Tom Cruise shared details about streamlining the prosthetics application process for his character in the forthcoming film Digger during an appearance on the New Heights podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce.
Crew members initially required six hours to apply the extensive makeup and prosthetics needed to transform Cruise into his character. However, given his demanding 12-hour filming schedule and need for adequate rest, Cruise recognized that the transformation timeline needed to become more efficient. He explained that allocating six hours for makeup, combined with his requirement for sleep and the length of production days, created scheduling constraints that demanded a solution.
Cruise implemented a systematic approach to address the issue. He brought a stopwatch to set and had a team member track the duration required to apply each prosthetic element. Rather than accepting the initial assessment that reducing the time was impossible, Cruise challenged the team to incrementally improve their efficiency. Through repeated drilling and practice of each component of the transformation, the crew eventually reduced the total application time to under one hour, a significant reduction from the original six-hour requirement.
Cruise described this experience as emblematic of his broader approach to filmmaking, emphasizing his practice of analyzing systems and identifying ways to enhance efficiency and quality. He noted that across his various film projects, he maintains a consistent focus on improving preparation and execution.
Digger marks Cruise’s first substantial character role featuring heavy prosthetic transformation since his 2008 appearance as studio executive Les Grossman in the comedy Tropic Thunder. In the film, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Cruise portrays eccentric oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, characterized by gray hair, facial wrinkles, and a larger physical frame than the actor’s typical appearance. The narrative follows Rockwell after he creates an environmental disaster and receives orders from the U.S. president, played by John Goodman, to remedy the damage. Digger opens in theaters Oct. 2.
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