From the May 2000 issue of "Premiere" magazine: ====================

PREVIEWS
The inside line on the moves that matter this month

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Battlefield Earth

Action; starring John Travolta, Barry Pepper, and Forest Whitaker; directed by Roger Christian

Release date: May 12 (Warner Bros.)

Scientologist Travolta juggled projects to prioritize this adaptation of church founder L. Ron Hubbard's sci-fi novel. Set in the year 3000 A.D., the film unfolds as bloodthirsty aliens led by the 10-feet-tall Terl (Travolta) have enslaved the human race in subterranean dungeons. The planet's only hope lies in a feisty rebel leader (Pepper) who is plotting an uprising. According to Warner Bros., "Battlefield" is a work of fiction in the rein of "Independence Day". It's not a recruitment ad for Scientology. And there are action figures to prove it.

(includes a picture of Travolta as Terl with the caption, "Blown out: Travolta terrorizes "Earth".)

Also in the same issue:

THE POWER LIST
The 100 Most Powerful People in Hollywood

35. John Travolta

Rank Last Year: 24.

Job Title: Heavy Hitter.

Status Report: Lent credibility to routine thriller "The General's Daughter", which commanded $100 million. He and wife Kelly Preston dropped out of "The Shipping News" in part because of its remote Newfoundland location. Threatened to bolt William Morris if the agency didn't help set up "Battlefield Earth", a $60 million-plus sci-fi extravaganza, based on Scientology guru L. Ron Hubbard's novel. Wrapped "Michael" director Nora Ephron's lottery comedy, "Numbers", opposite Lisa Kudrow.

Strengths: Charm and grace in any genre.

Weakness: Studios tired of pampering him. (And those "Battlefield" dreadlocks!)

Yes, It's True: Cut his price tag by $10 million for "Battlefield", but will get a $15 million bonus if domestic gross passes $55 million.