The initial premise of 'Digger' presents Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon whose actions inadvertently trigger an apocalypse. However, the film soon unveils a meta-narrative twist: Cruise is actually portraying Curtis Markson, an actor embodying Rockwell in a New York City stage play titled 'Fossil Fools.' This revelation immediately draws a compelling parallel to Iñárritu's 'Birdman,' which famously followed Michael Keaton's Riggan Thomson, an actor haunted by his past as a superhero icon, as he attempts to reclaim artistic credibility by staging a Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story.

Both films delve deep into the psyches of actors grappling with their craft, public perception, and the often-blurring lines between their performed roles and their true selves. Iñárritu cleverly utilizes the unique immediacy of live theatre as the backdrop for these existential crises. Unlike the months-long process of filmmaking, theatre offers a direct, visceral connection between artist and audience, a quality that Iñárritu, alongside his frequent cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, captures through distinctive handheld camera work, long takes, and intimate close-ups. This stylistic choice not only mirrors the raw energy of backstage life but also pays homage to John Cassavetes' 1977 film 'Opening Night,' a clear inspiration for Iñárritu's explorations of actors on the brink.

While 'Birdman' primarily explored an artist's intense self-doubt and the struggle for personal validation, 'Digger' expands this conversation into broader societal relevance. Curtis Markson, consumed by the dystopian reality wrought by figures like the real Digger, questions whether satirizing such devastation reduces its gravity to mere entertainment. This internal conflict is challenged when the play's benefactor, Kenny (Jesse Plemons), reveals his familial connection to the actual Digger, asserting the vital importance of their artistic endeavor. The film, despite its angry commentary on climate change and the influence of powerful elites, ultimately champions art's power to serve as a vital reminder of humanity's mistakes while simultaneously offering upliftment.

Across both narratives, Iñárritu posits that artists, through their dedicated work on stage, can find a form of absolution and purpose. 'Digger' reinforces the conviction that art is not a frivolous pursuit but a necessary, vibrant force capable of prompting reflection and inspiring hope, even in the face of widespread calamity. It’s a powerful continuation of a dialogue that began with an Oscar-winning flourish and now resonates even more urgently.