I’d wager the vast majority of folks reading this article are big Tom Cruise fans. After all, the man is arguably the biggest movie star of our time, having remained an A-list icon for more than four decades. In recent years, though, Cruise has been almost exclusively focused on massive event movies like the Mission: Impossible series and Top Gun: Maverick. They’re terrific films, but if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been missing the Tom Cruise who made movies like A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia and Eyes Wide Shut.
That era may finally be making a comeback.
This fall, Cruise teams with one of modern cinema’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Birdman and The Revenant director Alejandro González Iñárritu, for Digger. It’s his first major original dramatic role in years, and while Warner Bros. has been keeping the movie tightly under wraps, we were lucky enough to see footage during CinemaCon. With the first trailer set to debut on July 13, here’s everything we know so far.
What’s Digger about?
Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, one of the richest and most powerful men on Earth. He’s also responsible for an ecological catastrophe that pushes the world to the brink of environmental collapse and nuclear war. With time running out, Digger embarks on a globe-spanning mission to try and undo the damage he’s caused.
What’s the tone?
Based on the footage we saw, Digger has a surprisingly dark comic edge. To me, it felt like Iñárritu is aiming for something in the vein of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. That comparison makes sense, considering Cruise has long admired Kubrick and starred in his final film, Eyes Wide Shut.
Who else stars in it?
The supporting cast is stacked, featuring Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, Michael Stuhlbarg, Emma D’Arcy, Sophie Wilde and John Goodman. Based on the footage shown at CinemaCon, the only role I can confirm is Goodman, who appears to play the President of the United States and sends Digger on his high-stakes mission.
How was Digger shot?
Like Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, Digger was filmed on 65mm VistaVision. It will receive an IMAX release in multiple aspect ratios, including 1.43:1 for 70mm IMAX presentations, 1.50:1 for certain film prints and 1.90:1 for standard IMAX theaters. The cinematographer is legendary Oscar winner Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki.
Who composed the score?
Daniel Pemberton, whose recent work includes Project Hail Mary and Masters of the Universe, is composing the score.
When will we finally see footage?
Aside from a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-them shots in Warner Bros.’ recent Tom Cruise tribute (see above), virtually nothing from the movie has been officially released. That changes on July 13, when the first full trailer finally debuts.
Where will Digger premiere?
This remains one of the biggest question marks. Many expect Digger to premiere at the Venice Film Festival in late August, but Warner Bros. has been cautious about festival launches following the disappointing reception for Joker: Folie à Deux a few years ago, which many believe led to the film being a disaster. It’s entirely possible the studio skips the festival circuit altogether, much like One Battle After Another.
When does Digger open?
Digger arrives exclusively in theaters on October 2.
Are you as excited for Digger as we are? Let us know in the comments, and check out the latest posters for the film below.
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