Cruise hits back at 'Valkyrie' criticism

Tom Cruise has hit back at criticism of his upcoming World War II thriller Valkyrie.

The movie, which revolves around a plot by insurgent German soldiers to assassinate Adolf Hitler, has suffered setbacks including injured extras and repeated changes of release date.

A trailer showing Cruise playing the role of a German officer with an American accent has also received a mixed reception.

However, the actor said he still expects the film to be a hit and cannot understand why it has come under fire from the media.

He is quoted as saying: "[The criticism] just doesn't make sense to me. The moment I read the screenplay I knew it was an important story, and as it's a true tale of heroic resistance to one of the great villains of history. I can't imagine that people won't want to see it."

Valkyrie, which also stars Kenneth Branagh and Eddie Izzard, opens in cinemas on December 26.