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Tom Cruise and Alejandro González Iñárritu Present First Trailer for 'Digger' at CinemaCon

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Tom Cruise and Alejandro González Iñárritu Unveil "Digger" at CinemaCon

Actor Tom Cruise and director Alejandro González Iñárritu presented the first trailer for their upcoming film "Digger" at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas. The film, a Warner Bros. production with a reported budget of $125 million, marks Cruise's first non-franchise project since 2017. The presentation included details about the film's comedic tone, plot, and cast, as well as statements from the star and director regarding their long-gestating collaboration.

Event and Presentation

The presentation took place during the Warner Bros. segment of CinemaCon, the annual convention for movie theater owners. Cruise appeared in person to introduce the footage.

Film Details

  • Title: Digger
  • Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Reported Production Budget: $125 million
  • Genre: Described as a comedy.

Plot: In the film, Tom Cruise portrays an oil baron named Digger Rockwell. The plot involves the character's company potentially triggering an ecological disaster that could lead to nuclear conflict. John Goodman co-stars as an ailing U.S. president who asks Cruise's character to address the crisis.

Character Portrayal: For the role, Cruise's character is depicted with a Southern accent, a beer belly, and thinning white hair styled into a combover.

Supporting Cast: The film also stars Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde, Riz Ahmed, and Emma D’Arcy.

Screenplay: The script was co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu, Sabina Berman, Nicolas Giacobone, and Alexander Dinelaris.

Statements from Participants

Tom Cruise: "It took 40 years for me to be able to put on the boots of Digger Rockwell." He also noted he has been a fan of Iñárritu's work since seeing the film "Amores Perros" in 2000.

A line from the trailer featuring his character was reported as: "If we can’t control the course of nature, all that matters is who has got the balls to win this war."

Alejandro González Iñárritu: "We know that he’s fearless — the stunts, the planes, the jumps. But I have to say, embodying this character is another kind of fearless."

He also described the performance as a "high-wire act."

Project Background

Cruise and Iñárritu began discussing a collaboration seven years ago, while Cruise was filming "Top Gun: Maverick." "Digger" is Cruise's first film outside of established franchises like "Mission: Impossible" and "Top Gun" since 2017.

Studio Context

Warner Bros. co-chiefs Pam Abdy and Mike de Luca have emphasized a strategy of funding expensive, auteur-driven projects. The studio's recent releases under this approach have had varied financial outcomes:

  • "Sinners" earned $370 million globally against a $90 million budget.
  • "One Battle After Another" earned $210 million against a $140 million budget and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
  • "The Bride" earned $23 million against a $90 million budget.
  • "Mickey 17" earned $117 million against a $118 million budget.
  • "Joker: Folie à Deux" earned $207 million against a $250 million budget.

Upcoming Warner Bros. Films

The studio announced several other films scheduled for release in 2026, including:

  • "The End of Oak Street" starring Anne Hathaway.
  • "Practical Magic 2" starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock.
  • "The Great Beyond" from director J.J. Abrams.