Alejandro González Iñárritu has a sharp view of the modern world. The five-time Oscar-winning director says people now live inside a constant reality show where everything is performative. He shared this thought while discussing his new film Digger, a political satire starring Tom Cruise.
The film arrives in theaters on October 2, 2026. It marks Iñárritu’s return to English-language filmmaking after The Revenant in 2015. The director first had the idea about a decade ago. He wanted to explore how powerful men destroy the world because of their egos.
The Reality Show World
Iñárritu spoke with Hindustan Times about how the world has changed since he first started working on the idea.
“We are in a constant reality show and everything is performative. It’s hard for every human being, having so many narratives in our phones and fragmented realities, to figure out how to tell ourselves the story of where we are now, how to really talk about the common reality. I found that it’s through humour and separation.”
He said the film lets people separate themselves from reality and laugh at themselves. That laughter, he believes, can help find common ground on a complicated topic.
The director also said the film is about how people tell their own stories. He wants audiences to approach the subject without fighting each other.
Tom Cruise’s Transformation
Tom Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon. The character is described as the most powerful man in the world. He launches a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before a disaster he caused destroys everything.
Cruise looks very different in this role. He wears a balding head, a protruding tummy, and an ageing look. The actor also uses a Southern accent. Prosthetic makeup and a grey combover complete the change.
Iñárritu said Cruise never hesitated about the look. The actor stood by the project even when it nearly fell apart.
“Tom got exactly the character he asked from me. We met in 2019 and he loved the concept I showed him through all the visual research I had at the time, and he was in. But then the film collapsed and there were a lot of schedule and budget problems. But he was really interested in it. He was like a kid hearing me, trapped in the story. He never resisted and was always pushy to get further to get this character clearer, funnier and powerful.”
The Indian Connection
Riz Ahmed plays a scientist named Ganesh from Mumbai. Iñárritu praised Ahmed’s work in the film.
“I love Riz Ahmed, he is a genius. I proposed to him to play a scientist who comes from an Indian family and he loved the role immediately. Working with him was a beautiful experience too and he played an incredibly funny, heartfelt scientist.”
The director said the character is not pure. Ganesh is conflicted about what he has done. Iñárritu called this duality “incredibly portrayed by Riz.”
The Story and Themes
Digger is described as a “comedy of catastrophic proportions.” The plot follows Digger Rockwell after an oil accident at a base in Greenland. The disaster has the potential to destroy the world. Digger is the only person who can stop it.
The film looks at three forces: greed, power, and responsibility. Iñárritu told Empire magazine that most disaster movies ask about natural disasters. His film asks about humanity as the disaster.
John Goodman plays the U.S. president who calls on Digger to help with the crisis. The cast also includes Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Emma D’Arcy, Sophie Wilde, Burn Gorman, and Robert John Burke.
Release Dates and Where to Watch
Digger opens in theaters and IMAX on October 2, 2026 across North America. The international rollout begins September 30.
- United States: October 2, 2026, in theaters and IMAX
- Canada: October 2, 2026
- United Kingdom: October 2, 2026
- India: October 2, 2026, in theaters and IMAX
- Mexico: October 1, 2026
- Australia: October 2026 (MA15+ rating)
- Global rollout: begins September 30, 2026
The film is rated R for pervasive language. It runs 128 minutes.
Digger comes from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures. It is not a Netflix film. Streaming details will come later through Warner Bros. partners.
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A Decade in the Making
Iñárritu first started exploring the idea for Digger about ten years ago. The film was shot in the United Kingdom over six months. It uses VistaVision, a large-format photographic process. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki worked on the film. Editor Stephen Mirrione also returns as a longtime collaborator.
The director said the world has become louder, more fragmented, and stranger since he began the project. That change makes the film’s themes more relevant today.
Digger marks Iñárritu’s eighth film. He won Oscars for Birdman and The Revenant. He is one of only a few directors to win back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Director.
For more updates on Digger, Tom Cruise, and awards season news, keep reading VvipTimes.
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