Hollywood icon Tom Cruise attended the world premiere of his new film, Digger, in London this past Tuesday, joined by Britain’s Prince William and Princess Kate. The event celebrated the conclusion of a project that actor Sandra Huller noted was nearly ten years in the making under the direction of Oscar-winner Alejandro G. Inarritu.
Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon. To embody the role, the actor underwent a physical transformation involving grey hair, facial prosthetics, and a padded bodysuit. However, Cruise told Reuters that the physical change was not the production’s most challenging aspect. Instead, he highlighted a demanding 10-minute monologue that had to be filmed in a single take.
Describing the character as “totally outrageous,” Cruise remarked, “He’s the kind of character that says things that some people think, some people can’t imagine thinking. I’ve never read a character like it. I’ve never read a film like this.” Huller praised the performance, noting that the actor’s 46 years of experience seem to have converged into this singular, remarkable portrayal. According to anatomy of a Fall” star Huller, It was “remarkable” watching Cruise’s performance. “It feels like all the things that he has learned in 46 years of acting have come into this character,” she added.
The plot remains largely under wraps, though it is known that Rockwell inadvertently triggers an ecological crisis that threatens nuclear war, prompting a desperate attempt to save the planet. While rumours previously suggested the film might be a musical, Cruise has dismissed such claims. Huller emphasized that the production’s secrecy is not merely for intrigue, stating, “If you experience the film without knowing anything about it, it’s much better.” Fuelling speculation about the plot and rumours it could be a musical, which Cruise has dismissed, but the filmmakers have revealed little else about the story.
Inarritu approached the filmmaking process similarly to painting, carefully crafting every frame to immerse the audience. Cast member Emma D’Arcy noted the director’s emphasis on musicality and rhythm, describing the set as an orchestra conducted by Inarritu. Michael Stuhlbarg, another cast member, recalled how the production environment was fluid and dynamic, with new dialogue and unexpected additions constantly emerging. That attention to detail made working with the Mexican filmmaker feel like being part of an orchestra led by a conductor. “With ‘Digger’, musicality was really, really important…it’s a comedy, and so rhythm is kind of key, for Emma D’Arcy.
Thematic elements of the movie include an exploration of power, greed, and the tension between responsibility and irresponsibility. Actress Sophie Wilde suggested the film also serves as a “vessel for catharsis.” Reflecting on the filming process, Stuhlbarg added that there was a great deal of enjoyment on set, joking that he hopes for a future release of outtakes given the amount of unusual material generated.
Digger is scheduled to begin its global cinematic rollout on September 30, with theatrical releases in the United States and the United Kingdom set for October 2.
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