Alejandro González Iñárritu's eagerly awaited next film, titled “Digger,” starring Hollywood icon Tom Cruise, has officially set a fall release date of October 2026. The announcement, accompanied by the unveiling of its first poster and a teaser from Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment, describes the movie with the evocative tagline “a comedy of catastrophic proportions.” This project marks a significant return for both Iñárritu and Cruise, promising an original action comedy that diverges from their recent works.

Tom Cruise takes on the titular role of Digger Rockwell, a character described in an enigmatic logline by Warner Bros. as “the most powerful man in the world.” He embarks on a frantic mission to prove himself as humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything. While the exact plot remains under wraps, this intriguing premise hints at a high-stakes narrative. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde, Riz Ahmed, and Emma D’Arcy, adding further anticipation to its release.

“Digger” signifies Iñárritu’s first English-language film since his critically acclaimed 2015 hit, “The Revenant,” which earned Leonardo DiCaprio his long-awaited Oscar for Best Actor and Iñárritu an Oscar for Best Director, alongside 12 Academy Award nominations. The script for “Digger” was co-written by Iñárritu in 2023 with his “Birdman” collaborators Nicolas Giacobone and Alexander Dinelaris, along with Sabina Berman. The film was shot in the U.K. over a six-month period, reflecting its large-scale production.

For Tom Cruise, “Digger” is his first film since signing a new deal to develop and produce theatrical films with Warner Bros. Discovery in January. It also marks his return to the studio a decade after his last collaboration on “Edge of Tomorrow.” Cruise not only stars but also produces the film alongside Iñárritu, expressing his excitement about working with the acclaimed director, whom he deeply admired since Iñárritu's first film, "Amores Perros," 25 years prior. This film represents Cruise’s first original action movie in eight years, a shift from his recent focus on major franchises like "Mission: Impossible" and "Top Gun."

The October 2026 release timing positions “Digger” as a potential contender for the upcoming awards season, a period Iñárritu is well acquainted with. He has a strong history with prestigious film festivals, having presented films like “Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths,” “Birdman,” and “21 Grams” at Venice, and “Amores Perros,” “Babel,” “Biutiful,” and the VR short “Flesh and Sand” at Cannes. His past successes include a Best Picture Oscar for “Birdman” and a special achievement Oscar for “Flesh and Sand,” underscoring his consistent critical acclaim.