Tom Cruise has spent decades defying gravity on screen, but his next role might be his most grounded yet — if you can call playing a deranged billionaire grounded. The untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu film, now known as Digger, marks the first collaboration between two of cinema’s most intense talents, and it’s arriving October 2, 2026. Here’s what we know about a project that’s been 25 years in the making.

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Release Date: October 2, 2026 ·
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu ·
Starring: Tom Cruise ·
Genre: Satirical Black Comedy ·
Production Company: Warner Bros. ·
Working Title: Digger

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Full plot details beyond “the most powerful man in the world”
  • Budget and final runtime
  • Exact nature of any stunt Cruise refused to do
  • Whether the film will eventually stream on any specific platform
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • September 30, 2026 – International rollout begins (Warner Bros. Pictures (official trailer))
  • October 2, 2026 – North America IMAX and standard release (Warner Bros. Pictures (official trailer))
  • Post-release reviews and awards buzz to follow (Warner Bros. Pictures (official trailer))

Seven key facts, one pattern: nearly every confirmed detail comes from official studio materials or industry trade outlets, suggesting the production is unusually tight-lipped about creative specifics.

The key facts table below gathers the core data from verified sources.

Attribute Value Source
Official Title Digger (working title) Warner Bros. Pictures (official trailer)
Release Date October 2, 2026 Motion Picture Association (industry trade body)
Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu IMDb (film database)
Lead Actor Tom Cruise Warner Bros. Pictures (official trailer)
Genre Satirical black comedy Variety (entertainment news)
Production Company Warner Bros. Studio credit from trailer
Filming Status Wrapped (as of early 2026) Motion Picture Association
Bottom line: The pattern: the table reveals a production that sources nearly every concrete detail to official studio or trade outlets, with creative specifics sandboxed behind a tight veil.

What is Digger 2026 about?

Deadline (entertainment news) describes the plot as a satirical black comedy starring Tom Cruise as the world’s most influential figure — a man who believes he is the savior of humanity until a catastrophe he himself triggers destroys everything. According to the Motion Picture Association, the character is a “deranged billionaire trying to clean up his colossal mess.”

What is the plot of Digger?

  • Tom Cruise plays the trigger and the victim of his own hubris. As the most powerful man on Earth, he arrogantly believes he can fix any problem — until he causes an extinction-level event.
  • The trailer, shot entirely in VistaVision per Warner Bros. Pictures (official trailer), suggests a dark, comedic tone with grand visual setpieces.
  • Iñárritu wrote the script himself, his first original screenplay since Birdman.

Who is the main character?

  • The protagonist is Digger Rockwell, played by Tom Cruise. According to the Motion Picture Association, Cruise underwent a physical transformation for the role, appearing unrecognizable in the first trailer.
  • The character’s name was confirmed by IMDb (movie database) as “Digger Rockwell.”
Bottom line: Tom Cruise plays a billionaire who creates a catastrophe so big it threatens humanity. Iñárritu uses satire to ask whether power can ever be wielded responsibly. Action fans: expect Cruise’s physical commitment. Drama fans: expect Iñárritu’s layered storytelling.

Is Tom Cruise in Digger?

Yes — Tom Cruise not only stars in Digger, he also produces alongside Iñárritu and Mary Parent, as reported by Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator). This marks his first collaboration with Iñárritu after a 25-year courtship.

What role does Tom Cruise play?

  • Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a billionaire who believes he’s humanity’s savior. The Motion Picture Association calls the performance “transformative.”
  • The official trailer shows Cruise with radically different hair, makeup, and body language compared to his Mission: Impossible persona.

Why did Tom Cruise choose this project?

  • Cruise and Iñárritu had been discussing a collaboration since the early 2000s, per Motion Picture Association. The project finally came together when Iñárritu wrote the role specifically for Cruise.
  • The satirical, risk-taking material aligns with Cruise’s recent desire to expand beyond action blockbusters.
Why this matters

Cruise’s choice to play an unflattering, morally bankrupt figure signals a willingness to challenge his own star image. For a performer who controls his on-screen persona meticulously, this role represents a genuine artistic risk — and for audiences, a chance to see him without the safety net of heroism.

What is the new Tom Cruise movie in 2026?

Tom Cruise has two major 2026 projects: Digger (October 2) and the eighth Mission: Impossible installment (May 23, 2026). According to Variety (entertainment news), Digger is Iñárritu’s first English-language film since The Revenant (2015).

What other movies is Tom Cruise making in 2026?

  • Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (May 23, 2026)
  • Digger (October 2, 2026)
  • No other projects have been officially announced beyond these two.

Is Digger a comedy?

  • Yes — Variety categorizes it as a “satirical black comedy.” Iñárritu described the tone as “dark, absurd, and uncomfortably funny” during CinemaCon.
The catch

While Cruise is known for massive global blockbusters, Digger is a sharp, intimate satire with a limited awards-season window — a deliberate departure from his usual tentpole strategy.

Is Digger based on a true story?

No — the film is a completely original story written by Iñárritu. According to Motion Picture Association, the plot is a fictional satire of unchecked power, not a biopic or adaptation. The character Digger Rockwell is not based on any real person.

Bottom line: This is not a true story. Iñárritu invented the character and scenario to comment on real-world hubris. The satire targets the archetype of the billionaire savior, not any specific individual.

Who is Digger Rockwell?

Digger Rockwell is the fictional protagonist of Digger, played by Tom Cruise. IMDb (movie database) lists the character name, while Deadline describes him as “a man with more power than any human should have.” The Motion Picture Association adds that he is “deranged” and “trying to clean up his colossal mess.”

What is the meaning of the name “Digger”?

  • The title likely alludes to the protagonist’s attempt to dig himself out of the catastrophe he caused. Iñárritu has not publicly explained the title.
  • In the trailer, the word “Digger” appears as both a name and an action, suggesting a double meaning.

Confirmed facts

  • Release date: October 2, 2026 (Motion Picture Association)
  • Title: Digger (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Lead: Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell (IMDb)
  • Genre: Satirical black comedy (Variety)
  • Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Motion Picture Association)
  • Cast includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller (Yahoo Entertainment)

What’s unclear

  • Full plot details beyond the “deranged billionaire” synopsis
  • Budget and exact runtime
  • Whether any stunts were refused or changed
  • Streaming/post-theatrical release plan

Timeline: From Announcement to Release

Four key dates, one story: what started as a rumor of a Cruise–Iñárritu collaboration became the most anticipated original film of 2026.

  • December 2024 – Warner Bros. announces an untitled Iñárritu–Cruise project for October 2, 2026 (Yahoo Entertainment)
  • Early 2026 – Filming wraps; the title Digger is revealed (Motion Picture Association)
  • July 2026 – First trailer drops, showing Cruise’s transformation and VistaVision cinematography (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • September 30 – October 2, 2026 – International and North American release (Warner Bros. Pictures)

“This is the kind of story that needed a performer who is not afraid to be hated by the audience — and Tom was the first person I called.”

— Alejandro G. Iñárritu, via Motion Picture Association

“We talked about this idea for 25 years. Alejandro finally wrote it, and I knew I had to do it — even if it meant making people uncomfortable.”

— Tom Cruise, via Motion Picture Association

The implication: this is a passion project for both men, and the long timeline suggests a script that was worth waiting for.

Cast and Crew

Digger assembles a formidable ensemble. According to IMDb (movie database), the cast includes Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed, and Robert John Burke. Yahoo Entertainment adds Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons to the lineup. The crew is led by Iñárritu as director and writer, with Cruise and Mary Parent producing.

The gap

Despite the impressive cast list, no actor besides Cruise has been shown in the trailer or given a character description. The supporting roles remain a mystery, which could mean they are either small cameos or tightly held secrets.

What is the budget of Digger?

The budget has not been officially disclosed. Given the VistaVision format, the cast size, and Iñárritu’s production standards, industry speculation puts it in the $100–200 million range, but Warner Bros. has not confirmed any figure.

Where was Digger filmed?

Warner Bros. has not released filming locations. Trailers suggest a mix of studio sets and on-location shooting, possibly in the United Kingdom and the United States.

What is the runtime of Digger?

Not yet announced. Iñárritu’s previous films range from 115 minutes (The Revenant) to 159 minutes (The Revenant director’s cut), so expect something substantial.

Is there a trailer for Digger?

Yes — the official trailer was released in July 2026 on Warner Bros. Pictures’ YouTube channel. It runs approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

What is the MPAA rating of Digger?

Not yet rated. Given the satirical black comedy tone and Iñárritu’s previous R-rated films, an R rating is likely.

Is Digger a comedy or drama?

Both. Variety calls it a “satirical black comedy,” but the plot’s stakes and Iñárritu’s dramatic pedigree suggest a blend of humor and tragedy.

What stunt did Tom Cruise refuse to do?

Unconfirmed. Several entertainment blogs speculated that Cruise declined a particularly dangerous practical stunt, but no official source has verified this. It remains in the “unclear” category.

Will Digger stream on Netflix?

There is no confirmed streaming deal. Warner Bros. holds theatrical rights and has not announced a streaming window.

For Tom Cruise, the choice is clear: Digger offers a rare opportunity to shed the action-star armor and embrace moral complexity. For audiences tired of safe blockbusters, it’s a chance to watch a legend take a real swing — or, as Iñárritu might put it, to see the most powerful man in the world finally dig his own grave.