Digger (2026)

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s upcoming film Digger sees Tom Cruise stepping away from his usual high‑octane fare to play an eccentric Southern billionaire. The trailer’s massive sets, wide‑angle shots and theatrical staging have sparked a viral theory that the movie might be a musical, especially after fans pointed out that cast members like Sandra Hüller and Riz Ahmed have musical backgrounds. Variety has now put the rumor to rest, confirming with two insiders that Digger contains no musical numbers. The speculation, however, highlights how the film’s Broadway‑like aesthetic—large, boisterous characters filling a grand screen—can easily blur genre lines. Cruise’s involvement adds another layer of surprise; while he once sang in the 2012 jukebox musical Rock of Ages, most audiences now associate him with Mission: Impossible and other action blockbusters. The buzz also serves as a reminder of Cruise’s earlier, risk‑taking roles in films such as Magnolia, Born on the Fourth of July, and Rain Man—performances that have been eclipsed by his action‑hero persona. As Digger draws nearer to its October 2 release, fans can expect an oddball, Dr. Strangelove‑styled satire rather than a hidden song‑and‑dance extravaganza.

After a surprisingly quiet start to 2026, the action legend is gearing up for a blockbuster return with *Digger*, a high‑stakes thriller directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The film drops Cruise into an undercover operation that infiltrates a ruthless diamond smuggling ring, promising the kind of pulse‑pounding tension fans have come to expect from his recent work. The cast reads like a who’s‑who of international talent, with Riz Ahmed and Sandra Hüller sharing the screen alongside John Goodman. Their combined gravitas adds layers to a story that blends sleek heist mechanics with Iñárritu’s signature character depth, marking a fresh creative partnership for Cruise after years of collaborating with other directors. While the title of his latest Mission: Impossible outing, *The Final Reckoning*, hints at a possible farewell to Ethan Hunt, Cruise hasn’t ruled out a return. In the meantime, he’s already lining up future projects—a sequel to *Days of Thunder* slated for 2028 and a third *Top Gun* adventure, though its release date remains under wraps. Fans can tide over the wait by streaming *Top Gun: Maverick* on Netflix starting September 22.

Tom Cruise is once again pushing his limits, this time inside a bulky prosthetic body suit for his new dark comedy‑drama Digger. The actor described the first day on set as a battle against extra weight, cowboy boots and relentless sweating, forcing the crew to rig cooling machines between takes just to keep him from melting. The physical toll didn’t stop at the suit. Cruise also tackled an extraordinary ten‑minute monologue filmed in a single take, all while encased in the fat suit. He admitted the sheer heat threatened to wash away his makeup, turning the performance into a test of endurance as much as acting skill. In Digger, Cruise plays eccentric oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, a man scrambling to redeem humanity after a catastrophic ecological disaster. He joins an ensemble cast that includes Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Jesse Plemons, under the direction of Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who returns to English‑language cinema since The Revenant. The film is set to hit theaters on October 2.

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s new film Digger, starring Tom Cruise, is shaping up to be the most polarizing release of the year. The trailer hints at a darkly comic take on billionaire excess—think Don’t Look Up meets Dr. Strangelove—while Cruise inhabits a tubby, Texas‑accented mogul with bad skin. He’s joined by a star‑studded ensemble that includes John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons and Riz Ahmed, promising a blend of absurdist set‑design and melodrama. Early press screenings have split critics down the middle. One praised it as “a brave and gorgeous art film” destined for awards, while another dismissed it as simply “unpleasant.” Both agree it’s a massive swing, a gamble that could either cement Cruise’s daring turn or alienate mainstream audiences. What’s equally striking is the promotional blitz surrounding Digger. Cruise kicked off the campaign with a deranged AI‑speaking cameo at the World Cup final, followed by a soccer‑themed teaser that bears no relation to the film. He then resurfaced on the cover of GQ—shirtless for the first time in two decades—where his interview went viral for its lack of substance. The rollout didn’t stop there; Cruise appeared on the Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast after a Chiefs game, and at the premiere he was escorted down the steps hand‑in‑hand with Princess Kate, flanked by Prince William. The throughline? Power. From FIFA to American and British royalty, Cruise is leveraging every demographic possible to fill seats. Whether Digger’s satire lands or flops, its promotional choreography may become the most talked‑about aspect of the film itself.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s eighth feature, *Digger*, lands as a razor‑sharp satire that turns the climate‑change debate into a stage‑bound tragedy. Starring Tom Cruise as oil‑baron Digger Rockwell, the film follows his reckless drilling in Greenland that shatters an ice shelf and drifts toward Europe, sparking a catastrophe that the rich elite try to spin into a redemption story. John Goodman delivers a wildly unhinged turn as President Compson, while Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Riz Ahmed and others populate a world of self‑serving power players. The visual palette—described by critics as “ugly and grey”—is a deliberate choice by three‑time Oscar‑winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. Together with Iñárritu, he frames the film as a stylized “Fossil Fools” stage production, echoing the dead‑pan aesthetic of Swedish satirist Roy Andersson. The theatrical design isn’t a gimmick; it underscores how the rich manipulate narratives, turning disaster into a self‑congratulatory performance. Despite marketing hype that hints at comedy, *Digger* unfolds as a bleak tragedy. Its most striking moments come when Cruise’s character steps out of the scripted satire to deliver a searing monologue that first lays bare the truth of climate devastation, then twists it to cast himself as the unlikely savior. The speech forces viewers to confront the mechanisms by which wealth and influence rewrite reality, making the film a conversation starter about the very real stakes of global warming. Critics are already split—some praise its “Dr. Strangelove‑meets‑Don’t Look Up” bite, while others bristle at its unapologetic indictment of the elite. Regardless of the reaction, *Digger* insists that climate change isn’t a punchline; it’s the most urgent crisis of our time, and the film’s theatrical absurdity is a mirror reflecting how easily society can be distracted from the truth.

Academy‑award winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu has taken his visionary touch to a blockbuster arena, pairing with Tom Cruise for Digger – a high‑stakes drama about an oil tycoon whose Greenland drilling ignites a global catastrophe. Alongside Cruise, the film boasts an ensemble that includes Jesse Plemons, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller and Michael Stuhlbarg, promising a mix of intense character work and massive set pieces. What sets Digger apart on set is its use of the vintage VistaVision format. Goodman describes looking at the monitor as"a talking painting," while Stuhlbarg notes the four‑times‑larger negative captures every nuance, making each frame feel like a living artwork. The camera’s hum, though intimidating at first, became a comforting presence for the cast, adding a palpable weight to every performance. Even the script’s biggest moments left the actors awestruck. Plemons points to a pivotal mid‑movie speech as"fantastic," a scene he feared might be impossible to pull off under Iñárritu’s direction. Meanwhile, the trio agrees that Cruise brings a fresh, surprising edge to his role, reminding audiences why he remains a"remarkable actor" capable of redefining the expectations of a traditional action star.