‘Digger’ Test Screening Reactions Say Tom Cruise Is Unrecognizable in Iñárritu’s Dark Comedy

Hold onto your shovels, folks—“Digger,” the mysterious new dark comedy from Alejandro González Iñárritu, starring Tom Cruise, is officially set to hit theaters in October 2026. Backed by Warner Bros. with a $125M budget, the film’s plot has been locked down, which, of course, has led to a flurry of wild fan theories online.

Here’s what’s actually been officially revealed by Warner Bros.: the movie is being described as a “comedy of catastrophic proportions,” and Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a larger-than-life global figure. The teaser didn’t reveal much either—just Cruise doing his thing, with odd dancing, while wielding a shovel.

The cast is stacked, with Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sophie Wilde, and Emma D’Arcy joining Cruise in what’s shaping up to be a powerhouse ensemble.

There was an L.A. test screening Wednesday night. Reactions seem to be veering on the positive. One source called the movie “awesome,” noting that it starts with Cruise as a Texan oil tycoon whose rig causes a catastrophic spill, sparking a potential global disaster. Suddenly convinced that fate has called him to save the world, Digger embarks on a chaotic, often hilarious, and wildly over-the-top mission to save it—meeting with the planet’s most powerful figures, including the President of the United States (Goodman). Think ‘Dr. Strangelove,’ but made for the 21st century.

I did speak to one person who thought it was all too much, describing the film as “overstuffed and chaotic,” with Cruise’s larger-than-life antics bordering on cartoonish, but still liking his “wild” performance. They admitted the technical aspects were stunning, and the ensemble cast delivered, but felt the sheer scale of the catastrophes and dark comedy overwhelmed them. Even so, they added, “It’s impossible not to be fascinated—it’s a mess in the best possible way.”

Visually, the film is reportedly stunning, thanks to DP Emmanuel Lubezki, with the stylish sets being compared to “Poor Things.” Iñárritu’s direction is also getting big props for its inventive framing and blocking, but it’s Tom Cruise who seems to be stealing the show. An attendee was buzzing that his transformation—aging makeup, prosthetic nose, a pot belly, combed-over hair, a very thick Southern accent, shades of Les Grossman—will “be talked about a lot.”

Other standouts? John Goodman is reportedly a scene-stealer as the US President, and could finally nab a much-deserved Oscar nomination. The ensemble is perfection, with Riz Ahmed and Jesse Plemons also standing out. However, it’s Goodman and especially Cruise who seem poised to dominate the conversation come awards season.

And just a heads-up: “Digger” hides a twist that could make your jaw drop—but I’m keeping mum. If you start scrolling through early reactions or reviews, consider yourself warned: spoilers are lurking, and one wrong click could blow it all.