Tom Cruise receives US Navy’s highest civilian honour

Tom Cruise has been awarded the US Navy’s highest civilian honour, the Distinguished Public Service Award, for “outstanding contributions” to the military with his screen roles, highlighted by his portrayal of a naval aviator in Top Gun (1986) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

The honour, presented in London by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, recognises Cruise’s significant impact on naval recruitment and his support of Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Cruise was also celebrated for his roles in action hits Born on the Fourth of July, A Few Good Men and the Mission: Impossible series. Cruise expressed pride in inspiring sailors and credited the success of the Top Gun films to the teamwork of cast and crew. The prestigious civilian honour was previously awarded to Academy Award winners Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks for their work in the World War II movie Saving Private Ryan.

The Thundermans spinoff to premiere soon

Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans spinoff, The Thundermans: Undercover, premieres on January 22. The series follows Phoebe, Max and Chloe as they go undercover to stop a new threat in Secret Shores.

The group of Kira Kosarin, Jack Griffo and Maya Le Clark reprise their roles, facing challenges while keeping their superhero identities secret. They receive their first assignment in the show’s first episode. A preview shows the group talking to a hologram and facing various challenges.

Fantastic Four cast revealed

New promo art for Fantastic Four: First Steps offers a glimpse of the cast, showing Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm.

The artwork, seen on exclusive stickers at the Disney Celebra Christmas concert in Argentina, highlights the iconic characters in action, with Sue manipulating energy, Johnny flying in flames and Ben showcasing his strength. Set in a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world, the film, directed by Matt Shakman and is set to release on July 25, 2025.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 4th, 2025