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At CinemaCon 2026, the Hollywood icon stunned attendees by revealing his dramatic physical transformation for his upcoming film “Digger,” complete with gray hair, wrinkles and a noticeably fuller midsection. The first look at the Warner Bros. project, directed by Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, introduced Cruise, 63, as Digger Rockwell, a cantankerous tycoon whose drilling empire puts millions at risk. The teaser showed a peek at the film’s satirical edge while also revealing a softer side to the grumpy character through his affection for his elderly pet cat. Read More on Movies In a promotional poster of the film, the wiry-haired outline of Cruise’s character can be subtly made out. For Iñárritu, seeing Cruise step into the role was nothing short of pure shock. “Watching Tom Cruise becoming Digger Rockwell, I was not prepared for that,” the director told the CinemaCon crowd, per PEOPLE , which welcomed the duo with applause. The filmmaker emphasized that while Cruise is known for pushing physical limits in action films, this performance demanded a different kind of vulnerability. “Embodying this character, this is another kind of fearless … this role could be his most challenging, high-wire act,” he said. View this post on X Following the presentation, Cruise took to social media to celebrate and express his enthusiasm for the project. “Today, my dear friend Alejandro G. Iñárritu and I had a blast sharing our sneak peek of DIGGER,” he wrote on X . “We cannot wait to share this film with the world in October and to be part of what is going to be such a special year at the movies !” The project has been in the works now for nearly a decade, with Cruise attached for seven years. "Digger" is set to arrive in theaters on Oct. 2.