Iñárritu’s ‘Digger’ Is Not Based on a Book and Its Origin Story Is Wild

If you’ve been curious about the basis for the movie ‘Digger’, you might be surprised to learn that it isn’t derived from a novel, comic book, or true story. This film, starring Tom Cruise, originated from an original script.

Warner Bros. describes the film as a comedy of catastrophic proportions directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, set to hit theaters on October 2. Despite lacking a built-in fan base, it has sparked considerable buzz.

The movie is not an adaptation. As reported by Variety, it stems from a script co-written by Iñárritu and his ‘Birdman’ collaborators Nicolas Giacobone and Alexander Dinelaris, along with Sabina Berman. This indicates that the story emerged from a writers’ room rather than a bestselling book.

According to Wikipedia, Iñárritu, Dinelaris, Giacobone, and Berman are credited as writers, with Jez Butterworth also listed on Letterboxd. This means multiple storytellers contributed to the material that ultimately made it to the screen.

Iñárritu has been nurturing this idea for quite some time. He revealed to Deadline that the concept began shortly after ‘The Revenant’, evolving into a “relentless recurring obsession” rather than a traditional script or film. This intriguing detail adds depth to a movie that appears quite different from his previous works.

The collaboration between the director and Cruise is a story in itself. Iñárritu pitched the idea to Cruise about seven years ago, opting to read the screenplay to him in person over several days instead of sending it via email. Cruise reportedly required little persuasion.

Wikipedia notes that discussions about the project began in 2019 while Cruise was filming ‘Top Gun Maverick’, and that he has long admired Iñárritu since first viewing ‘Amores Perros’. After making ‘Bardo’, Iñárritu returned to this passion project.

The film was officially announced, with Cruise cast in February 2024, following his strategic partnership with Warner Bros. Movie Insider highlights that this marks Cruise’s first film since signing that deal, and Iñárritu’s first English-language film since ‘The Revenant’.

Cruise portrays the title character, Digger Rockwell, in a transformation that makes him nearly unrecognizable. Variety describes him as a billionaire with a thick Southern accent, pot belly, and thinning white hair, whose company may have caused an ecological disaster that could lead to nuclear war. This role is a stark contrast to the polished action hero fans are accustomed to.

Deadline describes ‘Digger’ as an oil baron tasked with averting an environmental catastrophe he inadvertently caused. The official logline indicates that the world’s most powerful man embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he unleashed obliterates everything.

At CinemaCon, Cruise embraced his transformation, stating it took him 40 years to step into the boots of Digger Rockwell, while Iñárritu admitted he was unprepared for watching Cruise embody the character. This suggests that the actor views this as a significant career shift.

The supporting cast is impressive, featuring Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons, blending prestigious drama talents with reliable scene-stealers.

The film’s production quality is equally impressive. Shot in VistaVision with a camera designed in 1954, Iñárritu reunites with ‘The Revenant’ cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. Warner Bros. also credits prosthetic designer Kazu Hiro and composer Cosmo Sheldrake among the team, with Iñárritu, Mary Parent, and Cruise producing.

‘Digger’ is set to premiere in theaters and IMAX across North America on October 2, with international releases beginning September 30. Deadline has even speculated whether Cruise might finally secure a competitive Oscar for this role, raising the question: could a Southern fried billionaire with a combover be the character that takes Cruise to the podium?