Tom Cruise is taking on a different role with his upcoming movie Digger. The actor said the project pushed him into unfamiliar territory. He revealed how his decades of experience helped shape the character for the film.
Tom Cruise admits his latest project required everything he learned from over 40 past films.
Cruise described creating Digger Rockwell as “a real leap into the unknown.” “It took all of my knowledge, from all of the years of every film I made,” he said in a conversation with Empire. The character marked a change from Cruise’s recent action-heavy work. He played Digger Rockwell, a powerful American oil magnate. The character believed he could become humanity’s savior. However, his actions had also helped create a devastating disaster.
Digger was created by filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who directed The Revenant and Birdman. Cruise said Iñárritu showed him the character he wanted. The actor immediately embraced the opportunity to explore something different. “Let’s fucking go,” Cruise recalled saying after hearing the filmmaker’s idea.
The preparation process also involved an unusual approach to the screenplay. Iñárritu read the script aloud to Cruise during several meetings. Cruise said hearing the writer helped him understand the story’s rhythm. It also allowed him to experience the world through Iñárritu’s perspective.
Cruise then focused on building Digger’s physical presence and distinctive personality. He explained how makeup, clothing and movement helped complete the transformation. “I can change the voice and as the make-up’s coming on,” he said. The actor added that the costume helped him find the character’s rhythm.
The project marks Cruise’s first non-franchise role in years. His recent movies included Mission: Impossible and Top Gun: Maverick. Before Digger, his last non-franchise film was 2017’s American Made. That makes the upcoming movie a notable career shift.
Digger also features Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, Sophie Wilde, Emma D’Arcy and John Goodman. The film is scheduled to reach theaters on Oct. 2. Cruise’s latest role could give audiences a different version of the star.
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