Riz Ahmed has opened up about his time working on Tom Cruise’s upcoming film, Digger, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The British actor described the intense and inspiring atmosphere on the set, highlighting the dedication and energy brought by Cruise and other key contributors.
Filming took place recently with a cast that includes Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Emma D’Arcy, and more, all supporting Cruise in this highly anticipated project.
Tom Cruise’s Extraordinary Work Ethic and Energy
Speaking at the Sundance Film Festival during an interview with Collider, Ahmed emphasized Cruise’s remarkable motivation and focus. He called the lead actor’s positivity “crazy” and unlike anything he had witnessed before, stressing how it lifted the entire production.
“Honestly, there’s nothing like that experience I’ve ever had before, just because of how motivated, focused, hardworking, and inspiring Tom Cruise is on set,”
he said.
“The energy he has and the positivity is crazy. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
– Riz Ahmed, actor
The Vision and Craftsmanship Behind the Scenes
Ahmed also praised director Alejandro González Iñárritu for his attention to detail and ambitious vision, describing each day on set as an extraordinary experience. Equally notable was the work of Emmanuel Lubezki, the film’s cinematographer, whose innovative techniques stood out.
Ahmed shared a specific example about Lubezki’s approach to lighting, explaining how the cinematographer uses a variety of grey shades rather than typical black or white materials to control lighting effects. This level of craftsmanship added unique nuances in the film’s visuals.
“Then Alejandro, the attention to detail, the vision, the ambition of it, as well, every day is just like, ‘Wow, this is kind of nuts.’”
“I’ll give you a small example, and maybe more and more cinematographers are doing this, it might be interesting for the camera team out here, but a lot of the time people use blacks or white reflective material to help amplify lighting or cut off lighting. He uses grays, and he doesn’t just have one kind of gray. He has, like, 16 or 10 different shades of gray that he puts up to reflect and create different nuances.”
“Just the level of craft and attention to detail is crazy. It just makes you want to bring your best to the table,”
he added.
“It’s inspiring. It’s intense, though. It’s definitely very intense.”
– Riz Ahmed, actor
Anticipation Builds Ahead of Digger’s Release
With such strong talent both in front of and behind the camera, Digger is positioned as a major cinematic event. The collaboration between Cruise, Iñárritu, and Lubezki has generated significant excitement among the cast and crew.
The film is slated for release on October 2, offering audiences a unique story brought to life by a team known for pushing creative boundaries. Riz Ahmed’s reflections underscore the high level of commitment required to deliver this ambitious production, hinting at a powerful final result.
