Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Tom Cruise Explains Decade-Long Absence From Interviews
Tom Cruise recently spoke with GQ magazine after avoiding detailed interviews for many years.
He said he was busy working on film projects and learning how to do things better.
Cruise explained that he is more interested in movies than in talking about himself.
He studies his older films to see what worked and what could improve.
He said this does not mean he is stuck in the past.
He also discussed making Mission: Impossible movies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He called that period a very fast and difficult effort to keep filming going.
His next movie, Digger, is about an oil boss whose company causes a dangerous environmental disaster.
Tom Cruise said he avoided in-depth interviews because he was focused on projects he had started and on improving his work.
Cruise said he prefers discussing story, character and filmmaking rather than talking about himself.
He told GQ that he reviews past projects to understand what worked and what did not.
Cruise described producing Mission: Impossible films during the COVID-19 pandemic as a “dead sprint” to keep production operating.
His upcoming film Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, is scheduled for release on October 2.
- Who
- Actor and filmmaker Tom Cruise.
- What
- Cruise explained why he largely avoided in-depth interviews and discussed his filmmaking work and upcoming film Digger.
- When
- He appeared in GQ’s October issue; Digger is scheduled for release on October 2.
- Where
- The interview was published by GQ magazine; the article is datelined New Delhi.
- Why
- Cruise said he had been focused on projects he set in motion, improving his skills and making films rather than discussing himself.
- Interview outlet
- GQ magazine
- Interview history
- The article says it had been more than a decade since Cruise gave an in-depth interview to a US magazine and 20 years since his last GQ cover.
- Cruise’s stated focus
- Competence, skill, learning and evaluating what worked or did not work.
- Discussed franchise
- Mission: Impossible
- Pandemic production
- Cruise produced Mission: Impossible films during the COVID-19 pandemic and described the effort as a “dead sprint.”
- Upcoming film
- Digger
- Release date
- October 2