Tom Cruise takes on unrecognizable role in ‘Digger’

“One word to describe Digger? Impossible. Outrageous.”

That is how Tom Cruise describes his character in “Digger,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s new dark comedy, which arrives in cinemas this weekend following premieres in London, Mexico City and Los Angeles, CE Report quotes ANSA.

Cruise, 64, who has spent more than four decades on screen, arrived at Los Angeles’ Westwood Village hours before the premiere to sign autographs and take selfies with hundreds of fans waiting behind barriers. When journalists lined the champagne-colored carpet, he made time to speak with them as well.

“The characters in ‘Digger’ are irresistible and complex. They’re archetypes — you can find them in an office, in a schoolyard, anywhere. They describe human behavior and the mistakes we make. Alejandro has told all of this with a lot of humor. The craftsmanship of the film is extraordinary,” Cruise told ANSA before the screening.

From “Risky Business” and “Top Gun” to “Rain Man,” “Jerry Maguire” and “Mission: Impossible,” Cruise has worked with directors including Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick and Steven Spielberg. But since watching Iñárritu’s “Amores Perros” in 2000, he had been waiting for the Mexican filmmaker to offer him a role.

Now, the project Cruise waited 25 years for — and which Iñárritu developed for nearly a decade — is reaching cinemas through Warner Bros., backed by a major promotional campaign and strong early reviews.

For Cruise, working with Iñárritu was a source of constant inspiration.

“I give 100%, 200%. He’s the same. His taste, his art, the way he fills every frame with different layers of storytelling — he has an extraordinary imagination. It’s a film that people will continue watching year after year,” Cruise said.

“This project was in my head for nine years. Then these actors brought fun and so much heart to it: John Goodman, who is a legend, Tom, Sandra [Hüller]… It was a beautiful experience to see my idea take on a body and soul,” Iñárritu, 63, the Oscar-winning director of “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” told ANSA.

Cruise is almost unrecognizable as Digger, appearing older, nearly bald and heavier for the role.

“Sometimes during rehearsals he wasn’t wearing the makeup and suddenly we’d say, ‘Damn, that’s Tom Cruise!’” Iñárritu joked. “Watching him act was a miracle. Throughout his career, he has hit every note: drama, satire, comedy, dance. I needed someone like that.”

Comedy is less familiar territory for the filmmaker behind “Amores Perros,” “21 Grams” and “Babel,” but Iñárritu said it was the right tone for the story of a brash and crude man trying to save the world after destroying it.

“We laughed a lot. We live in difficult times, and at least we need to laugh a little, think, feel and recognize ourselves through humor,” Iñárritu said.

“‘Digger’ is a film for new generations: put down your phone and watch a story about the stories we tell ourselves. Laugh and ask yourself what the hell we are doing to this world.”

John Goodman, 74, known for projects ranging from the sitcom “Roseanne” to the cult classic “The Big Lebowski,” plays the president of the United States in the film.

Goodman described his character as leading the country “at a very dangerous moment in the history of the country and the world.”

Speaking about the production, Goodman said the cast had the luxury of extensive rehearsals and time to build trust.

“Working with Tom is incredible. There’s something contagious about him,” he said.

Photo: Instagram/tomcruise