To sell or to save: Tom Cruise's radical transformation in 'Digger'

A scene from "Digger" [Warner Bros. Korea]

A white-haired old man gripping a shovel, his face set with stubborn resolve — that is Digger Rockwell, an eccentric chaebol who made a fortune in oil. When a drilling facility he owns in Greenland explodes and submerges half of Europe, he becomes the man responsible for the catastrophe.

"Digger put us here, so Digger will get us out."

Those words from the president are all it takes to make Digger — a man who has lived his entire life for himself alone — pick up his shovel. Can the very architect of this disaster become humanity's savior with nothing but that one tool? That is the premise of "Digger," opening Oct. 3.

"Digger" is the latest film from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, whose previous works — "Birdman" and "The Revenant" — earned widespread critical acclaim.

Known for his singular ability to capture human drama and the full spectrum of human nature, and for a directing style that draws audiences into deep emotional immersion, Iñárritu has generated intense anticipation over what story and world he will build around the new character of Digger. The identity of the unyielding white-haired man who knows only his own interests has now been revealed, drawing strong attention from film fans.

It is Tom Cruise — beloved for explosive action blockbusters including the "Mission: Impossible" series and "Top Gun: Maverick."

With this film, Cruise signals a transformation unlike anything audiences have seen from him before. It marks a rare chance to watch the longtime action blockbuster lead take on the role of an old man.

International critics have already responded with enthusiasm to the reinvention. One reviewer said it was "good to see Tom Cruise doing 'real' acting again after a long time," and predicted the film could put him in contention for an Oscar.

A British outlet also weighed in, saying Cruise's collaboration with Iñárritu had confirmed his true worth as an actor.

Cruise has already announced he will visit South Korea on Oct. 2 ahead of the film's opening — his 13th visit to the country in total, a record for the most visits by any Hollywood actor in history.

Iñárritu will also be returning to South Korea for the first time since 2009, when he visited to curate the Prada Transformer film festival.

"This film is fun. I think comedy is something very serious, because it has to be crafted carefully. This film deals with many funny and contradictory ideas," the director said.

balme@heraldcorp.com