The Hollywood star is currently making "Valkyrie," based on a German officer's plot to kill Adolf Hitler towards the end of the Second World War.

The production has been banned from using military bases where the plot was hatched because the German Defense Ministry fears Cruise will use the film to promote Scientology.

Defense Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer said the film makers "will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult."

Cruise - a long-time member of the bizarre sci-fi cult - plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of the attempt to assassinate Hitler with a briefcase bomb.

German Defense Minister Franz-Josef Jung believes that Cruise's presence in the film will prevent an "authentic portrayal" of the events of July 20, 1944, when a bomb exploded in Hitler's "Wolf's Lair" headquarters but failed to kill him.

"Valkyrie," which also stars Kenneth Branagh, is being shot by "X-Men" director Bryan Singer.

Filming is scheduled to begin on July 19.