On December 18, 2025, Tom Cruise surprised fans by revealing the official title, poster, and teaser for his highly anticipated collaboration with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the acclaimed director of Birdman and The Revenant.
Titled Digger, the film is described as “a comedy of catastrophic proportions” and is slated for an exclusive theatrical release on October 2, 2026, through Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment.
The Teaser and Poster: Quirky and Intriguing First Glimpses
Cruise, aged 63, plays the enigmatic Digger Rockwell. The cryptic logline reads: The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior—before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.
The brief teaser showcases Cruise’s silhouette in cowboy boots, energetically dancing with a shovel on a pier and in a simple living room, all set to an upbeat tune. It’s eccentric and full of vigor, hinting at the “brutal, wild comedy” promised by Iñárritu. Cruise posted the clip on social media, captioning it: “In Digger we trust… Let’s f***ing go!”
The poster, inspired by Saul Bass’s iconic style, features the title letters shaped into a shovel-wielding figure against a vibrant orange background, perfectly capturing the film’s offbeat tone.
Behind the Scenes: A Bold Collaboration
This project marks Cruise’s first lead role outside a franchise since 2017’s American Made and The Mummy, and his debut working with Iñárritu. The director co-wrote the script with his Birdman team—Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris—and playwright Sabina Berman.
Filmed on 35mm VistaVision by cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki (Gravity, The Revenant), production wrapped in May 2025 after six months in the UK.
Iñárritu has called the experience “insane,” praising Cruise’s comedic timing: “Tom makes me laugh every single day. He has this total commitment, this total madness… The range that I discovered working with Tom is unprecedented.”
Stellar Cast and Oscar Buzz
The supporting cast is impressive, including Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), Jesse Plemons, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sophie Wilde, Emma D’Arcy, and Michael Stuhlbarg. Reports suggest Cruise undergoes a physical transformation, possibly with prosthetics, in a daring shift from his action-hero persona.
Speculation is mounting that Digger could earn Cruise his first competitive Oscar nomination, especially after Iñárritu presented him with an honorary award at the 2025 Governors Awards.
Fan Reactions and Expectations
Fans are thrilled with the teaser’s quirky energy, comparing it to Cruise’s memorable comedic roles in Risky Business and Tropic Thunder. Blending dark satire with grand-scale chaos, Digger promises to be a daring, unforgettable venture from two cinema giants.
