# Tom Cruise Plays Spiritual Sequel To Oscar-Winning Film

> Tom Cruise stars in Alejandro Iñárritu's 'Digger', a spiritual sequel to 'Birdman' that reimagines art's role in crisis.
- Title: Tom Cruise Plays Spiritual Sequel To Oscar-Winning Film
- Summary: Tom Cruise stars in Alejandro Iñárritu's 'Digger', a spiritual sequel to 'Birdman' that reimagines art's role in crisis. Tom Cruise portrays an actor playing…
- Keywords: tom cruise, alejandro g. inárritu, birdman, digger, theatre, climate change, billionaire rule, oscar winning movie, entertainment, culture, Tom, Cruise
- Source: SlashFilm — https://slashfilm.com/2273144/tom-cruise-digger-spiritual-sequel-oscar-winning-movie-birdman
- Author: Bill Bria
- Published: 2026-10-02T16:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tom cruise, alejandro g. inárritu, birdman, digger, theatre, climate change, billionaire rule, oscar winning movie, entertainment, culture
## Digger's twist reveal
Digger isn't about the fictional oil tycoon who caused an apocalypse but about Tom Cruise playing a fictional actor in a play.

> Digger isn't necessarily about Digger Rockwell, the fictional oil tycoon who inadvertently causes an apocalypse
## Tom Cruise's role
Tom Cruise plays Curtis Markson, an actor searching for his daughter while arguing with director Hannah about his performance.

> Curtis Markson, is portraying digger in a play about the man's life entitled fossil fools
## Spiritual sequel
Digger is a spiritual sequel to Iñárritu's 2015 Oscar-winning film Birdman, continuing its themes of art and artists.

> Digger feels like inárritu continuing the conversation about art, the artists who make it, and their effect on the world that began in birdman
## Theatre homage
Both films pay homage to John Cassavetes' 1977 film Opening Night, using fictional plays to comment on art's value during crises.

> Both birdman and digger pay homage to john cassavetes' opening night from 1977
## Art's role in crisis
Curtis questions art's value when satirizing a fictional oil tycoon who caused climate disasters and billionaire rule.

> Curtis is so consumed with the dystopia that the real digger and other billionaires/politicians/et al helped usher in
## Real Digger revealed
Kenny, the play's benefactor, reveals himself as the real Digger's nephew to reassure the cast about art's importance.

> Kenny (jesse plemons), the play's benefactor, reveals himself to be the real digger's nephew
## Art's purpose
The film shows art helps remind us of mistakes while uplifting spirits, offering absolution through creative expression.

> Both riggan and curtis find a kind of absolution through their experience on their plays
## Key takeaway

Tom Cruise portrays an actor playing a fictional oil tycoon in a play about climate change and billionaire rule, continuing Alejandro Iñárritu's Oscar-winning film 'Birdman' as a spiritual sequel.