'Digger' finds Tom Cruise back in performance-heavy, satire-driven role
The official trailer reveals Tom Cruise in an almost unrecognisable form as Digger Rockwell, a powerful billionaire oil tycoon
If you've been yearning to see Tom Cruise return to a non-action, performance-driven role, the Hollywood superstar might have something for you. The official trailer for his upcoming feature "Digger", released online, presents the actor in an almost unrecognisable form. Of course, not as
If you've been yearning to see Tom Cruise return to a non-action, performance-driven role, the Hollywood superstar might have something for you. The official trailer for his upcoming feature "Digger", released online, presents the actor in an almost unrecognisable form. Of course, not as
If you've been yearning to see Tom Cruise return to a non-action, performance-driven role, the Hollywood superstar might have something for you. The official trailer for his upcoming feature "Digger", released online, presents the actor in an almost unrecognisable form. Of course, not as
If you've been yearning to see Tom Cruise return to a non-action, performance-driven role, the Hollywood superstar might have something for you. The official trailer for his upcoming feature "Digger", released online, presents the actor in an almost unrecognisable form. Of course, not as unrecognisable as his role in "Tropic Thunder", though.
Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, "Digger" is touted as a dark, satirical comedy — evident from the trailer itself — in which Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a billionaire oil tycoon and "the most powerful man in the world". When he learns that his company has triggered a massive ecological catastrophe (and possibly a nuclear threat), he embarks on a chaotic, frantic mission to convince the world he is actually their savior.
The action hero persona is nowhere to be found here. Cruise ditches his matinee idol looks in favour of an appearance that requires him to sport thinning white hair in a combover, a prosthetic potbelly, and a thick Southern drawl. We see him arrogant, immersed in a vast fortune, and trying to revive a half-dead white cat.
Among the other notable members in the lead cast are John Goodman and Riz Ahmed. (Acclaimed Indian actor Fahadh Faasil was reportedly considered for the latter. Interestingly, Ahmed looks eerily similar to Faasil.)
A two-time Oscar winner, Iñárritu once again enlisted the services of acclaimed cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki ("The Revenant", "Birdman"). To achieve a unique look, it was filmed entirely on high-definition analog VistaVision.
The aesthetic of "Digger" is generating significant discussion online for its subversive, unexpected color choices, moving away from typical Hollywood saturation. Audiences have noted a heavily desaturated, almost pale tone throughout much of the trailer. Many scenes have a washed-out, greyed, or "sanded" texture, giving the film a depressing yet dreamlike atmosphere.
Some cinephiles have compared this muted look to the bleak, surreal dark comedies of Swedish director Roy Andersson mixed with the clinical aesthetic of "Dr. Strangelove". In sharp contrast to the trailer's pale cinematic grading, the marketing posters favor a bold, minimalist, eye-catching retro orange background paired with stark black typography.
Backed by Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, "Digger" will hit North American theatres on October 2, 2026 and internationally from 30 September 2026.