Tom Cruise is virtually unrecognisable in the upcoming film Digger, which marks his first collaboration with acclaimed director Alejandro G Inarritu and his first non-Mission: Impossible film since 2022's Top Gun: Maverick. Cruise's makeover for the role has been having the internet raving about it for quite a while now, with many of them making humorous memes about it. The makeover is also reminiscent of his transformation for 2008's Tropic Thunder; only, this time around, the actor plays a character that is about the same age as he is in real life. Which makes one wonder who is behind the makeup and prosthetics work for the film? The man goes by the name of Kazu Hiro, a four-time Oscar winner. Digger also has its Indian presence, with professional makeup, hair and prosthetic artist, and character designer Preetisheel Singh D’Souza assisting Kazu Hiro in transforming Cruise for the titular role.
Preetisheel has won two National Awards for her work in Nanak Shah Fakir and Gangubai Kathiawadi. Her credits also include films such as Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Pushpa, Jawan, and Dhurandhar. With her years-long experience and awards, Preetisheel is experienced enough to know what works and what does in the field of prosthetics and makeup. Unsurprisingly, she does not take all the credit for Digger. Rather, she is all praise for her idol Hiro for the 'remarkable' output in the film.
Talking about the factor that makes the character's look in it remarkable, she shared, “When you look at Tom Cruise in Digger, that's a major transformation. Yet so believable, and that to me is the ultimate sign of a great prosthetic transformation. As a prosthetic artist myself, I know how incredibly difficult it is to take one of the most recognisable faces in the world and transform it while making it look very realistic. What Kazu Hiro has done over here is nothing short of extraordinary."
Speaking further about the nuances in Hiro’s work that stands out, Preetisheel added, "He hasn't simply made Tom Cruise look older or changed the shape of his face. He's completely completely reimagined the character. Through subtle changes in facial volume, skin textures, contours, hairline, and aging, every single element of the character feels incredibly incredibly considered." According to her, achieving the said transformation is what her line of work is all about. "What I really appreciate is the restraint," she said of Hiro's craft while adding, "The prosthetic is not announcing itself; it just disappears into the transformation."
Preetisheel has highlighted that Hiro's triumph lies in acing the challenge of making silicone move with the actor's face in a way that appears convincing, particularly taking all the dialogues, expressions and close-up shots into consideration. Saying that this signifies true craftsmanship and "great character design," Preetisheel noted, "Kazu Hiro has again proved himself. You know he's gone beyond extraordinary."
Digger stars Tom Cruise as an entrepreneur who sets off on a mission to show that he is the saviour of humanity before the calamity stemming from his oil drilling business triggers an environmental disaster affecting the entire world. Besides Cruise, the upcoming film stars Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Huller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons. Rounding out the cast are Robert John Burke, Emma D’Arcy, Burn Gorman and Sophie Wilde. It has a screenplay Inarritu has written alongside Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolas Giacobone, and Sabina Berman that is based on a story by the director himself and Berman. Inarritu also doubles up as the film's producer along with Mary Parent, Cruise and Michael Sharp.
Shot entirely in VistaVision, Digger is set to hit theatres across India on October 02, including IMAX screens, through Warner Bros Pictures.
