Tom Cruise Launches Oscar Campaign for 'Digger' with Strategic Moves

Tom Cruise has initiated a campaign to win his first competitive Oscar in 2027 for his role in 'Digger', directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The film, a satirical comedy about a millionaire saving the world from his own mistake, features Cruise in transformative makeup as an older man. It will be released on October 1, positioning it for awards season. Cruise, who has only three previous nominations and no wins, received an honorary Oscar in 2025 but seeks a competitive award. The campaign strategy mirrors that of 'Anora', which won Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Supporting Actor at the last Oscars without a festival premiere. Warner Bros. treats 'Digger' as a top priority. Cruise's narrative emphasizes his status as a Hollywood icon, leveraging his career achievements and recent industry-saving efforts, including his insistence on theatrical release for 'Top Gun: Maverick' and his role in establishing COVID-19 safety protocols. He has already garnered public support from major Hollywood figures. The campaign includes appearances at the FIFA World Cup closing ceremony and promotional videos. Cruise's last nomination was in 2000 for 'Magnolia'; his closest chance was in 1990 for 'Born on the Fourth of July', but he lost to Daniel Day-Lewis. If he wins, he would follow Henry Fonda and Paul Newman, who won competitive Oscars after receiving honorary ones.