19 July,2026 08:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Digger poster. Pic via special arrangement
Tom Cruise is bringing his upcoming film Digger to one of the world's biggest sporting events. Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, the Hollywood star appeared in a special promotional video as his on-screen character, Digger Rockwell, delivering a dramatic monologue that paid tribute to some of football's greatest legends.
In the video, Cruise compares the game's biggest icons with his larger-than-life character, saying true legends are defined by control rather than speed or luck.
"You want to know what separates a legend from everybody else? Well, it ain't luck. It ain't even speed. It's control," Cruise says in character, before name-dropping football greats Pelé, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
He then adds that while footballers control the ball on the pitch, his character plays "with a much, much bigger ball" and is driven by the desire not just to win, but to dominate.
The tongue-in-cheek promo ends with Tom Cruise's signature flair, teasing the larger-than-life personality of Digger Rockwell while building anticipation for the film.
Cruise is also set to make a special appearance during the FIFA World Cup 2026 closing ceremony alongside an international line-up that includes Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Hudson and internet personality IShowSpeed.
Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Digger marks Cruise's first collaboration with the acclaimed director. The film is described as a large-scale comedy with high-stakes drama, featuring Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a powerful oil baron whose company's actions reportedly trigger an ecological disaster with the potential to escalate into a nuclear crisis.
The ensemble cast includes Oscar winner Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons, with Emma D'Arcy, Burn Gorman, Robert John Burke and Sophie Wilde also featuring in key roles.
Adding to its ambitious scale, Digger has been shot entirely in VistaVision, a large-format filmmaking process designed to deliver enhanced visual quality on the big screen. The film will also receive an IMAX release.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Digger is scheduled to hit cinemas across India on October 2, 2026, in English and IMAX. With its blend of satire, spectacle and Tom Cruise's larger-than-life screen presence, the film is shaping up to be one of the year's most anticipated Hollywood releases.
