Film & TV3 min(s) read
Published 15:35 13 Jul 2026 GMT
A Hollywood A-Lister has left fans shocked after a trailer for their latest film was released today (July 13).
Back in the day, all actors had to conceal their identity on-screen was the magic of make-up, but most eagle-eyed viewers could see through any shoddy work.
But nowadays, not only do we have the help of CGI, but also the assistance of Artificial Intelligence to fine-tune anything that may look underwhelming in post-production.
It's allowed actors to venture into roles as characters that may look absolutely nothing like them, with little to no drama.
Just look at the Marvel universe, for example, with alien characters appearing accurate enough to trick kids into believing that they may actually be otherworldly.
But now, technology is being used for human characters too, and Tom Cruise has left fans shocked with the look he has adopted for his upcoming 2026 title, Digger.
Cruise plays main character Digger Rockwell, who must save the world from an environmental disaster that he has apparently caused in the first place.
The Top Gun actor stars alongside the likes of Riz Ahmed, Jesse Plemons, and Sandra Hüller, while sporting a make-under of his appearance.
Set to be released in October 2026, the title has quickly become one of the most anticipated films of the year.
If it weren't for the actor's name featuring multiple times in the trailer, viewers likely would have needed a close look to figure out who the actor behind the prosthetics really was.
In addition to the new look, Cruise has also put on a strong accent, reminding us that he is one of the ultimate Hollywood icons.
While his roles in the past decade or so firmly made him the no. 1 action hero of his generation, his latest performance could put him into another discussion.
Rumor has it that Cruise could be placing himself firmly into the conversation for Best Actor at the Academy Awards at the age of 64, nearly 30 years after his last nomination in the category.
Speaking about the Alejandro G. Iñárritu-directed film, fans took to social media to share what they thought following the trailer's release.
One took to X, saying: "Every few years Tom Cruise does a movie to remind us all "oh yeah this guy act when he wants to."
Another said: "I mean... Looks like a huge swing, big-time Tom Cruise Oscarbait. I'm really jazzed to see this," with a different user adding: "Are they dropping a nuke on the North Pole? I don’t know what the hell this is about but I’m there for Tom’s insane performance lol."
"If Tom Cruise is invested in a movie then it’s a must watch, no matter how confused I am lol," a third added, referencing his heavy make-up.
It is arguably one of the strangest roles of his career, with many seeing dashes of Cruise's Les Grossman character from the 2008 comedy film Tropic Thunder.
Digger is set to be released in cinemas on October 2, 2026.
