Archive · 3 Oct 2026
How Kazu Hiro Transformed Tom Cruise Into Digger Rockwell
Tom Cruise plays an oil tycoon named Digger Rockwell in the film Digger.
He looks very different in the role because of special makeup and prosthetics.
Artist Kazu Hiro designed the look with Cruise and director Alejandro G. Inarritu.
They used old pictures of Texas oil men to help decide how the character should look.
Cruise had his head scanned in the UK in March 2024.
Hiro made three possible designs before settling on the character’s appearance.
The prosthetics had to look convincing without hiding Cruise’s expressions.
Digger was filmed in VistaVision and released in cinemas and IMAX across India.
Kazu Hiro created Tom Cruise’s prosthetic look for the Texas oil tycoon Digger Rockwell in Digger.
Hiro and filmmaker Alejandro G. Inarritu worked with Cruise to develop the character’s appearance.
The design drew on images of Texas oil men from the 1920s and earlier, as well as portraits by Joseph Karsh.
Cruise was 3D-scanned in the UK in March 2024, and Hiro developed three design options.
Digger was shot entirely in VistaVision and released in cinemas and IMAX across India.
- Who
- Tom Cruise, prosthetic artist Kazu Hiro and filmmaker Alejandro G. Inarritu.
- What
- Hiro designed prosthetics that transformed Cruise into Digger Rockwell for the film Digger.
- When
- Cruise was 3D-scanned in March 2024; the film has since been released in India.
- Where
- The scan took place in the UK; Digger was released in cinemas and IMAX across India.
- Why
- To create a distinctive, realistic appearance for the character while allowing Cruise’s expressions and performance to show through.
- Film
- Digger
- Character
- Digger Rockwell, a Texas oil tycoon
- Lead actor
- Tom Cruise
- Prosthetic artist
- Kazu Hiro
- Director
- Alejandro G. Inarritu
- Design process
- Cruise was 3D-scanned in the UK in March 2024; Hiro created three design options.
- Filming format
- VistaVision
- Release
- Cinemas and IMAX across India