Tom Cruise unveils ‘Digger’ in London; Kate Middleton and Prince William grace star-studded premiere

Tom Cruise had some very special guests by his side as he unveiled ‘Digger’ in London. Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales attended the film’s world premiere at Leicester Square on Tuesday, where the star-studded evening also served as this year’s Royal Film Performance.

 The royal couple arrived as the red carpet was winding down, drawing plenty of attention as they made their way into the venue. William opted for a black velvet jacket, while Kate made a glamorous statement in a rich purple gown. The couple met the cast and filmmakers, including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Cruise and director Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Prince William and Kate meet the ‘Digger’ team

The Prince and Princess of Wales spent several minutes speaking with Cruise and Iñárritu before heading inside for the screening. Their interaction with Cruise appeared particularly relaxed, with the actor even managing to make the royal couple laugh during their conversation.

The premiere itself transformed Leicester Square into a world inspired by ‘Digger’. Arctic-themed installations, oversized images of Cruise in character and props connected to his character’s eccentric world lined the venue. One of the eye-catching displays featured Digger Rockwell’s prized shovel, while photographs also showcased the character alongside his elderly cat, Maggie.

The royal guests were formally welcomed inside with a musical salute, with the King’s band performing ‘God Save the King’ as the audience rose.

Tom Cruise thanks Prince William and Kate

During the stage presentation, Cruise took a moment to acknowledge the royal couple and their support for the British film industry.

“We want to thank the royal highnesses for supporting this event,” Cruise said, before expressing his appreciation for their contribution to the arts and their wider support for the country.

The actor also praised the Film and TV Charity, which benefits from the Royal Film Performance, before turning his attention to producer Mary Parent and Iñárritu.

Cruise described working with the acclaimed filmmaker as one of his long-held ambitions and praised the director’s distinctive approach to the character at the centre of ‘Digger’.

What is ‘Digger’ about?

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, ‘Digger’ sees Cruise take on the role of Digger Rockwell, an immensely wealthy oil tycoon whose attempt to position himself as humanity’s saviour takes an unexpected turn.

The satirical black comedy follows Digger after his aggressive drilling activities trigger an environmental catastrophe. He is then forced into an increasingly bizarre mission to repair the damage, regain public trust and prove that he can still be seen as a hero.

The film also stars Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.

Kate Middleton brings Hollywood glamour to the premiere

Kate’s appearance added an extra dose of glamour to the London premiere. She chose a flowing purple chiffon gown featuring a pleated bodice and dramatic sleeves, pairing the look with a heart-shaped amethyst necklace from the royal collection.

The necklace has previously been worn by Queen Camilla, including at the London premiere of ‘Skyfall’ in 2012.

Her latest premiere look was notably more dramatic than some of her previous cinema appearances. For the 2022 premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, which was also attended by Cruise, Kate opted for a sleek Roland Mouret gown. She previously wore a white Self-Portrait dress for the premiere of ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’.

The ‘Digger’ premiere, meanwhile, called for a more overtly glamorous red-carpet moment.

Tom Cruise talks AI and the future of cinema

The London premiere comes after a busy promotional run for Cruise, who has been making appearances across television, magazines and podcasts ahead of the film’s release.

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A day before the premiere, the actor also appeared at BAFTA’s London headquarters, where he spoke at length about filmmaking, human creativity and the growing presence of artificial intelligence.

Cruise argued that audiences will continue to value the authenticity of seeing real performances and practical filmmaking on the big screen. For the actor, the cinema experience remains closely tied to human skill, craftsmanship and the connection between performers and audiences.

‘Digger’ is scheduled to arrive in theatres on October 2 through Warner Bros. Pictures.