Digger premiere brings Tom Cruise and the Waleses to Leicester Square

The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Royal Film Performance world premiere of Digger in Leicester Square on Tuesday night, 22 September 2026, joining Tom Cruise and members of the film's cast. The London event brought together royalty and Hollywood for the debut of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's satirical black comedy ahead of its UK cinema release on 2 October.

Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Jesse Plemons were among the cast members at the premiere alongside Cruise. The event also raised funds for the Film and TV Charity, which supports people working behind the scenes in the UK film and television industries.

• Event: The Royal Film Performance world premiere of Digger.
• Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026.
• Location: Leicester Square, London.
• Royal guests: The Prince and Princess of Wales.
• Film: A satirical black comedy directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and starring Tom Cruise.
• UK release: Digger arrives in cinemas on 2 October 2026.

Digger premiere brings royalty and Hollywood together

The Digger premiere was staged as the Royal Film Performance, the long-standing charity gala premiere that links a major film opening with fundraising for the industry. This year's event was also a prominent meeting of the Royal Family and some of the biggest names attached to the film.

Variety and the Evening Standard covered the premiere as a major royal-Hollywood crossover, with the Prince and Princess of Wales appearing alongside Cruise and the ensemble cast. The setting in Leicester Square placed the event firmly within London's film-premiere tradition while also serving as a showcase for the UK film industry.

Cruise praised the royals' support for the arts during the evening. His comments came as the Royal Film Performance raised money for the Film and TV Charity, giving the premiere a purpose beyond the launch of the film itself.

The charity supports people who work behind the scenes across British film and television. That connection made the event not only a promotional moment for Digger but also an industry fundraiser focused on people whose work is often carried out away from the spotlight.

Tom Cruise Digger cast joined by Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Jesse Plemons

Cruise led the film's presence at the Leicester Square event, with fellow cast members Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Jesse Plemons also attending. Their appearance placed the focus on an ensemble attached to a film that has already generated sharply different reactions.

Digger is directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and is described as a satirical black comedy. Digital Spy was among the outlets reporting on the film and the premiere as attention shifted from the red carpet to what audiences might make of the finished work.

Early reactions have been mixed. Responses to the film have ranged from describing it as a “brave art film” to calling it “baffling”. Those contrasting assessments underline how differently the film has been received in its earliest reactions, without yet settling into a single consensus.

The film's UK theatrical release follows soon after the London premiere. It is due to arrive in cinemas on 2 October, giving audiences in Britain their opportunity to see the film shortly after its Royal Film Performance debut.

Princess of Wales wears Jenny Packham at Digger premiere

The Princess of Wales attended the premiere in a purple Jenny Packham gown. She also wore earrings that had belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, adding another point of interest to the royal appearance at the event.

Her attendance with the Prince of Wales reinforced the ceremonial role of the Royal Film Performance, which has long combined a high-profile film premiere with a charitable purpose. The presence of the couple also helped make the evening one of the clearest intersections between the British royal calendar and the international film industry.

The premiere was consequently covered not simply as the unveiling of a new Tom Cruise film but as an event with several overlapping strands: a Royal Film Performance, a major London gala, a charity fundraiser and a showcase involving actors from a high-profile international production.

That combination also placed the UK industry at the centre of the evening. While Digger itself supplied the Hollywood draw, the charitable element focused attention on people working behind the scenes in British film and television.

Digger premiere key moments and what comes next

Stage	Detail
22 September 2026	The Prince and Princess of Wales attend the Royal Film Performance world premiere in Leicester Square.
Premiere night	Tom Cruise appears with Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Jesse Plemons.
Premiere night	Cruise praises the royals' support for the arts.
Premiere night	The event raises funds for the Film and TV Charity.
2 October 2026	Digger opens in UK cinemas.

The timing leaves a short gap between the London world premiere and the film's arrival in British cinemas. During that period, the mixed early reactions are likely to remain part of the discussion surrounding a film already attracting attention through the combination of Cruise, Inarritu and its satirical black-comedy approach.

The premiere itself has already given Digger a highly visible UK launch. With the Prince and Princess of Wales attending and the cast assembled in Leicester Square, the film entered its British release period through one of the industry's most established gala events.

What happens next for Digger in the UK

The next fixed date for Digger is its UK cinema release on 2 October 2026. That will move the focus from the Leicester Square premiere and its royal guests to wider audience reaction to the film itself.

The contrasting early responses — from “brave art film” to “baffling” — mean the film reaches cinemas without a uniform initial reception. Its theatrical opening will therefore provide the next stage in how the film is received after a premiere dominated by the meeting of royalty, Hollywood and the British film industry.

For the Film and TV Charity, the Royal Film Performance has also served its traditional fundraising role. The event's proceeds support people working behind the scenes in UK film and television, giving Tuesday night's premiere a continuing industry purpose after the red carpet has ended.

Frequently asked questions

When and where was the Digger premiere?

The <em>Digger</em> world premiere was held in Leicester Square, London, on Tuesday 22 September 2026 as the Royal Film Performance. The Prince and Princess of Wales attended alongside Tom Cruise and fellow cast members Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Jesse Plemons.

Who attended the Digger premiere with Tom Cruise?

The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Royal Film Performance world premiere alongside Tom Cruise. Cast members Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Jesse Plemons were also present. Cruise praised the royals' support for the arts during an event that raised money for the Film and TV Charity.

What is the Tom Cruise Digger film about?

<em>Digger</em> is a satirical black comedy directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and starring Tom Cruise. Early reactions to the film have been mixed, with responses ranging from “brave art film” to “baffling”. It is due to arrive in UK cinemas on 2 October 2026.

What did the Princess of Wales wear to the Digger premiere?

The Princess of Wales wore a purple Jenny Packham gown to the Leicester Square premiere. She also wore earrings that had belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. She attended the Royal Film Performance with the Prince of Wales as the event raised funds for the Film and TV Charity.