Tom Cruise Launches Oscar Campaign for Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s ‘Digger’

Warner Bros. has kicked off its awards season campaign for the upcoming satirical black comedy “Digger,” directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise. The campaign marks the actor’s first serious attempt at a competitive acting Oscar in more than two decades, after he was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in November 2025.

Tom Cruise has a major awards campaign underway for the 2026 film Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. After winning an Honorary Oscar in 2025, Warner Bros. is preparing a competitive Best Actor bid for Cruise’s performance as a billionaire in the satirical black comedy that will open in theaters on Oct. 2, 2026.

“Digger” is a high-concept original satirical black comedy directed by three-time Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu and shot on 35mm VistaVision by cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki. Cruise plays the title character, a brash billionaire who accidentally causes a worldwide crisis and then tries to make amends.

To get the role, Cruise has undergone a major physical transformation, with extensive prosthetics and aging makeup, which has already sparked early awards speculation. Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, and Jesse Plemons are among the ensemble cast.

In the past, Cruise has tended to focus more on commercial franchises like “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun” than on traditional awards campaigning. His last acting nod was 26 years ago for a supporting role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” (1999).

This new campaign is a major change in strategy. We hear Warner Bros. has plenty of prestige dollars riding on this one, with industry insiders saying the awards campaign budget could be as high as $15 million. The campaign began with an unusually long-form cover interview in GQ magazine featuring Cruise and Iñárritu, part of the studio’s effort to position Cruise as a serious dramatic actor and not just an action star.

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu has been outspoken in his support for Cruise. Iñárritu, in a recent statement to IndieWire, praised the actor’s preparation and dedication: “It was the most amazing, unexpected, sweet, gentle relationship that I have had on a set… He will surprise the world. People will be seeing something new.

Industry veterans also see the potential in this strategic pivot. “This is a movie star in a character role,” one veteran Oscar campaigner noted. He loves it… Makes sense at that age. ‘I can do other things than just climbing cliffs.’ No one can blame him for making silly action pictures.”

But some media critics have noted that Cruise remains extremely controlled in his media appearances. Vulture’s recent review of the GQ interview noted that Cruise “skips real answers left and right,” suggesting the actor may still be reluctant to engage in the traditional, vulnerable aspects of awards-season campaigning.

The awards push comes at a key financial moment for the film. Reports say “Digger” cost between $125 million and $160 million to produce.

Industry analysts are looking for a soft domestic opening weekend of $20 million to $25 million. At that rate, the movie would need to gross over $300 million worldwide to break even, with a worldwide marketing budget that costs tens of millions. Cruise’s films have generally done well at the overseas box office, but awards recognition could add vital prestige and help lengthen theatrical runs to offset challenges at home.

This campaign is a strategic departure for both Tom Cruise and Warner Bros. For Cruise, it’s a chance to win a competitive acting Oscar, add to his honorary award, and prove his dramatic chops outside action franchises. In a big-budget, original movie, awards recognition may matter for the film’s prestige and long-term theatrical run, with the studio’s financial success far from guaranteed.

Warner Bros. will hold industry screenings in Los Angeles and New York in late September and October. Cruise is set to make a handful of promotional appearances, including Q&As and the film’s Royal Premiere in London. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will start its official voting later this year, with nominations expected to be announced in January 2027.

Tom Cruise Oscar campaign for ‘Digger’?
Yes. Warner Bros. has mounted a full awards campaign for his performance, with rare media interviews, billboard advertising and industry screenings to come.

Has Tom Cruise ever taken home a competitive Oscar?
No. He has four competitive nominations (three in acting, one in producing) and received an Honorary Oscar in November 2025.

When will Digger be in theaters?
Digger is scheduled to open wide in theaters on October 2, 2026.