Tom Cruise Challenges Stuntman Persona with Shovel-Dancing Teaser for ‘Digger’

In a dramatic departure from his high-octane action roles, Tom Cruise has surprised fans with the first teaser for Digger, his upcoming collaboration with Academy Award-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Released on Thursday, December 18, 2025, the teaser presents a surreal first look at the film, which is being marketed as a “comedy of catastrophic proportions.”

A “Brutal and Wild” New Avatar

The teaser—which has reportedly been playing in front of IMAX screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash—features a silhouetted Cruise as the titular character, Digger Rockwell.

• The Visuals: Moving away from his Mission: Impossible stunts, Cruise is seen dancing rhythmically while holding a shovel. The footage suggests he may be wearing prosthetics or heavy makeup, appearing significantly aged and sporting a larger nose.
• The Tone: Director Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant) has described the project as “brutal,” “wild,” and “insane,” noting that both he and Cruise are stepping out of their comfort zones to create something “terrifyingly funny.”

Mysterious Plot and Elite Ensemble

While specific story details are under lock and key, the official logline from Warner Bros. hints at a high-stakes premise:

“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.”

Cruise is joined by a powerhouse ensemble cast, including:

• Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall)
• Jesse Plemons (Kinds of Kindness)
• Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal)
• John Goodman (The Big Lebowski)
• Emma D’Arcy (House of the Dragon)
• Michael Stuhlbarg and Sophie Wilde

Technical Grandeur

Proving that this “comedy” still has the scale of a blockbuster, the film was shot on 35mm VistaVision by three-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. The script was co-written by Iñárritu alongside his Birdman collaborators Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolás Giacobone.

Digger is scheduled to hit theaters on October 2, 2026.

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Tags: Tom Cruise, Digger, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Digger Rockwell, Warner Bros, Hollywood News 2025, Movie Teaser, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Black Comedy