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Tom Cruise's shocking transformation for 'The Shaman' revealed in new trailer

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Tom Cruise stars as a quirky billionaire in director Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new film "The Shaman."
  • Cruise sports a bald cap, a beer belly, and a Southern accent, portraying a character whose company causes ecological disaster and nuclear crisis.
  • The film satirizes corporate power, environmental crises, and humanity's absurd reactions to disaster.

Tom Cruise transforms into a bizarre, overweight, and balding billionaire in the upcoming film "The Shaman," directed by Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The first trailer reveals Cruise as "The Shaman" Rockwell, a wealthy industrialist whose company's actions have triggered an ecological catastrophe and a potential nuclear war.

Everything will change, one day you are a cat, or a king; the next day, you are just ashes in a box.

— Tom Cruise (as The Shaman)The character's opening lines in the film's trailer, highlighting his eccentric and philosophical nature.

Cruise's character sports a receding hairline, a noticeable beer belly, and a thick Southern accent, a stark departure from his usual heroic roles. The film is described as a "comedy of unprecedented disaster scale," where Rockwell, despite causing global peril, believes he is humanity's savior. His initial reaction to his company's role in Greenland's glacial movement is dismissive, highlighting his narcissistic and arrogant nature.

The movie satirizes corporate influence, environmental negligence, and the absurd ways humans confront crises. Even as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear war due to his company's actions, Rockwell's primary concern is his white cat, which he believes has only "two weeks to five minutes" left to live.

This mess was made by The Shaman, The Shaman will dig his way out!

— John Goodman (as the U.S. President)The president's exasperated reaction to the immense cost of fixing the crisis caused by Rockwell's company.

John Goodman appears as the ailing U.S. president, demanding Rockwell fix the mess. Faced with a potential $18 trillion solution, the president angrily insists, "This mess was made by The Shaman, The Shaman will dig his way out!" The trailer hints at a "crazy solution" involving firing missiles at icebergs.

I have never met any character that challenges me in this way, and neither has Alejandro!

— Tom CruiseCruise describing the unique challenge presented by the character of 'The Shaman'.

Cruise expressed his long-held admiration for Iñárritu, dating back to his 2000 film "Amores Perros." He praised the director's unique vision in cinematography, art direction, and use of color. The collaboration for "The Shaman" has been in development for about seven years, with Iñárritu personally reading the script aloud to help Cruise fully grasp the character. Cruise felt the director's ambition and courage in creating such a role.

It's absurd, dangerous, but absolutely comedic, because the source of great comedy is tragedy.

— Alejandro G. IñárrituThe director explaining the film's tone and thematic approach.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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