Tom Cruise returns to Seoul for 'Digger' with bold transformation

Tom Cruise returned to Korea for his 13th visit with Digger, a film he said shows one of the most radical transformations in his career. He praised director Alejandro Iñárritu and said he wanted to work on unfamiliar creative territory. Cruise said the film is about human nature, while Digger will open in Korean theaters on Saturday.

Cruise said this was his 13th visit to Korea and called it a Hollywood record.

In Digger, he plays Digger Rockwell, a billionaire whose drilling in a Greenland glacier triggers a worldwide disaster.

Cruise said the film uses practical makeup, wardrobe, set design and models to create emotion and depth.

He said the movie touches on the environment, greed and human mistakes.

Published Oct 1, 2026 4:17 pm KST

Tom Cruise speaks during a press conference for his new movie "Digger" at Conrad Seoul hotel, Thursday. Yonhap

Tom Cruise returned to Korea for his 13th visit with a new film, “Digger,” that marks one of the Hollywood superstar’s most radical transformations in his five-decade career.

"Digger" follows Digger Rockwell, a stubborn billionaire whose drilling operations in a Greenland glacier cause a minor fracture that escalates into an unprecedented worldwide disaster.

In the movie, Cruise takes on a new look. Complete with grey hair, aging makeup and a notoriously quick-tempered personality, he plays a figure who plunges the world into chaos.

Expressing his joy at visiting Korea once again, the 64-year-old actor highlighted his deep connection with Korean fans.

"There are 13 visits to Korea. Fantastic. That's probably a Hollywood record. I love it," Cruise said. "I'm very excited to share a dinner with you all, and I just love coming here."

Tom Cruise in a scene from movie "Digger" / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea

When asked what drew him to "Digger," Cruise emphasized his desire to work with world-class director and step into unfamiliar creative territory.

"Alejandro Iñárritu is definitely one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history. He is an extraordinary artist," Cruise said. "This is a character that I had never read before, ever. I've never seen a character like Digger in any movie. So as an artist, I think it was a very beautiful film that I wanted to make."

The collaboration between Cruise and Iñárritu, best known for his Oscar-winning masterpieces "Birdman" and "The Revenant,” began years ago while Cruise was preparing for "Top Gun: Maverick."

Cruise said that every detail of “Digger,” from makeup to camera angles, was carefully crafted to add depth to the story.

"The makeup, our wardrobe person, our set designer, the models that were built, everything you're seeing in this film is practical. It's real. It's made by hand, and it has a purpose that gives you an emotion that you feel,” he said.

Addressing chatter regarding potential award recognition for his performance, Cruise maintained that his focus remains on connecting with audiences.

“What I dream of is the lasting nature of cinema, the lasting nature of a story," he said. "As far as Oscars and all of that, I make movies, and however people talk and what they want to say, it's always just a privilege to be able to make a film," Cruise said. "I make my movies for audiences.”

"Digger" also touches on the environment, greed and human mistakes. Cruise explained what he believes the movie is truly about.

"What draws my attention is human nature," Cruise said. "The beauty of the story is that it is timeless. I get to play a character that is so outrageous, and you look at the world; it is framed in a very modern fashion, but the story is timeless. It's as old as time, how human behavior is, and there are these characters in every echelon of life."

“Digger” will be released in Korean theaters Saturday.

汤姆·克鲁斯携新片《迪格》第十三次重返韩国。他表示，这部电影是他演艺生涯中最具颠覆性的转型之一。他盛赞导演亚历杭德罗·伊纳里图，并表示自己渴望探索全新的创作领域。克鲁斯称，这部电影探讨的是人性，《迪格》将于本周六在韩国上映。

克鲁斯表示，这是他第13次访问韩国，并称之为好莱坞纪录。

在电影《掘地者》中，他饰演亿万富翁迪格·洛克威尔，他在格陵兰岛冰川的钻探引发了一场全球性灾难。

克鲁斯表示，这部电影运用了实景化妆、服装、布景设计和模特来营造情感和深度。

他说这部电影触及了环境、贪婪和人类的错误等主题。

发布于2026年10月1日下午4:17（韩国标准时间）

周四，汤姆·克鲁斯在首尔康莱德酒店出席其新电影《掘墓人》的新闻发布会。（韩联社）

汤姆·克鲁斯携新片《掘地者》第13次访问韩国，这部电影标志着这位好莱坞巨星在其长达五十年的职业生涯中最彻底的转型之一。

《掘金者》讲述了固执的亿万富翁迪格·洛克威尔在格陵兰岛冰川上的钻探作业造成了轻微的裂缝，最终演变成一场前所未有的全球性灾难。

在电影中，克鲁斯以全新的形象示人。他满头灰发，化着老年妆，再加上出了名的暴躁脾气，扮演了一个将世界拖入混乱的人物。

这位64岁的演员表达了再次访问韩国的喜悦之情，并强调了他与韩国粉丝之间的深厚情谊。

“我来韩国13次了。太棒了。这可能是好莱坞的纪录了。我太喜欢这里了，”克鲁斯说。“我很高兴能和大家共进晚餐，我真的很喜欢来这里。”

汤姆·克鲁斯在电影《挖掘机》中的一个场景 / 图片由华纳兄弟韩国公司提供

当被问及是什么吸引他出演《掘地者》时，克鲁斯强调了他渴望与世界级导演合作并踏入陌生的创作领域。

“亚历杭德罗·伊纳里图绝对是电影史上最伟大的导演之一。他是一位杰出的艺术家，”克鲁斯说道。“我以前从未读过这个角色的剧本，也从未在任何电影中见过像迪格这样的角色。所以作为一名艺术家，我认为这是一部非常精彩的电影，也是我一直想拍的电影。”

克鲁斯与伊纳里图的合作始于多年前，当时克鲁斯正在为《壮志凌云：独行侠》做准备。伊纳里图最著名的作品是奥斯卡获奖杰作《鸟人》和《荒野猎人》。

克鲁斯表示，《掘墓人》的每一个细节，从化妆到拍摄角度，都经过精心设计，以增加故事的深度。

他说：“这部电影里的一切，包括化妆、服装、布景设计、模型等等，都是实物拍摄的，都是真实的，都是手工制作的，它们的目的在于唤起观众的情感共鸣。”

针对外界对其表演可能获得奖项的猜测，克鲁斯表示，他仍然专注于与观众建立联系。

“我梦想的是电影的永恒魅力，故事的永恒魅力，”他说。“至于奥斯卡奖之类的，我拍电影，不管人们怎么说，无论他们想说什么，能够拍电影始终是一种荣幸，”克鲁斯说。“我拍电影是为了观众。”

《掘地者》也触及了环境、贪婪和人性错误等主题。克鲁斯解释了他认为这部电影的真正含义。

“最吸引我的是人性，”克鲁斯说。“这个故事的魅力在于它的永恒性。我扮演的角色如此离经叛道，你看看这个世界；它的框架非常现代，但故事本身却是永恒的。人类的行为方式与时间一样古老，在社会的各个阶层都能找到这样的人物。”

《挖掘机》将于周六在韩国影院上映。