Tom Cruise on Digger, Experiencing Arrowhead, Importance of Film & Getting Above the Clouds | 202

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

Tom Cruise joins Jason and Travis Kelce on New Heights to discuss his new film 'Digger,' his experience at Arrowhead Stadium, his passion fo

Key takeaways

• Cruise emphasizes that 'Digger' is a deeply human story exploring power, greed, and freedom through an absurd yet emotionally resonant lens.
• He reveals the film took nearly a decade of preparation, reflecting his commitment to challenging himself with demanding roles.

Main topics

• Tom Cruise's new movie 'Digger'
• His experience at Arrowhead Stadium

Notable quotes

"It is about that. It is about, it is modern, but it is ancient."

"I've been engaged with him on it for now seven years so these films... I'm thinking about it for decades."

Conclusion

Tom Cruise leaves a lasting impression as both a cinematic legend and

Transcript preview

Speaker 5 (0:00) Are there a part where you're like in a scene, whether it's the tighty-whitey scene, you complete me, show me the money, Tropic Thunder, whatever scene it is, where you're just like, this is going to be something that people are going to latch on to. Do you know it while you're Speaker 3 (0:12) doing it? There's some moments. Speaker 5 (0:14) When Speaker 3 (0:15) I'm dancing in my tighty-whities. Speaker 5 (0:18) They're going to like this. They're going to like this. I Speaker 3 (0:20) know because I've done it myself at home. You know what I mean? I was like, when I read the script, I'm going, Speaker 5 (0:27) I got this. Ha ha! Speaker 4 (0:37) Welcome back to New Heights, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. A Wondery Show brought to you by Nissan. We are your hosts. I'm Travis Kelsey. This is my big brother, Jason Kelsey, out of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Shout out to the Bearcats, Cincinnati Bearcats, getting 2-0 the football season. Subscribe on YouTube, wherever you get your podcasts, and follow the show on all social media, at New Heights Show. Everyone asks for fun clips throughout the week. We got a fun one, and Jason's going to tell you exactly how much fun we're Speaker 5 (1:01) going Speaker 4 (1:01) to have. Speaker 5 (1:02) 92 %ers, you are in for a doozy. We have probably the most prolific. actor, producer, most iconic human beings on planet Earth Speaker 4 (1:12) here Speaker 5 (1:13) today. That's right. We have Tom Cruise in the house. We're going to talk about our time at Arrowhead at this week's past last game on Monday night. We're going to talk about his entire career, his new movie Digger, as well as have a special clip that you guys are going to get a little sneak peek of the movie Digger. How about it, man? And you're going to want to see it. It's outstanding. And you're going to want to stay tuned in for this Tom Cruise exclusive expose. That Speaker 4 (1:39) we're hitting you with right now. Okay. Speaker 5 (1:42) Hit it, Brandon. Our guest today is an actor, writer, producer, and Hollywood legend from Syracuse, New York. He's got a BAFTA, three Golden Globes, three Critics' Choice, an Academy Award, and his films have grossed over $13 billion at the box office. You know him from Risky Business, Top Gun, Top Gun, Mad Men, Rain Man, Jerry Maguire, Days of Thunder, The Firm, Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut, Minority Report, Collateral, Tropic Thunder, Into Tomorrow, The Mission Impossible Franchise, and soon to come, his upcoming film, digger Speaker 4 (2:13) come on now Speaker 5 (2:14) 92 percent is please welcome the one and only tom cruise how Speaker 4 (2:20) about it man tom dude is so fucking cool to have you man hey man it's great to be here absolutely hard it was Speaker 5 (2:25) to pare it down to that amount of films like a long Speaker 3 (2:29) time yeah Speaker 5 (2:30) yeah Speaker 3 (2:31) it's been a long time killing Speaker 5 (2:32) it for a long time we got to start off how was arrowhead Speaker 3 (2:35) So much fun, man. Congratulations. Thank you, man. Congratulations. I'm telling you, that was the most fun I've had ever in a football game. Speaker 4 (2:42) Me too. Me too. I was having a blast. I know. Speaker 3 (2:45) Number two now. Come on, Tony. Come on. My home's back. The team is just hitting. It's Speaker 1 (2:51) fantastic. It was great. I got Speaker 3 (2:52) to say, the whole crowd, the vibe, you hear about it, but to be here and experience it, it's so cool that we're all together live like this. And you guys are like, come to the game. I was like. Yeah, I'm coming. Come on, baby. It was fantastic. I was going to write you. I told you last night. I was like, now listen, I'm not coming to Kansas to see you lose. And I literally, I had it like we were texting back and forth. I had it thinking. I was like. I'm not sending it. He knows it already. I'm not sending this. We need you to keep coming. I mean, that's what I'm talking Speaker 5 (3:22) about. Just keep Speaker 4 (3:23) pressing. You Speaker 5 (3:24) already know. Speaker 3 (3:24) We need that energy. It was so fun. All your friends, all the people there, just such a beautiful vibe. And to see, look, Mahomes, his comeback is just miraculous. Speaker 4 (3:34) Eddie Mahomes, baby. The old Texas gunslinger. Speaker 3 (3:36) But you guys together and the whole team together, it was just a wonderful experience. Speaker 4 (3:41) I appreciate it. Well, everybody says the same about you. Everybody in the suite just raves about you. like that i mean we were in london together at tay's show and that was another that was another banger the vibes were high there too um but everybody raves about just who you are as a human man it's so cool we appreciate you jumping on here with us man i Speaker 3 (3:59) appreciate being here we Speaker 4 (4:00) got to get into digger though man yeah we very fortunate we got to see the screener for it you guys are in for a ride this one's a fun one one of the one of my favorite characters of yours of all time I can bang, bang, bang. Try to get hit with truth. You want to hold true? Just bang, bang, Speaker 5 (4:19) bang, Speaker 4 (4:19) bang, bang, Speaker 5 (4:20) bang. Speaker 4 (4:20) I'm going to get into this character, but you want to tell the audience just like what the movie is about. Just a little sneak peek. It's absurd. Yes. It's about Speaker 3 (4:29) humanity. It's very human. Speaker 3 (4:33) It is a story as old as time, but told in such an original and engaging way. And it's just that. I don't know how else to explain it to people. It is, you know, when we look at human behavior and human existence and all the dynamics of it, and it's this director, Alejandro Iñárritu, he's unbelievable what he was able to do. It's just these, it just is a... massive cinematic experience. That's what it was conceived of and built, but it is very human and you saw it. It's unexpected. It's based in, it's supposed to be modern day though, right? Like it's supposed to be- Speaker 4 (5:15) Yep, it's Speaker 3 (5:16) modern day. It's very modern day, but it's it is representative of kind of it's very human. Yeah, you Speaker 5 (5:22) mentioned the director Is that where this starts? Like do you start with in your each other you start with the script? How do you go about deciding to do a film like this? Speaker 3 (5:29) You know making movies? It's it's really a lot of times. It's it's not like some some of these films I'm spending years, you know In the re to was working on this for almost ten years nine really? Yes, and I've been engaged with him on it for now seven years so these films that you see there's sometimes i'm thinking about it for decades i'm preparing for years for these movies like i'm i'm looking straight out and going how what skills do i need to learn how do i prepare for these things so it's it's it's It's the artist and that particular thing and what I'm looking to challenge myself with and what I everything that I've done I always have a purpose like since my whole life is like what I focus like I go like what I want to learn how What skills I'm trying to evolve and how I'm developing so yeah, so it's that's that's kind of what you're talking Speaker 4 (6:23) about the director You got another award winner in the cinematography in Chivo man. We're watching this And I watched it with Taylor as well. So we're watching this and we're seeing kind of his brilliance as well on this. Was he somebody you sought out in terms of cinematography? Just Speaker 3 (6:41) his ability with understanding the visual medium, the performances, the world he brings you into, all of them. I mean, Alejandro is someone that I've always wanted to work with. And Chivo is someone that I've always wanted to work with. So cool. Like you guys, it's like we want to be surrounded by people that are the best for that particular kind of film. And sometimes a lot of people don't know them, but you see what they did. I mean, visually what we did, we shot on VistaVision. It's just the pinnacle in terms of skill making this film. I don't know. It's like we were talking earlier about... knowing the movie you know we're talking but i see the way you run you know the way you clear you play jazz yeah so and it's like you understand tone sax Speaker 4 (7:27) yeah Speaker 3 (7:28) sax man we talk about it's like knowing your skill like i'm Speaker 3 (7:34) People ask like, what'd you do? And I realized like I wasn't, it's like I just dedicated my life to learning skills and ability. And when you, it's a lot, it's just constantly learning and studying and finding what is the correct technology or the correct format. Not what someone says it's correct, but what you know is correct. So that you're, when you're running routes, you're very rare that you're finding like, there's a moment where I can see it in you. You see it, you see it with. musicians you see it with you see it with athletes where you you know it but you're you're outside the game but inside yeah you're connected to everyone and it's almost like you see those openings beforehand oh Speaker 4 (8:16) yeah Speaker 3 (8:16) so when you look at digger it is that high level of musicality and rhythm and comedy and jazz and it's fascinating like in fields like that how how it relates. You Speaker 5 (8:30) guys mentioned the cinematographer, director, Iñárritu, and the film overall, man, it's fantastic. Speaker 4 (8:38) From the message to it all, yeah, it's so cool. I Speaker 5 (8:40) just think it's very visceral, which is, you know, a lot of times you feel that with, like, action movies or there's something that's incredibly thrilling, but this thing... Even the opening scene, like 30 minutes, you're in that like one room. And Speaker 4 (8:56) you're just completely Speaker 5 (8:57) captivated. And there's highs and lows. The acting is incredible. Obviously, you are fantastic. You nail Rockwell, John Goodman, all of it. But the way it's shot, the way the camera moves, the way you move, like all of these things feel so purposeful while you're watching it. And it just... it draws you in so well. I mean, I'm in the middle of a movie theater. Four people in the middle of this movie theater. And Speaker 4 (9:22) I am going in between Speaker 5 (9:23) laughing, goosebumps, and just enthralled. Your monologue, Speaker 4 (9:28) brother, that thing Speaker 5 (9:30) is going to be... We talked about this yesterday. I'm sitting there, and you're maybe four or five minutes in. I'm like, I don't think I've seen a cut yet. Dude, Speaker 4 (9:39) that's what I was going to ask. Was that just one rip? One take. He cuts into it, but it's one take. It's so epic. You know, it's interesting. You were in the zone, Speaker 3 (9:51) brother. Everything in the movie is purposeful. But it's not like it was all written down and doing it. You're reaching for it. You're reaching for tone. You're reaching for that. You're exploring and you're creating. And then when you find that tone, it's a razor's edge of. maintaining that and staying on it. And that monologue, when I read that in the script, I was like, oh. So Speaker 5 (10:15) you knew it right away, the moment you read it. This is, please, please. Wait Speaker 3 (10:19) for Speaker 5 (10:19) monologue day. Oh my God, please. Speaker 3 (10:23) It's so, you know, we released this thing saying it took, it took. every bit of skill and learning new skills to be able to play this character. And that's what you love. Speaker 4 (10:35) So cool. You Speaker 3 (10:36) know, Speaker 4 (10:36) I'm like, I see it. You get that challenge, man. You know what it's like. You've done it all, man. I saw you last night. It's like, Speaker 3 (10:41) everyone's like, here it is. We're there. But there's always another mountain to climb. There's always something to learn. There's always something to go. And I'm getting there with the actors. And there were times on set that everyone's, you know, you know what it's like. Like, you're working. It's like you're in the middle of game speed. You know, it's like everyone's going, we got to get this. Speaker 1 (10:57) I'm Speaker 3 (10:57) like. Just everyone, time out. Let's take a second. Let's look around this set. Look at this lighting. Look at this director. Look at these artists. I like taking a moment and going, let's look at how beautiful these sets are. Speaker 4 (11:10) Man, are they. Speaker 3 (11:11) It's just all vibes. It all works. 100%. And you're still within it. You're playing jazz. Like when I get to a point when I'm on a movie set, it's when you start rolling, it's. It is like you guys, you train, you talk about the installments, you're going. Now it happens. Now you have to feel relaxed and confident enough with each other that we're playing. So that camera's got to capture what I'm doing. And I'm there with the actors that come to me. He said, it's okay if I do that. I said, listen, you do you. I'm here for you. We're going to play. Like, you don't even have to tell me. Let's just. We've worked together, we're communicating, it's the same thing, but you're working, working, working. I'm like, I always tell people, you know, everyone's a little nervous or whatever they're going. I said. I'm going to embarrass myself. Speaker 5 (12:03) Come Speaker 4 (12:03) on now. Speaker 3 (12:04) You and I, it's Speaker 4 (12:05) like, Speaker 3 (12:06) come on. I said, I want you to step off. It's okay. We're together. I am your safety net and you are mine. We are all in this together and I have to, I don't want to put those barriers there. You're going to do something. You're in that open field. You have to go, you got to trust each other. You Speaker 4 (12:25) got to Speaker 3 (12:25) trust it, man. And it's okay. You know, I've read stuff and I've seen stuff like with you where someone makes a mistake and it's like, come on, I'm right here with you, big guy. I'm right here with you. It's okay. Can't have you thinking about what we just did. We Speaker 4 (12:36) got Speaker 3 (12:36) to think about where we're going, man. That's it. And we all have to get to that place artistically and in life. And the point is- Speaker 4 (12:43) It's got to be a Speaker 3 (12:43) team player, man. That's it, guys. It is. Speaker 4 (12:46) Don't be afraid to be a good teammate. Don't be afraid. That is exactly Speaker 3 (12:49) it. And you know what? These mistakes, that's yesterday. People get in it, it's like, I'm like you. That was two seconds ago. Speaker 4 (12:56) We're Speaker 3 (12:56) going Speaker 4 (12:56) to have fun. Let's create. I got to ask you about this character, Digger, man. Where did you get the Texas accent from, man? It Speaker 5 (13:03) is such a fucking good accent. Bang, bang, bang. Come on. Is Speaker 4 (13:08) it somebody you ran into? No. It was just kind of just. It felt right when you started it up or what? Here's what happens. Speaker 5 (13:15) Feels a little like Jerry Jones, to Speaker 1 (13:16) be Speaker 5 (13:16) honest with you. Is it the whole movie? Speaker 3 (13:20) It's Speaker 5 (13:21) not. Speaker 3 (13:21) This movie's not based on anyone. Let me make it clear. It's really not based on anyone. Look, here's what I do. I've always created characters since I was a little kid. We were talking earlier. I would create characters, write stories since I was little, make my family laugh. And I've traveled around like... I love going to countries and just meeting people and knowing people. And I'll lay in bed and I'll just think of characters that I want to create in the future. So fun, man. And then I'll find a movie and I'll be like, I'm going to put that character in this. Or I'm going to explore that character in this or this tone with this movie. And that's what happened. Like a new actor came to me with this character. He had like different ideas. And I was like. I got Speaker 4 (14:05) one. Speaker 3 (14:05) This guy's got balls, man. I thought like this Alejandro, like he's working with me the first time. He's like, I want you to do this. Like what I do with, with directors and writers is I don't read the scripts. I have them read it to me. Oh, cool. Okay. I have them read it to me because I don't want my ideas to invade it yet. I want to understand what is their communication. They've been working on it and they have things that are just there. So they come to me. And I just sit there and I'm like, I want you to read it to me. And they'll read it to me. And I'm like, okay. And I'm the audience. I am a movie. I'm a popcorn guy. I'm a meat and potatoes popcorn. Is it moving me or is it moving? Am I invested? Am I not invested? Where am I engaged? Where am I not engaged? That's just who I am. So they'll come to me and read. And I want to hear what their ideas are. And in different, like even every position. on a movie that creatively wardrobe lighting. I want to hear what is their take on it. What are they going to do? And then we get to a place where I start to understand and then I'm like, I know how to contribute to that motion. Then I'm now it sparks ideas and I kind of have certain ideas that I have and certain things that I'd like to play with. And then I don't necessarily talk about it. I just do it. Meaning I'm not going to sit here and say, I'm going to do this. I'm going Speaker 4 (15:30) to Speaker 3 (15:30) do that. It's like, uh-huh. Like I hear all the notes. I know lenses. I know the choreography. I know tonally what they're going for. Because comedy, everyone goes, sees comedy. And they're like, no, there's all kinds of comedy. There's all kinds like satire. What is that? What is the rhythm? What is the music we're playing? That's when we're into jazz. That's what it's like. Let me give me the baseline. And I'm in there. And then now I'm just like, I know where we want to go and let me, I'm not going to talk about it. I see your lenses, we're together. And like, even with the camera Speaker 4 (16:04) operator, with Chivo, with Alejandro, we're playing jazz. Oh yeah. It's a jazzy feel to the, to the, what you're getting out of this. It's like Speaker 3 (16:11) when you hit that point with the movie, you want that. And that's the thing. And it's, it's always like you and I are talking about the different skills, you know? that you guys have. That's what I love. Like, I love your show. You're going in and you're doing stuff where you're looking at someone and you're living in their shoes. Speaker 4 (16:30) You know, literally Taylor. Speaker 3 (16:32) It's like you guys like that, her music and her skill. I've been watching her, her whole life as a musician. And as an artist, you're just like, man. And. not afraid to go into other things, not afraid to direct stuff. You guys are like doing this, applying that kind of ability to other things. It's that's to me, that's life. The joy of creating. I'm not afraid to be like the thing is like with succession, you feel people start gripping a little too hard. And Speaker 2 (17:02) I Speaker 3 (17:02) was always like. I'm all in. Yeah. Like everyone's like, of course he made that movie. Of course that did well. It was like, it wasn't like that. Everyone's like, no, we don't want to do it. Oh my God. If it doesn't work. And I'm like, I'm going all in. Let's see what we can do. Speaker 4 (17:17) Full send, baby. That's just movies like it is all in. Yeah. Well, I got to ask you one more about Digger. So the character, at least. Let's fucking go. You're one of the healthiest guys known to man from what you eat, the recovery you do. What was it like putting on that bodysuit every single day? Dude, I'm Speaker 3 (17:34) glad you asked that. The Speaker 5 (17:35) prosthetics. The first Speaker 3 (17:36) time I was like, you know. Having that extra weight. My knees, I'm wearing the cowboy boots. Sitting down all of Speaker 4 (17:45) a Speaker 3 (17:45) sudden, you got something on your thighs. We had a thing, it was like, dig her up, dig her down. And I'm sweating because I'm wearing these prosthetics. And the scenes, the takes, like you were talking about, they're long takes and the rhythm of it. And how do you, you have to, you really have to know what you're doing, but I'm sweating underneath. So I came up with all these different things like cooling machines. I'd be like, all right, let's dig her up. Everyone's there. Now we go like in between a take is like, let's dig her down. You can see me. And I don't leave set. Like, I don't, I'm not interested in going to my trailer. I like being with the crew. I like being with everyone. I like being there on the set. So they have a box for me and I'm always hanging out just there. I'm watching what they're doing. I'm vibing with, with Alejandro even, and the director and everyone, even if we're not there, I'm just the actors. So I'm always there. The first time I. We did the makeup. It took six hours. Okay. So you see that character. We got to cut this Speaker 4 (18:42) down. Speaker 3 (18:42) And I'm doing it. Get Speaker 4 (18:43) this down. I'm doing Speaker 3 (18:44) the math. I'm always like, here's my day. I'm like, there's 24 hours in the day. Now they tell me I need this much sleep. Yeah. Okay. So I go, how I need to do things so well to be so economical in what I'm doing so that everything that I do when I'm there, it's like, like you for games. It's like. You got to peak