Tom Cruise Goes Black-and-White Suave for Hollywood Authentic as ‘Digger’ Hits Theaters

Laura Bais
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Tom Cruise has always embraced the spotlight, but he has been less visible on the interview circuit. This makes the press tour for ‘Digger’ feel notably different. Through features in GQ, various television interviews, and premieres, the actor has been more present than usual, promoting a film that diverges from his typical blockbuster roles.

In ‘Digger’, Cruise collaborates again with Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu in a satirical black comedy. He portrays Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon whose company triggers a potential global catastrophe. The film premiered in theaters on October 2, featuring a talented cast that includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons.

On the film’s release day, Cinethology unveiled new images of Cruise, captured by Greg Williams for Hollywood Authentic. The striking black-and-white portraits feature him in dark sunglasses, one image showing him playfully pushing them down his nose while sporting a tuxedo and bow tie. The magazine cover artfully displays the film’s title alongside Cruise’s name.

This playful, old-Hollywood aesthetic contrasts sharply with Cruise’s character in the film, where he dons prosthetics to portray a potbellied mogul with a thick Texas drawl and thinning hair. The transformation process reportedly took six hours initially, but Cruise challenged the makeup team to reduce it to just one.

Williams, an English photographer and director, transitioned from war photography to high-profile editorial work. His portraits have graced the pages of Vogue Italia, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Esquire. Additionally, he serves as the official photographer for BAFTA and has documented iconic films like ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Skyfall.’

This isn’t Williams’ first collaboration with Cruise for Hollywood Authentic. In May 2025, he captured Cruise at Cannes for ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,’ showcasing him balancing on a chair in his suite at the Carlton hotel before his red carpet appearance. This new photoshoot continues a visual partnership that positions Cruise as the quintessential movie star.

The Hollywood Authentic images come after an extensive promotional campaign. Cruise graced the cover of GQ, photographed by Mario Sorrenti, marking his first GQ cover in over two decades, accompanied by a rare interview. He also premiered ‘Digger’ in London on September 22 and in Los Angeles on September 28.

Cruise has embraced the film’s backstory as well. During the production of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ in 2019, he made an overnight motorcycle ride from San Diego to Los Angeles to meet Iñárritu, leading to their collaboration. He described the film as “a story about power and greed,” portraying a character unlike any he has encountered before.

Iñárritu has positioned the film as a bold commentary on contemporary society, stating that “we are living in a satire.” The film features a notable 10-minute monologue from Cruise and was shot using VistaVision.

Unfortunately, the glamorous images contrast with the film’s opening weekend performance. ‘Digger’ garnered only $1.2 million in Thursday previews, with projections suggesting an opening weekend of less than $10 million domestically. Reviews have been mixed, with a Rotten Tomatoes score hovering around 52%, marking Cruise’s first film to receive a rotten rating in nine years.

Cruise’s next project is already on the horizon. He is set to begin filming ‘Days of Thunder 2’ in March 2027 alongside Anne Hathaway. Whether ‘Digger’ will attract an audience through word of mouth or awards buzz remains uncertain, but for now, the images capture Cruise in all his star power.

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