Hurt Cruise extras offered talks

Filming took place near Berlin's Potsdamer Platz

A German film studio has offered a settlement to a dozen extras who were injured on the set of Tom Cruise's forthcoming film, Valkyrie.

Twelve actors were hurt when the door of a moving truck fell open during the film shoot in Berlin last year.

Charles Woebcken, of Studio Babelsberg AG - which co-produced the film with United Artists (UA) - said the group had made no response to the offer.

The injured extras are demanding $11m (£6m) from UA and producer Cruise.

'Sensational headlines'

United Artists, which did not hire the actors, said it does not comment on "pending or threatened legal matters".

In a statement released, it said: "To date, no lawsuits have been filed against United Artists or Mr Cruise, nor have any allegations been made of any involvement of Mr Cruise in this incident.

"All press reports and comments to the press stating otherwise and designed to generate sensational headlines are false."

The extras were hired by Achte Babelsberg Film GmbH, a sister company of Studio Babelsberg.

Valkyrie has had its release date pushed back until 2009

The actors suffered broken bones, cuts and bruises in the incident, which was the subject of a thorough investigation, Mr Woebcken said.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Achte Babelsberg Film GmbH concluded the accident had occurred because of an operator error of the door locking mechanism.

'Publicity stunt'

Ariane Bluttner, the lawyer representing the actors, said no offers of compensation had been offered.

She said Tom Cruise and United Artists must be responsible for the actions of its contractors.

"Mr Cruise, Ms Wagner and United Artists Entertainment did not exercise reasonable care to select a reasonably competent, experienced, careful and properly equipped contractor," Bluttner said.

Mr Woebcken criticised the extras and Ms Bluttner for going directly to United Artists, calling it a publicity stunt.

He said his company's legal department would handle any claims.