Tom Cruise welcomed Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales to the world premiere of his new film «Digger» in London, using the red-carpet moment to thank the royal couple for their support of the arts. The event at Leicester Square marked this year's Royal Film Performance, organized by The Film and TV Charity, with proceeds from the evening going to the cause.
Speaking at the premiere, Cruise addressed the royal guests directly. «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,» he said. The actor also shared images from the premiere on his Instagram stories, while the official account of the Prince and Princess of Wales posted videos and photographs from the event.
The royal couple met the cast and crew of «Digger», including Cruise, director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons. Cruise took the opportunity to express his admiration for Iñárritu, describing the chance to work with him as a career highlight. «Alejandro, you are one of one, and I have so admired your films from the very first one. And to have the opportunity to work with you has been one of the great dreams of mine and a pleasure,» Cruise said. He added that the character Iñárritu has created is unlike anything he has seen before, calling the director's mind extraordinary.
The premiere featured a special setup across Leicester Square, with installations inspired by the film, including an Arctic Ocean-themed backdrop, the character's shovel and images of Cruise in his role. «Digger» follows Cruise's titular character, described in the film's synopsis as «the most powerful man in the world», as he attempts to prove himself as humanity's saviour before facing the consequences of a disaster he caused.
The film is Cruise's latest collaboration with Iñárritu and is scheduled to release in theaters on October 2 through Warner Bros. Pictures. Ahead of the premiere, Cruise spoke about the impact of artificial intelligence on cinema during a conversation at London's BAFTA headquarters, saying that audiences continue to value real experiences and human craftsmanship. «You know, it is coming and it's going to happen. But people want to see real things,» Cruise said. «People want that experience. They're going to movie theaters. I always believe in humanity,» he added.
The Royal Film Performance is a long-standing tradition that brings together the British film industry and the royal family in support of charitable causes. This year's event placed «Digger» at the center of that tradition, with the Prince and Princess of Wales lending their presence to an evening that celebrated both the film and the charity it benefited. Cruise's warm words for the royal couple underscored the mutual appreciation between the Hollywood star and the British monarchy's younger generation, a relationship that has been visible at previous film events.
For Cruise, the premiere also served as a platform to reflect on his craft and the state of the industry. His comments on artificial intelligence echoed a broader conversation in Hollywood about how technology may reshape filmmaking, with the actor positioning himself firmly on the side of practical, human-driven cinema. The release of «Digger» will test whether that message resonates with audiences when the film arrives in theaters next month.