Tom Cruise on his 'Digger' transformation: 'It took all of my knowledge, from all of the films I made, to be able to play this character'
A new poster of Tom Cruise from Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s film ' Digger ' dropped online ahead of the final trailer release, offering fans another glimpse of the star's larger-than-life character, Digger Rockwell
Cruise’s appearance as the larger-than-life protagonist has already become a talking point among fans and critics. The film’s final trailer is set to arrive on Wednesday, further building anticipation around what promises to be one of Cruise’s most unconventional roles.
Tom Cruise on his role in 'Digger'Talking about the character as “a real leap into the unknown”, Cruise said in a statement, “It took all of my knowledge, from all of the years of every film I made, to be able to play this character and fulfil the ambition of this movie.”
Recalling the moment Iñárritu first presented his vision for Digger Rockwell, he said, "[Iñárritu] showed me, ‘Here’s kind of the character that I want,’” before adding, “Let’s f*****g go. I couldn’t wait.”
Who is Tom Cruise playing in Digger?Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an immensely powerful oil baron whose ambition and influence place him at the centre of an ecological crisis that threatens to develop into a global catastrophe.
As the world closes in and his empire faces collapse, Digger becomes convinced that he is uniquely capable of saving humanity. His attempt to control an increasingly uncontrollable situation sets off a darkly comic and chaotic race against time, forcing a man accustomed to having all the answers to confront the consequences of his own actions.
For Iñárritu, however, the film's greatest threat isn't an external catastrophe. He explains, “The disaster isn’t a comet or an earthquake, or an alien invasion. The disaster is us. Most disaster movies ask, ‘What if something terrible happened to humanity?’ Our question was much simpler: ‘What if humanity happened to humanity?’”
He said Digger was conceived as a character who embodies the contradictions explored throughout the film. “I knew exactly this guy. Reality gives us the events, but imagination lets us recognise ourselves in them. Literally, this film is about us.”
According to the filmmaker, the story revolves around three forces: “greed, power, and responsibility.”
'Digger' cast and release dateCruise stars alongside Oscar winner Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons. Robert John Burke, Emma D’Arcy, Burn Gorman and Sophie Wilde also feature in the cast.
Iñárritu directed the film from a screenplay by Iñárritu, Oscar winners Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolás Giacobone, and Sabina Berman, based on a story by Iñárritu and Berman.
'Digger' is scheduled to release in cinemas across India on October 2, 2026.
Cruise’s appearance as the larger-than-life protagonist has already become a talking point among fans and critics. The film’s final trailer is set to arrive on Wednesday, further building anticipation around what promises to be one of Cruise’s most unconventional roles.
Tom Cruise Finally Gets His Oscar: Emotional Speech Leaves Everyone In Tears
Tom Cruise on his role in 'Digger'Talking about the character as “a real leap into the unknown”, Cruise said in a statement, “It took all of my knowledge, from all of the years of every film I made, to be able to play this character and fulfil the ambition of this movie.”
Recalling the moment Iñárritu first presented his vision for Digger Rockwell, he said, "[Iñárritu] showed me, ‘Here’s kind of the character that I want,’” before adding, “Let’s f*****g go. I couldn’t wait.”
Who is Tom Cruise playing in Digger?Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an immensely powerful oil baron whose ambition and influence place him at the centre of an ecological crisis that threatens to develop into a global catastrophe.
As the world closes in and his empire faces collapse, Digger becomes convinced that he is uniquely capable of saving humanity. His attempt to control an increasingly uncontrollable situation sets off a darkly comic and chaotic race against time, forcing a man accustomed to having all the answers to confront the consequences of his own actions.
For Iñárritu, however, the film's greatest threat isn't an external catastrophe. He explains, “The disaster isn’t a comet or an earthquake, or an alien invasion. The disaster is us. Most disaster movies ask, ‘What if something terrible happened to humanity?’ Our question was much simpler: ‘What if humanity happened to humanity?’”
He said Digger was conceived as a character who embodies the contradictions explored throughout the film. “I knew exactly this guy. Reality gives us the events, but imagination lets us recognise ourselves in them. Literally, this film is about us.”
According to the filmmaker, the story revolves around three forces: “greed, power, and responsibility.”
'Digger' cast and release dateCruise stars alongside Oscar winner Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons. Robert John Burke, Emma D’Arcy, Burn Gorman and Sophie Wilde also feature in the cast.
Iñárritu directed the film from a screenplay by Iñárritu, Oscar winners Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolás Giacobone, and Sabina Berman, based on a story by Iñárritu and Berman.
'Digger' is scheduled to release in cinemas across India on October 2, 2026.
Next Story