Tom Cruise has spent decades at the center of Hollywood, but the actor says he still feels there are plenty of new challenges ahead.
Cruise, 64, spoke with PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere of his latest movie, Digger, on Sept. 28, reflecting on his long career, the actors and filmmakers who have influenced him, and how he approaches choosing his next projects.
As he looks back on the different stages of his career, Cruise found himself thinking about Paul Newman, his costar in the 1986 film The Color of Money. Newman was 64 while making the Martin Scorsese-directed movie, the same age Tom Cruise is now. “I was his age,” Cruise said of Newman, recalling their time working together.
Tom Cruise Reflects on Paul Newman
Cruise’s experience with Newman remains an important part of how he thinks about movies and his own career.
The two actors starred together in The Color of Money, with Newman playing veteran pool player Eddie Felson and Tom Cruise portraying Vincent Lauria. The film marked a significant moment in both actors’ careers and earned Newman an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Looking back at the experience, Cruise said working with Newman and other major figures in Hollywood shaped how he thinks about art, filmmaking and life.
He explained that his interests have never been limited to one type of movie. Although he has become closely associated with blockbuster action films, Cruise said he has spent his career exploring different genres and trying to understand people through cinema.
For Cruise, that includes everything from action and thrillers to horror and other forms of storytelling.
Michael Mann Is Another Important Collaborator
Cruise also reflected on his long-standing relationships with filmmakers while attending the Digger premiere.
Among those present was director Michael Mann, who worked with Cruise on the 2004 crime thriller Collateral. The movie paired Cruise with Jamie Foxx and became one of the actor’s notable departures from his traditional action-hero roles.
Cruise said being surrounded by friends and collaborators from different points in his career made the premiere particularly meaningful.
He described the opportunity to continue making movies across multiple decades as a privilege.
Tom Cruise Says There Is Still More to Explore
Even after decades of major Hollywood roles, Cruise doesn’t appear ready to step away from filmmaking.
When discussing how he approaches his career today, the actor said he continues to look ahead rather than simply reflecting on what he has already accomplished.
“There’s always another mountain,” Cruise said, adding that there is always a new adventure waiting.
That outlook has continued to shape the projects he chooses, including Digger, his collaboration with Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Cruise said working with Iñárritu had been a longtime ambition and called the director a “master” filmmaker while addressing the audience at the Los Angeles premiere.
Tom Cruise Stars in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Digger
Digger marks Cruise’s latest collaboration with a major filmmaker and features an ensemble cast that includes Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.
The movie is being described as a satire, although many details surrounding its story have remained under wraps ahead of its theatrical release.
Cruise plays the central character in the film, which follows a powerful figure after a disaster leaves him on a mission to convince the world that he can save humanity.
At the Los Angeles premiere, Cruise encouraged audiences to experience the movie without knowing too much about what happens.
He also praised the cast and said he was grateful to finally have the opportunity to work with Iñárritu.
Cruise Looks Back on His Hollywood Journey
During his remarks at the premiere, Cruise also thought back to the beginning of his career. He remembered being 15 years old and working on some of his earliest films, including Taps and Risky Business.
From those early projects to his latest collaboration with Iñárritu, Cruise said he remains grateful for the opportunity to work alongside talented artists.
His career has since included major franchises, dramatic performances and collaborations with some of Hollywood’s most recognized directors.
And rather than treating those achievements as an endpoint, Cruise’s comments suggest he remains focused on what comes next.
As Digger arrives in theaters, including IMAX locations, on Oct. 2, the actor is already looking toward his next challenge — because, as Cruise puts it, there is always another mountain to climb.