Vir Das, Fahadh Faasil Almost Joined Tom Cruise’s Digger
- pradeep
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Indian actors Vir Das and Fahadh Faasil were reportedly among the performers considered for the role eventually played by Riz Ahmed in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s upcoming film Digger, starring Tom Cruise.
The revelation surfaced after the film’s trailer was released, drawing attention to Riz Ahmed’s performance alongside an almost unrecognisable Tom Cruise. (Hindustan Times)
Vir Das Auditioned Twice
Vir Das revealed in a now-deleted social-media post that he had given two auditions for the film.
The actor-comedian said he was deeply disappointed when the role went to Riz Ahmed, while also praising the film’s script as unusually ambitious and exciting. Screenshots of his deleted post later circulated widely online. (Hindustan Times)
Fahadh Faasil Was Also in Talks
Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil had previously disclosed that he was in discussions for a role in Iñárritu’s next film.
According to Fahadh, the filmmaker was concerned about his accent and wanted him to spend three or four months in the United States to work on it. However, the production was reportedly unwilling to cover the relocation and preparation costs. (Hindustan Times)
Fahadh said he ultimately decided not to pursue the opportunity because the commercial terms and the level of preparation required did not work for him.
Fahadh Says He Was Not Rejected
The actor clarified that the situation was not a straightforward rejection.
He said he had spoken with Iñárritu over a video call and felt the filmmaker may eventually have concluded that he was not the right fit for the character. (Hindustan Times)
Riz Ahmed Ultimately Won the Role
The role eventually went to British actor Riz Ahmed, who appears prominently opposite Tom Cruise in the trailer.
Ahmed is known for acclaimed performances in projects such as Sound of Metal, Nightcrawler and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
About Digger
Digger is a satirical comedy directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who co-wrote the film with Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Nicolás Giacobone.
It marks Iñárritu’s first English-language film since The Revenant in 2015. (Hindustan Times)
The film stars:
Tom Cruise
Riz Ahmed
John Goodman
Sandra Hüller
Michael Stuhlbarg
Jesse Plemons
Tom Cruise plays wealthy oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, a man whose actions repeatedly bring disaster to the world. He then races to prove that he can become humanity’s saviour. (Hindustan Times)
Release Date
Digger is currently scheduled for theatrical release on October 2, 2026. (Hindustan Times)