September 23, 2026 | 02:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hollywood star Tom Cruise welcomed Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, to the world premiere of his latest feature film, Digger, in central London on Tuesday night. The star-studded event at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square doubled as the 73rd Royal Film Performance, organized to raise funds for The Film and TV Charity.
Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, Digger is a dark satirical comedy featuring Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil baron described as the world's most powerful man. The plot centers on Rockwell's frantic attempt to position himself as humanity's savior after his company causes a catastrophic environmental disaster.
The Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment production opens in international theaters on September 30 before expanding into North America and IMAX formats on October 2.
The premiere transformed Leicester Square into an immersive maze featuring set pieces from the production, including an Arctic Ocean-themed backdrop and props from the film such as a giant replica of a shovel, and promotional images of Cruise in character alongside an ancient cat named Maggie.
Royal guards were positioned inside the theater, where the King's band performed "God Save the King" as the royal couple arrived.
Prince William donned a double-breasted black velvet tuxedo jacket. "Great jacket," Cruise remarked as he greeted the royal couple alongside Iñárritu, according to Standard.co.uk. Princess Kate wore a purple floor-length gown designed by Jenny Packham, complemented by drop earrings previously belonging to Diana, Princess of Wales, and an amethyst sautoir necklace from the Queen Mother.
Upon greeting the actor, William quipped about their previous meeting at the 2022 Top Gun: Maverick premiere, noting that "the last time he was in a helmet and flying suit."
Before entering the theater, the royal couple spent time speaking with members of the ensemble cast, including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, and Emma D'Arcy. High-profile attendees from the entertainment industry included David Beckham, J.J. Abrams, Salma Hayek, and Hannah Waddingham.
During the event, Prince William and Kate also met with beneficiaries of The Film and TV Charity. Among them was 27-year-old Chloe Malone, who received support from the organization to secure temporary housing and enrollment at the National Film and Television School. Malone discussed the issue of hidden homelessness within the creative sector with Prince William.
"If we are hoping to end homelessness we need to understand the data to get an understanding of what has happened and appropriately tackle the issue," Malone stated regarding their conversation, as reported by Standard.co.uk.
Addressing the audience from the stage, Cruise expressed his appreciation for the royal couple's patronage of the arts. "We want to thank the royal highnesses for supporting this event, and just to tell them that we love them and we really appreciate what they do for the arts, for this country and for the world," Cruise said, as reported by Variety.
Cruise also praised Iñárritu’s directorial vision. "You are one of one, and I have so admired your films from the very first one," Cruise said, according to Deadline. "And to have the opportunity to work with you has been one of the great dreams of mine and a pleasure. You’ll see — this character, what he’s created, I’ve never seen anything like it."
In response, Iñárritu commended Cruise's performance and work ethic during production. "His enthusiasm is contagious — it’s actually uncomfortable," Iñárritu joked on stage, as cited by Deadline. "I think he shared his experience, his enthusiasm with all of us every day in a very challenging role that you will see something that he has never done like that."
The premiere concluded a series of promotional events in London for Cruise, which included a talk at the BAFTA headquarters on Monday where he emphasized his belief in traditional filmmaking over artificial intelligence. "People want to see real things," Cruise stated during the BAFTA event, according to Variety. "People want that experience. They’re going to movie theaters. I always believe in humanity."
Proceeds from the premiere will support The Film and TV Charity’s mental health programs, financial grants, and 24/7 helpline services for workers across the UK screen industries.
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