Highlights:
Tom Cruise is known for preparing extensively for every role, whether it involves learning dangerous stunts or mastering complex action sequences. But for his upcoming film Digger, the actor followed a very different process. Instead of reading the screenplay on his own, Cruise spent several days listening as director Alejandro G. Iñárritu read the entire script aloud.
Cruise recently shared that the unusual experience helped him fully understand the filmmaker's vision before production began. It also became one of the main reasons he committed to starring in the film.
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“Alejandro took several days during which he was just reading the script to me and I’m listening to everything that’s in his mind, so that I can understand that, and then I know how to contribute to it, and bring that collaboration together,” Cruise said.
Rather than simply reviewing dialogue and scenes, Cruise explained that hearing the script directly from Iñárritu allowed him to understand the emotions, themes, and intentions behind every moment. The actor believes it gave him a stronger foundation for the collaboration.
The project marks the first time Cruise has worked with the Oscar-winning filmmaker, although his admiration for Iñárritu goes back more than two decades. Cruise recalled watching Amores Perros shortly after its release and immediately recognizing the director's talent.
“What a brilliant film. It was amazing,” Cruise said. “I was one of the first audiences, and I heard about it early on, so when I saw that film, I don’t know how you all felt, but I was like, ‘What the fuck? This guy!'”
Cruise also praised every aspect of Iñárritu's filmmaking style, from the performances and cinematography to the production design. He said he often introduced the film to friends because he wanted more people to experience the director's work.
Years later, the two finally found the right project to collaborate on. According to Cruise, Iñárritu pitched Digger around seven years ago, but instead of sending over a completed script, he personally guided the actor through it over several days.
The unconventional approach left a lasting impression on Cruise.
“The way he described it, I thought, this guy’s got fucking balls,” Cruise said. “There’s nothing better than to physically and metaphorically stand on the edge of a cliff and go, ‘Let’s do this. And I trust you, and whatever we’re going to do, I know this is going to be a hell of an experience.'”
Cruise has described Digger as one of the biggest creative challenges of his career. The film sees him playing billionaire Digger Rockwell, a powerful businessman whose company triggers an environmental disaster. The role is a major departure from the action heroes Cruise has played in recent years.
“I have never had something that could challenge me in this way and neither has Alejandro when we went in, ever. And when you see this film, it’s totally original,” Cruise said.
Iñárritu also praised Cruise's commitment to the role, saying the actor brought decades of experience into the performance.
“The transformation he went through was astonishing. ‘Alejandro, it took me 40 years to become this character,’ he told me once,” the filmmaker said. “And I think we both know what it means to carry an entire career into a single moment like this.”
With Digger, Cruise is not only stepping away from his recent action blockbusters but also embracing a creative process unlike any he has experienced before. For the actor, the journey began not with cameras or costumes, but with several days of simply listening to a director tell a story.
