Tom Cruise made a splash as he premiered his latest film, ‘Digger,’ at the Leicester Square Odeon Luxe in London on Tuesday evening. The red-carpet event doubled as this year’s Royal Film Performance, hosted by The Film and TV Charity, and drew an enthusiastic crowd that included members of the British royal family.
Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales attended the screening, taking front-row seats to witness Cruise’s portrayal of wealthy oil tycoon Digger Rockwell. The satirical black comedy, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, served as the charity’s marquee event for the year.
Attendees navigated a maze-like setup across Leicester Square, featuring set pieces from the movie, an Arctic Ocean-themed step-and-repeat backdrop, and oversized photos of Cruise alongside his cat, Maggie. As the carpet began to close to manage the frenzy, the Prince and Princess arrived; William wore a black velvet suit jacket, while Kate opted for a royal-purple gown.
The royals spent time conversing with the cast, including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons. Their interaction with Cruise and Iñárritu lasted approximately ten minutes, during which the actor reportedly caused the couple to laugh before they entered the theater together. Royal guards were present in the audience, and the King’s band played ‘God Save the King’ to mark the royals’ entrance.
Accepting the stage with his co-creators, Cruise addressed the presence of the royal guests. He expressed gratitude for their support of the charity event, stating, ‘We want to thank the royal highnesses for supporting this event, and just to tell them that we love them and we really appreciate what they do for the arts, for this country and for the world.’
Cruise also praised producer Mary Parent, calling her ‘absolutely brilliant,’ and lauded his director. ‘Alejandro, you are one of one, and I have so admired your films from the very first one,’ Cruise said. ‘To have the opportunity to work with you has been one of the great dreams of mine and a pleasure.’ He added that the character Rockwell was extraordinary and unlike anything he had previously encountered.
The film follows Cruise’s character, described as the ‘most powerful man in the world,’ as he attempts to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he caused destroys everything. Cruise has been actively promoting the movie recently, appearing on the cover of GQ and making guest spots on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ and the ‘New Heights’ podcast. Prior to the premiere, he spoke at BAFTA headquarters about his stance on artificial intelligence, arguing that human craftsmanship will endure because audiences crave authentic experiences.
‘Digger’ is scheduled for theatrical release on October 2 through Warner Bros. Pictures.
Does anyone else find it weird that the King’s band plays right there in the audience? Feels like a bit too much pomp for a comedy premiere.
Wow, I had no idea Alejandro González Iñárritu was directing this one. That sounds like a fascinating collaboration for Cruise.
A satirical black comedy about an oil tycoon premiering at a Royal Film Performance? The irony is absolutely thick enough to cut with a knife.
I can’t believe Tom Cruise actually called them ‘royal highnesses’ without missing a beat. That had to be nerve-wracking!