Tom Cruise Streamlines 'Digger' Prosthetic Process to Under an Hour

Tom Cruise discussed the meticulous process of transforming into his character for the upcoming film "Digger," revealing that he significantly cut down the prosthetic application time from six hours to under one. Cruise shared his methods on the "New Heights" podcast with hosts Travis and Jason Kelce.

Originally, the extensive prosthetics, including a fat suit, gray hair, and facial alterations to portray an oil tycoon, required the hair and makeup team six hours to complete each day. Cruise, known for his efficiency and dedication to his craft, recognized the need to optimize this time to fit within a demanding filming schedule.

To achieve this reduction, Cruise implemented a systematic approach. He used a chalkboard to meticulously time each piece of the prosthetic application and had a stopwatch to monitor the team's progress. He described the initial resistance from the makeup artists, who were skeptical about achieving the speed. "If you say no you can't do it, you'll never get there," Cruise recalled telling them.

Through repeated drills and practice, the team successfully reduced the application time to less than an hour. Cruise explained his philosophy of studying systems to find ways to improve efficiency. "I like going into a system, studying it, trying to figure out how I can do it better, more efficient," he stated.

Beyond the efficiency of the makeup process, Cruise also touched on the physical challenges of wearing the prosthetics, noting that the extra weight contributed to discomfort and took a toll on his knees and body. He also mentioned the constant need for fan breaks due to sweating under the extensive costume.

"Digger" is scheduled to be released on October 2.