Tom Cruise is doing something unfamiliar again. This time, he’s not doing high jumps or cockpit rolls. This time the Hollywood icon is dancing with a shovel in his hand.
The first teaser for Digger, Cruz’s upcoming collaboration with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, arrived on Thursday, offering a brief but unusual look at a project that seems intentionally difficult to articulate. The promo is a far cry from the actor’s recent screen persona.
Tom Cruise dances in new Digger teaser
The footage is short and intentionally opaque. Cruz appears altered, possibly through prosthetics, moving awkwardly and rhythmically at the same time. There’s no dialogue, no clear setting, or story yet.
The film has been described by Iñárritu as a “comedy of devastating proportions”, a phrase he used when talking about the project to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year. He also called it “brutal,” “wild,” and “crazy,” and said it was meant to be funny, disturbing, and visually striking all at the same time.
Plot details remain tightly guarded. Variety reports that Cruise will play a man who tries to convince others that he can save humanity before the impending disaster, but this has not been officially confirmed.
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Tom Cruise moves away from the action mold in Digger
For Cruise, Digger marks a notable departure. Over the past decade, his output has been dominated by physically demanding action roles such as the Mission: Impossible films, Top Gun: Maverick and Jack Reacher. However, this teaser hints at something else. There are no visible stunts, no weapons, no spectacle-driven choreography. Instead, the focus is on physical presence and movement, presented without context. This seems closer to a character task than an endurance test.
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Digger production details starring Tom Cruise
The screenplay was written by Iñárritu with his Birdman collaborators Alexander Dinelaris and Nicholas Giacobone, with playwright Sabina Berman also credited. The film was shot on 35 mm VistaVision, a technical choice that gives an indication of scale, even if the teaser keeps that scale hidden.
As reported by Variety, the cast is wide-ranging. It stars Sandra Huller, Jesse Plemons, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Emma D’Arcy, Michael Stuhlbarg and Sophie Wilde.
Digger is scheduled for release in October 2026.