Jesse Plemons Reveals Tom Cruise's 'Digger' Pays Tribute to Kubrick Classic
Breaking Bad star Jesse Plemons opens up about his upcoming collaboration with Tom Cruise, describing how their new project draws inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's legendary 1964 masterpiece in unexpected ways.
Jesse Plemons has opened up about his collaboration with Tom Cruise in the upcoming film 'Digger,' revealing how Stanley Kubrick's 1964 masterpiece 'Dr. Strangelove' shaped their project in fascinating ways.
The Breaking Bad actor described the script as extraordinary during a recent interview. "It's one of the strangest, funniest, most tragic scripts I've read," Plemons explained. "There's a kind of modern-day 'Dr. Strangelove' thing, and then it becomes something else entirely."
Kubrick's Cold War Satire Influences Modern Apocalypse Tale
Kubrick's 1964 film starred Peter Sellers, James Earl Jones, and George C. Scott. The story followed a rogue military officer who declares war on the Soviet Union while a war council scrambles to prevent global catastrophe.
Cruise's 'Digger' follows similar themes but with a contemporary twist. The plot centers on "the most powerful man in the world" who "embarks on a frantic mission to prove that he is humanity's savior before the disaster he's unleashed destroys everything."
The ensemble cast includes Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sophie Wilde, Riz Ahmed, and Emma D'Arcy. Alejandro González Iñárritu directs the project for Legendary Pictures.
Post-Mission Impossible Career Direction
This project arrives as Cruise wraps up the Mission: Impossible franchise with 'The Final Reckoning' in 2025. After years of death-defying stunts across European locations, the actor appears ready for a different kind of challenge.
'Digger' could signal a shift toward darker comedy territory for Cruise. The film combines apocalyptic themes with satirical elements, potentially launching a new phase in his career beyond the action-heavy spy franchise that defined his recent decades.
The movie is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026, giving audiences their first look at this Kubrick-inspired collaboration between two powerhouse performers.