Alejandro G. Iñárritu Praises Tom Cruise’s Bold Performance in ‘Digger’ at CinemaCon
Tom Cruise made a notable appearance at CinemaCon on Tuesday, joining Warner Bros. and Legendary for an extended look at the upcoming dark comedy, Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, known for his acclaimed films The Revenant and Birdman.
The film’s plot had remained under wraps until now, revealing Cruise in a transformative role as Digger Rockwell, a powerful industrialist racing against time to prove he can save humanity from a disaster he inadvertently caused.
In the newly released trailer, Digger, depicted as a balding, big-bellied figure, consults with a veterinarian about his sick cat, who has an uncertain prognosis of “two weeks or five minutes.”
Later, Digger confronts himself, exclaiming in a Southern accent while dressed in pajamas, “Hustle is something you sorely lack, you lazy piece of sh*t!”
A subsequent scene features a Zoom call with a scientist, during which Digger discusses a “five-foot crack” that he likens to the size of his own anatomy. “What do you want me to do? Shut down a billion-dollar platform over something a tenth the size of my dick?” he asks.
The narrative reveals that Digger’s business practices have triggered an environmental catastrophe compromising “the structural integrity of the entire ice shelf.” President John Goodman warns of dire consequences, saying the disaster could displace millions and result in trillions of dollars in economic damage. Despite the grim outlook, he assures his team, “Digger got us into this, and Digger is going to dig us out.”
In a moment of optimism, Digger declares, “Panic is a resource. Panic wakes people up.”
During the presentation, Cruise shared his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting that discussions with Iñárritu about collaborating began seven years ago. He described a spontaneous motorcycle ride to meet the director late at night, stating, “This kind of movie is why I want to make movies.”
Iñárritu commented on the film’s themes, describing it as exploring “the uncontrollable, delusional need to control things even when we know that we will fail.” He noted that the film was shot in Vistavision, specifically intended for theatrical release.
“I was not prepared for what I saw with Tom Cruise becoming Digger,” Iñárritu remarked, acknowledging the actor’s well-known fearlessness in performing stunts. He added, “This role possibly could be [his] most challenging … and actually it was a high-wire act. I hope you will see what I mean [by] that.”
