First Set Photo Teases Tom Cruise’s High-Octane Team-Up With an Oscar Winner
Tom Cruise has unveiled the first set photo from his high-profile collaboration with Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, sharing a rehearsal snap on X that teases their untitled film.
Tom Cruise just gave a rare peek at his next movie, and it is not another Mission: Impossible or Top Gun. He posted a set photo with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and yes, Cruise teaming up with the director of Birdman and Amores Perros for a black comedy is exactly the curveball I wanted.
The photo and the timing
On Nov 18, 2025, Cruise shared a shot on X of himself standing next to Iñárritu during a rehearsal for their still-untitled film. He says the picture was actually taken last year (so, 2024), which is a very Hollywood way of saying: they have been at this for a minute.
"Today, I share the first photo taken last year during a rehearsal on the set of my new film with Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Alejandro, 25 years ago, I watched your first film, the classic Amores Perros. This weekend, 25 years later, I was deeply moved to have been presented the Honorary Oscar by you, my dear friend. I cannot wait to share our new film with you all next year!"
The awards bit he references is fresh: Cruise received an Honorary Oscar at the 16th Annual Governors Awards on Nov 16, 2025, and Iñárritu was the one who handed it to him. Nice full-circle touch after the Amores Perros shout-out.
So what is this movie?
Iñárritu is calling it a black comedy, and the premise is pointed: it follows the most powerful man on the planet trying to prove he is humanity's savior before a catastrophe he set in motion wipes everything out. That sounds like satire with teeth, and Cruise playing in that sandbox is intriguing.
The essentials
- Lead: Tom Cruise
- Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
- Writers: Iñárritu, Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., Nicolás Giacobone
- Cast: Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, Sophie Wilde, Emma D'Arcy, Robert John Burke, Burn Gorman, Michael Stuhlbarg, John Goodman
- Producers: Iñárritu, Cruise, Mary Parent for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures
- Release: Oct 2, 2026, with IMAX screenings
- Logline vibe: the world's top power player scrambles to prove he is the hero before his own disaster scorches everything
Why this matters for Cruise
This is his first role outside the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun worlds in nearly a decade. The last time he stepped away from Ethan Hunt or Pete Mitchell was 2017's American Made. Between the genre shift and Iñárritu's sensibility, this feels like a deliberate change-up. Also worth noting: in his caption he says he cannot wait to share the film "next year," which lines up with that Oct 2026 date.
Bottom line: unexpected pairing, sharp premise, stacked cast, and big-screen plans. Keep an eye on this one.