Tom Cruise trades stunts for satire as toxic tycoon ‘Digger’

Tom Cruise is diving into one of his most challenging roles in years for the new film Digger, which explores the realms of climate change and corporate greed. The movie, helmed by Oscar-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, sees the 64-year-old actor play a grizzled, aging tycoon grappling with his own conscience amid an environmental crisis.

The dark comedy, boasting a hefty $130 million (R2.1 trillion) budget, will hit theaters starting Wednesday and has already sparked mixed reactions online, with some critics speculating that the film may divide audiences due to its serious tone and Inarritu's sharp parody of billionaires and climate change activists.

Cruise, who has primarily focused on action movies throughout his career, including the Mission: Impossible franchise, Top Gun: Maverick, and the Jack Reacher series, tells GQ magazine that this role represents his most challenging character yet, describing it as "the culmination of all my skills." Film critic A.S Hamrah notes that Cruise's last serious roles were in 1999, when he starred in Magnolia and Eyes Wide Shut. He speculates that Cruise might be eager to work with Inarritu, another acclaimed director.

Shawn Robbins, founder of US-based cinema consultancy Box Office Theory, suggests that Cruise's willingness to step outside his comfort zone is evident in his willingness to take on this role. While some may associate Cruise with high-octane stunts, he has previously demonstrated his versatility in films like Vanilla Sky and Jerry Maguire.

There's speculation about whether Cruise personally aligns with the film's political messages about unsustainable lifestyles, virtue-signaling consumer behavior, and hypocritical politicians. While Hamrah believes Cruise could be an Oscar contender for best actor in this role, Robbins suggests it might also serve as an awards season player.