Academy Award-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, but his latest collaboration with Tom Cruise on Digger produced a moment he calls a career first. In a recent interview with Collider, Iñárritu opened up about the scene that left him literally shaking behind the monitor—and why he decided to stop filming after just a few takes.
Digger stars Cruise as Digger Rockwell, an eccentric billionaire oil tycoon on a desperate mission to convince the world he's their savior before his failed drilling project in Greenland triggers a global catastrophe. The film also features John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, and Michael Stuhlbarg. It's a bold, original swing from the director of The Revenant and Bardo, and it's now playing in theaters and IMAX.
A Two-Year Edit and a Six-Year Vision
Iñárritu revealed that Digger was a labor of love that demanded immense patience. The visual preparation alone took nearly six years, followed by a year of pre-production and almost two years in the editing room. "It's a very intricate story that needs a lot of care and nuances," he explained. The lengthy post-production process was both liberating and challenging, as he had an enormous range of footage to choose from. "More choices is beautiful, but it makes it more difficult to edit," he admitted.
Despite the complexity, Iñárritu praised Cruise's precision throughout the shoot. "The precision of Tom was always very perfect," he said. "It was a very precise performance." That precision became especially evident during the film's centerpiece monologue—a sequence that nearly didn't get any additional coverage.
The Monologue That Left Iñárritu Speechless
In the scene, Cruise's character delivers a sprawling, emotionally charged monologue surrounded by dozens of extras, ballerinas, and a sweeping crane shot. Iñárritu had planned a single master shot, but what unfolded on set exceeded even his expectations. "It was in the fourth or fifth take that I was giving him notes, and he was adding notes and adding notes," Iñárritu recalled. "The complexity of the dancing between the camera move and him—we choreographed this and rehearsed many times, but it was the first time we were doing it."
As the take unfolded, Iñárritu found himself overwhelmed. "I was just literally trembling behind the monitor. I said, 'Don't fuck it up. You are great.' Everything was working, and it's almost a miracle because there were so many ballerinas and the crane." When the take ended, Iñárritu was so moved that he told Cruise, "We are done." Cruise, surprised, asked about coverage. Iñárritu replied, "No coverage. I will never do better. You will never do better. It's done."
Cruise, ever the professional, asked if he was sure. Iñárritu was certain. "All the extras and everything, we left that moment, and I felt that it was something special in my life and career to have witnessed and achieved that at that level," he said. He was glad that Collider's Steve Weintraub perceived the same magic in the final cut.
This isn't the first time Cruise's dedication has made headlines. His relentless rehearsal routine has been a talking point among the Digger cast, and his willingness to push boundaries has defined his career. For Iñárritu, that commitment resulted in a scene he calls "almost a miracle."
Digger is a testament to the power of trusting your instincts—and your actors. As Iñárritu put it, "I don't know how I lied to them, and they trust me, but they trust me with a big bet." That bet has paid off in a film that's already generating buzz, even as it faces a tough box office landscape. For more on the film's performance, check out the latest box office numbers.
For fans of Cruise's more unexpected roles, Digger is a must-see. And for those curious about the director's process, Iñárritu's interview offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a filmmaker who knows when to stop—because perfection has already been achieved.
