Tom Cruise is stepping far outside his action-hero comfort zone with a dramatic transformation for his latest film, Digger.

On July 13, Warner Bros. released the first official trailer for the highly anticipated movie, giving fans their first real look at the 64-year-old actor’s striking new appearance as Digger Rockwell, a powerful but deeply flawed oil magnate.

Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film follows a wealthy businessman who unexpectedly finds himself racing to save humanity after a project linked to his own company triggers a potentially catastrophic global crisis.

According to the film’s official synopsis, Digger must convince the world that he can become humanity’s hero “before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.”

The trailer opens with an unexpected glimpse into Digger’s personality as he anxiously worries about his pet cat before angrily confronting an employee who wants to shut down one of the company’s major projects.

It soon becomes clear that the project could lead to a disaster carrying an estimated $18 trillion price tag, forcing Digger into an unlikely mission to prevent worldwide catastrophe.

Before the trailer’s public release, Cruise introduced exclusive footage during a July 9 question-and-answer event in Los Angeles, where he spoke about taking on one of the most demanding roles of his career.

“I have never had something that could challenge me in this way,” Cruise said.

He also praised his collaboration with director Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

“Neither has Alejandro when we went in, ever. And when you see this film, it’s totally original.”

Very little had been revealed about Digger before now.

A teaser released last December featured only the silhouette of Cruise dancing while holding a shovel before standing atop what appeared to be a boardwalk fence. A later promotional video highlighted scenes from some of Cruise’s biggest blockbuster films rather than revealing footage from the movie itself.

The newly released trailer finally introduces audiences to Cruise’s transformed appearance as Digger Rockwell, making him almost unrecognizable beneath the character’s rugged look.

The film also features an impressive ensemble cast, including Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, Sophie Wilde, Emma D’Arcy, Michael Stuhlbarg, and John Goodman.

Described as “a comedy of catastrophic proportions,” the film was shot entirely using VistaVision, a large-format filmmaking process known for its exceptionally detailed visuals.

Digger also marks Cruise’s first starring role in a non-franchise film since American Made in 2017, following years devoted to the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun series.

In addition to starring in the film, Cruise also serves as a producer.

Earlier this year, actress Ana de Armas confirmed that she and Cruise are also developing multiple future projects alongside longtime collaborators Christopher McQuarrie and Doug Liman.

Co-written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone, and Sabina Berman, Digger is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 2.

With an entirely new look, an unconventional character, and one of Hollywood’s most celebrated directors behind the camera, the film promises to showcase a side of Tom Cruise audiences have rarely seen before.

Source: Various Sources.