Tom Cruise has dropped a teaser for his new film digging, and it has left fans decidedly divided.
The trailer, released on June 23, runs just over three minutes, but here’s the twist: the first two and a half minutes contain no footage from the actual film at all.
Instead, audiences are treated to a sweeping montage of Cruise’s most iconic screen moments, Risky business, A couple of good men, Rainman, Mission: Impossible, World War and more, before a voiceover from Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning intones, “Everything you are, everything you’ve done… has come to this,” and the trailer finally transitions into a brief glimpse of the new film.
So what is Digger actually about?
The film follows Rockwell, the world’s most powerful oil magnate, as he races to prove himself the savior of mankind before an ecological disaster of his own making destroys everything.
Cruise is said to be virtually unrecognizable in the role, with a Southern accent and wispy white hair. The film’s own tagline describes it as a “comedy of catastrophic proportions.”
Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Birdman and Revenant, and written by Iñárritu alongside Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone and Sabina Berman, the film also stars Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.
Cruise shared the teaser on X with a message for fans.
“For the past 46 years, it has been my privilege to work with countless talented artists and crews to create these characters, stories and films for all of you,” he wrote.
“I can’t wait to see you in the cinema! DIGGER. Only in cinemas in October.”
The response has been mixed.
On Reddit, some viewers said they felt “duped” after assuming the retrospective footage advertised theatrical re-releases of classic Cruise films, while others speculated it was the opening of an Oscar campaign.
The unusual marketing choice prompted one person to simply write: “That was such a weird marketing choice!”
Others, however, were completely won over.
“Tom Cruise is his own cinematic universe,” commented one X user.
“Such an insane filmography. One of the biggest movie stars of all time,” wrote another.
Director JJ Abrams also weighed in, after seeing early footage of the film.
“My dear friend is no doubt about to blow our collective minds with Digger. What an undeniably spectacular career. What a bold and wild next step. Only saw a taste of the film… can’t wait until October to see the rest!” He wrote on X.
Digger opens exclusively in IMAX on October 2, 2026.
