Tom Cruise’s Digger World Premiere Brings Hollywood Stars and Royals Together

Tom Cruise’s highly anticipated dark satire Digger received a star-studded launch in London, with the film holding its world premiere at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square on Tuesday as the 73rd Royal Film Performance.

The premiere brought together Cruise, director Alejandro González Iñárritu and members of the ensemble cast, while Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales added a royal presence to the red carpet. The event was organised in support of the Film and TV Charity, which provides financial, mental health and other assistance to people working across Britain’s film and television industry.

William and Catherine met Cruise and Iñárritu before entering the theatre, alongside cast members including Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sophie Wilde and Emma D’Arcy. The appearance also marked a reunion between the royal couple and Cruise, following their joint appearance at the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in London in 2022.

Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an eccentric and powerful oil tycoon who finds himself attempting to save humanity after triggering an environmental catastrophe. The filmmakers have kept much of the plot under wraps, with Cruise describing the character as unlike anything he had previously encountered.

The actor also spoke about the demands of the performance, highlighting a 10-minute monologue filmed in a single take as one of the film’s major challenges. Hüller praised Cruise’s work, while Iñárritu described the filmmaking process as highly crafted and immersive.

The London premiere comes ahead of the film’s October 2 theatrical release. Filmed at Pinewood Studios near London, Digger combines satire, comedy and environmental themes around questions of power, greed and responsibility.