You’ve seen the face. That slightly unsettling, deeply soulful, "is he about to cry or kill me?" look that Jesse Plemons has perfected over the last decade. From the polite sociopathy of Todd in Breaking Bad to the heartbreaking stillness of The Power of the Dog, Plemons has become Hollywood’s secret weapon. But right now, the internet is buzzing for a very specific reason: Jesse Plemons new movie, the mind-bending thriller Digger, is finally taking shape.
Directed by the visionary Alejandro G. Iñárritu—the guy who gave us Birdman and The Revenant—this project is already being whispered about in award-season circles. Honestly, the hype is real. People are calling it a "modern-day Dr. Strangelove," which is a massive claim to make. But when you put Plemons in a room with a script that he personally described as "one of the strangest, funniest, most tragic" things he’s ever read, you listen.
What is Digger Actually About?
The plot is being kept under a pretty tight lock and key, which is classic Iñárritu. Here is what we do know. The story involves a massive ensemble, including big names like Tom Cruise, John Goodman, and Riz Ahmed.
Basically, the film seems to deal with a high-stakes, almost farcical situation that spirals out of control. Plemons mentioned in a recent interview with Variety that the movie starts in one genre and then "shapeshifts" into something else entirely. That’s the kind of creative swing that either results in a masterpiece or a glorious disaster. Given the track record of everyone involved, most of us are betting on the former.
The "Strangelove" comparison suggests a biting political or social satire. It’s expected to hit theaters on October 2, 2026, via Warner Bros. Pictures. If you’re a film festival nerd, keep your eyes on Venice in late August 2026. That’s where the world premiere will likely happen.
The Plutarch Heavensbee Connection
While Digger is the artsy, prestige play, Plemons is also diving headfirst into the biggest franchise of the decade. He has officially joined the cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
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This is a big deal. He’s playing a young Plutarch Heavensbee.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman played the character in the original films. For years, fans have pointed out the uncanny resemblance between Plemons and the late Hoffman. Seeing Plemons step into a role previously occupied by his spiritual predecessor feels like a "full circle" moment for cinema fans.
Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen ever volunteered. It follows the 50th Hunger Games—the one Haymitch Abernathy won. Plemons playing the man who would eventually become the Head Gamemaker is a stroke of casting genius. The movie is slated for November 20, 2026.
Why 2025 and 2026 Are the Years of Plemons
If you think waiting until late 2026 is too long, don't worry. Plemons has been on a literal tear lately. He just finished a victory lap for Bugonia, his latest collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone.
In Bugonia, Plemons played Teddy, a conspiracy-obsessed beekeeper who kidnaps a CEO (Stone) because he’s convinced she’s an alien. It was weird. It was gross. It was brilliant. Plemons even scored a Golden Globe nomination for it just this month, though he lost out to Timothée Chalamet in a move that had Film Twitter absolutely livid.
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His work ethic is kind of insane. Look at the range he’s covering:
- Sci-fi Black Comedy: Bugonia (2025)
- Political Thriller: Zero Day (2025 Netflix series with Robert De Niro)
- Satirical Drama: Digger (2026)
- Dystopian Blockbuster: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026)
He isn't just taking "one for them and one for me" roles. He’s taking "weird ones for me and even weirder ones for the audience."
The Jesse Plemons Effect
What makes a Jesse Plemons new movie a must-watch? It's the nuance. He doesn't do "big" acting. He does "heavy" acting.
There’s a specific tension he brings to the screen. You see it in I'm Thinking of Ending Things, where he plays a character who seems to be dissolving in real-time. He has this ability to make the mundane feel terrifying and the terrifying feel mundane.
In Digger, he’s reportedly playing a character that is "tragic but funny." That’s a hard line to walk. Most actors lean too far into the joke or too far into the misery. Plemons just sits right in the middle, staring at you until you feel uncomfortable. It's great.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to be prepared for the 2026 Plemons-vassance, you’ve got some homework to do.
First, go back and watch Kinds of Kindness. It’s a triptych film where he plays three different roles. He actually won the Best Actor award at Cannes for it. It's the best way to see his range before he hits the mainstream again with The Hunger Games.
Second, keep an eye on the trailer drops for Digger. Given the October release date, we probably won't see footage until the spring of 2026. However, the first posters usually leak around the time of the Berlin International Film Festival in February.
Finally, if you missed Bugonia during its theatrical run last fall, it's hitting streaming platforms right about now. It’s the perfect primer for the kind of high-concept, "is this real?" storytelling he’s doing with Iñárritu next year.
Practical Steps for Fans:
- Track the 2026 Calendar: Mark October 2nd and November 20th as the "Plemons Double Feature" months.
- Revisit the Source: If you’re hyped for the Hunger Games prequel, read the Suzanne Collins novel Sunrise on the Reaping. It gives a lot of context on why Plutarch (Plemons' character) is such a pivotal, sneaky figure in Panem.
- Follow the Festivals: Watch the Venice Film Festival lineup announcements in July 2026. If Digger is there, it’s a guaranteed Oscar contender.