Tom Cruise Says He Cut Digger Makeup Transformation From Six Hours to Under One

Tom Cruise has revealed how he and the makeup team behind Digger dramatically reduced the time needed to transform him into his eccentric character. The actor said the prosthetic process initially required around six hours, creating a major challenge during long filming days.

Cruise discussed the unusual preparation during an appearance on the New Heights podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce. The actor eventually introduced a stopwatch and chalkboard to measure every stage of the transformation, turning the makeup process into something closer to a carefully rehearsed production routine.

Tom Cruise Used a Stopwatch to Speed Up the Digger Makeup

Cruise explained that the original six-hour transformation was difficult to maintain alongside the movie's demanding schedule. With filming days lasting around 12 hours, spending another six hours in makeup would leave little time for rest.

“The first time we did the makeup, it took six hours,”

Cruise said during the podcast. He explained that he needed to find a way to shorten the process without compromising the quality of the prosthetic work.

The actor eventually brought in someone with a stopwatch and began recording how long it took to apply each individual prosthetic piece. Cruise recalled telling the team,

“By the time we’re done, we’re going to get it under an hour.”

Rather than simply asking the makeup artists to work faster, Cruise said the team repeatedly practiced the procedure and analyzed each stage. He described the process as “drill and practice,” with every component being timed and refined.

The approach ultimately produced the result Cruise wanted. He said the team eventually completed the transformation in less than an hour without noticeably rushing through the application.

Digger Gives Cruise Another Major Prosthetic Transformation

In Digger, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon whose appearance is significantly different from the actor's familiar screen image. The character features gray hair, pronounced wrinkles and a larger physical frame.

The movie is directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and follows Rockwell after an environmental disaster forces him to deal with the consequences of his actions. John Goodman also stars as the U.S. president who orders Rockwell to address the damage.

Cruise previously underwent an extensive physical transformation for his memorable role as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder. Digger therefore marks his return to a heavily prosthetic character role after nearly two decades.

The actor also connected the makeup challenge to his broader approach to filmmaking.

“I like going into a system, studying it and trying to figure out how I can do it better, more efficient,”

Cruise said, explaining that he constantly looks for ways to improve preparation and production.

Digger is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 2, 2026.