Hollywood actor Tom Cruise attends a press conference for the movie 'Digger' held at the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 1st, posing for photos. /Reporter Song Ho-young

[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, who loves Korea, has returned with 'Digger'. He has completed a unique work with an unprecedented character and a bizarre story encountered for the first time in his 46-year acting career, and attention is focused on whether he can captivate domestic audiences once again.

A press conference for the movie 'Digger' (directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu) was held on the afternoon of the 1st at the Grand Ballroom on the 3rd floor of the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Tom Cruise attended the event and had various conversations with domestic media. Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who was originally scheduled to accompany him, was unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances.

'Digger' tells the story of a small crack that occurs at a Greenland glacier drilling facility, caused by the eccentric billionaire Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise), turning into a catastrophic disaster that shakes the entire world. This is the first new film in 10 years from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who has won five Academy Awards.

Tom Cruise, who greeted the audience in Korean, saying, "Hello. Thank you," began by saying, "The director also wanted to come to Korea with me, but he couldn't due to personal reasons. He asked me to convey his sincere apologies for not being able to be here and to say thank you."

In 'Digger', Tom Cruise plays the role of Digger Rockwell, showcasing an unprecedented visual appearance with a protruding belly and white hair. Regarding this, he explained the reason for choosing the project, saying, "It was a story I had never read before, and it dealt with characters I had never heard of. Also, I really wanted to work with director Iñárritu, who is a historical figure." /Warner Bros. Korea Inc.

Tom Cruise once again revealed his special affection for Korea by setting a record for the most visits to Korea by a Hollywood actor, with this being his 13th visit in total. He said, "It's so good to be back in Korea. The weather is nice today, it's a beautiful day. I'm glad to meet you all with 'Digger'. I want to come 30 more times."

Unlike his previous appearances in domestic films, which were led by action movies such as the 'Mission: Impossible' series and 'Top Gun: Maverick', Tom Cruise is now presenting a challenging film, 'Digger'. He plays the role of Digger Rockwell, captivating audiences with an unprecedented visual appearance, including a protruding belly and white hair.

Tom Cruise, who embarked on this epic challenge, explained his decision to appear in the film, saying, "As an audience member and a producer, I enjoy movies of various genres. 'Digger' was a story I had never read before, and it dealt with characters I had never heard of. Also, I really wanted to work with director Iñárritu, who is a historical figure."

On this day, Tom Cruise confidently expressed the irreplaceable charm of 'Digger' by repeatedly mentioning its originality and uniqueness. He emphasized, "This work is set in modern society, but it contains a challenging story that transcends time. You will be able to see the transcendence of the story by observing how each character acts and reacts."

'Digger', starring Tom Cruise, will be released on the 3rd. /Reporter Song Ho-young

Tom Cruise was so impressed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu's feature debut 'Amores Perros' that he actively recommended it to those around him. It is even more meaningful that they are working together for the first time after a long period of 25 years.

Regarding this, Tom Cruise said, "Director Iñárritu prepared this project for nine years, and we started talking in 2019. 'Digger' is a work that can be described as another level in all aspects of filmmaking, beyond a cinematic perspective. We put effort into uniquely realizing even the characters' gaits. The content within the frame is important, and the director's talent and originality are fully revealed. It is truly a unique film," he said, expressing his deep trust.

As Tom Cruise takes a break from action and undergoes a drastic transformation in his acting with 'Digger', there are also reactions suggesting that this move is aimed at winning an Oscar trophy. Furthermore, foreign media outlets have been mentioning Tom Cruise as a candidate for Best Actor even before the release, which lends further weight to these opinions.

When asked about this, Tom Cruise gave a principled answer, saying, "Regardless of what people think and evaluate, I just make movies. Everything that comes with making a movie, like the excitement on opening day, is a privilege and a precious experience."

With his 13th visit to Korea in total, Tom Cruise handled the event with a more relaxed demeanor than ever before. He showed confident enthusiasm for the work and witty banter with MC Park Kyung-lim, concluding by saying, "Thank you so much for the warm welcome. It is an honor to be here again. I am curious to see how the Korean audience will receive 'Digger' and what discussions they will have."

'Digger' will be released on the 3rd.

jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr
[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]