I think this one was Cruise trying to prove he is still a thespian, and not just the last relic of the monoculture movie star system. Also, this:

It marked the first film in a new pact with Cruise — the biggest movie star in the world — to make original and franchise films with Warner Bros. Pairing him with Iñárritu, one of only three directors to win back-to-back Best Director Oscars, seemed like a no-brainer.

They definitely over-committed financially on this Temu Kubrick movie (though from what I understand it's still half-decent), but I think what they're really banking on is whatever franchise or action fodder they extract from his aging bones and veneers.