REALITY CHECK : A Springsteen Concert Is the Best Evidence

Bruce Willis may be off the “Hook” cast list, but he isn’t off the hook with Hollywood’s stage craft unions.

Willis recently visited the Columbia Studios set of “Hook,” Steven Spielberg’s extravagant version of the “Peter Pan” story. Willis was reportedly considering doing a cameo in the movie--joining Glenn Close, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.

According to columnist Liz Smith, Willis was roundly booed and hissed by members of the unions, and water was spilled on him from the upper reaches of the sound stage. Outside, his auto was spat upon, Smith said.

Some union members were rankled by Willis’ comments about the reasons movies cost so much, made in a May 19 Calendar interview. “Unions are the No. 1 cost in making films,” the actor said.

“If it (the booing) happened, I’m happy,” said Ron Cunningham, the executive director and business agent of Local 44 of the International Assn. of Theatrical Stage Employes, whose membership represents nine crafts.

“After what he’s taken out of the industry, he’s an idiot to make statements like that,” Cunningham said, referring to reports of Willis’ salaries. Some sources put his salary for the just-completed “The Last Boy Scout” at $14 million.

But the story about the incident on the “Hook” set was disputed by Willis’ agent, Arnold Rifkin. Rifkin said the sound on the stage during Willis’ visit was not booing but rather the sound of “Bruuuuce, Bruuuuce, Bruuuuce.”

Rifkin said Willis went to the set to visit friends in the film. As for his car, Rifkin said, “it was spotless when I saw him at dinner later than night.”

Local 44’s Cunningham predicted more episodes for Willis. “The membership is very angry,” he said.

They may not get the chance to show their feelings anytime soon. Last week, Willis’ publicist said the actor will not appear in “Hook,” and Daily Variety’s Army Archerd reported earlier that Willis is planning to take a year off from the business.