is the norm for animated movies. It added three new minor markets this weekend — New Zealand, Taiwan, and Turkey — while continuing its admirable performance in holdover territories.

Kung Fu Panda 4 grossed just under $8 million this weekend in domestic theaters, finishing at the number five spot. At the same time, it generated around $27 million from 76 overseas markets, for an international total of just over $244 million. Combined with the $165 million that it has grossed domestically, the film’s cumulative global haul now stands at a staggering $410 million . Kung Fu Panda 4 has now overtaken the third and second films at the domestic box office , but globally, it’s still trailing its predecessors by a significant margin.

The franchise began in 2008, with the first Kung Fu Panda movie grossing over $200 million domestically and over $630 million worldwide. Released in 2011, Kung Fu Panda 2 grossed $165 million domestically and more than $660 million globally. Kung Fu Panda 3 made $143 million in domestic theaters and a hair over $520 million worldwide in 2016. It was seen as a trilogy-capper of sorts before Kung Fu Panda 4 was touted as a new beginning for the series.

The 'Kung Fu Panda' Franchise Has Grossed Over $2 Billion Globally

This is the first time that Universal is handling the release of one of these movies — previous installments were distributed by Paramount and 20th Century Studios. Kung Fu Panda 4 is also the least costly entry of the franchise, with a reported price tag of $85 million. This is keeping with post-pandemic trends for animated films, several of which — The Super Mario Bros. Movie , Migration , and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish to name just three — have reportedly had budgets of around $100 million or less. This wasn’t how things used to be some years ago, with most major animated movies costing around $150 million to produce. Indeed, all three previous installments in the Kung Fu Panda series cost between $130 million and $160 million, reportedly.

Directed by Mike Mitchell , Kung Fu Panda 4 has received mostly positive reviews, although reception was more enthusiastic for the previous installments. The movie features the returning voice talents of Jack Black , Dustin Hoffman , Bryan Cranston , James Hong, and Ian McShane , alongside newcomers Awkwafina , Ke Huy Kwan, and Viola Davis . You can watch Kung Fu Panda 4 in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Kung Fu Panda 4

After Po is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.

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