Technical setback for Cruise film

A major scene from Tom Cruise's World War II thriller Valkyrie will have to be re-shot after footage was damaged at a film processing plant in Germany.

The footage involved scenes shot at a memorial in Berlin the production had initially been prevented from using.

A spokesman said the damage was not extensive and would not have any effect on the film's schedule or budget.

It is the latest mishap to befall the film, which tells of a 1944 plot by Nazi officers to assassinate Hitler.

Eleven of its extras were injured last month after falling off a truck, while the film was initially prevented from shooting at a Berlin building known as the Bendler Block, now a memorial for Third Reich resistance fighters.

'No sabotage'

Production company United Artists (UA) has already been given permission to return there to reshoot the ruined scenes.

UA said it did not suspect sabotage was to blame for the chemical mishap at the Arri Munich processing plant.

Cruise plays Claus von Stauffenberg in the film, the German colonel who was executed after plotting to assassinate Adolf Hitler with a suitcase bomb.

Valkyrie, out next summer, is directed by Bryan Singer and co-stars British actors Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson.