Tom Cruise Takes on Unusual Role as Oil Tycoon in Digger.
Tom Cruise is taking on a very different kind of role in Digger, the new film from Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, which is now playing in theaters.
Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, an eccentric and powerful oil tycoon who finds himself at the center of an ecological disaster after his actions trigger a crisis that threatens millions of people. As the situation gets worse, Rockwell attempts to find a way to stop the disaster and prove that he can save the world.
The character is a major departure from the action roles Cruise has become known for. Rockwell is portrayed as an older man with thinning gray hair, a beer belly and a Southern accent. Cruise has said the role took him into territory he had not experienced during his decades-long career.
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Directed by Iñárritu, Digger also stars Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons, with Emma D’Arcy, Burn Gorman and Sophie Wilde also part of the cast. The screenplay was written by Iñárritu, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone and Sabina Berman.
The film mixes comedy and drama while taking aim at environmental destruction, corporate power and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Its story centers on Rockwell's attempt to deal with the disaster he has helped create.
Digger was shot entirely in VistaVision and released internationally beginning September 30, 2026. It arrived in North American theaters and IMAX on October 2 and is currently playing in theaters.
The film has already sparked mixed reactions from critics and audiences. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Digger at 51% from critics and 72% from verified audience ratings, reflecting the divided response to Iñárritu's unusual satire.
For Cruise, however, Digger represents a chance to move away from the familiar blockbuster action formula and take on one of the more unconventional characters of his career.
