According to director Shawn Levy, actor Tom Cruise visited the set in November 2025 and unexpectedly took up the camera himself, participating in filming a lightsaber duel scene.
The director said that initially, Tom Cruise simply visited the film set as a guest, but his enthusiasm and passion for filmmaking quickly led the Mission: Impossible star to join in.
Shawn Levy shared this information in an interview with The New York Times, much to the delight of Star Wars fans.
Tom Cruise was nothing short of a real cameraman.
According to Shawn Levy, Tom Cruise stood in the mud and pond water, sacrificing his fancy shoes, concentrating intensely to frame the shot on the digital camera. Shawn Levy watched the scene with a mixture of amazement and disbelief. The director revealed that earlier, while preparing to film an underwater lightsaber duel scene, he jokingly suggested that Tom Cruise try holding one of the cameras.
No one expected Tom Cruise to immediately agree. The actor waded into the muddy pond, holding the camera professionally like a real cinematographer.
“Now when people watch the movie, they’ll know that part of the scene was shot by Tom Cruise,” Shawn Levy shared excitedly. “What could be cooler than that?”
Star Wars: Starfighter is the next major film project in the Star Wars franchise, but it doesn’t follow the familiar storyline. The film is presented as a completely new story, expanding the distant galactic universe in an independent direction.
Ryan Gosling plays the lead role, starring alongside Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams.
The film is directed by Shawn Levy, and the script is written by Jonathan Tropper – the screenwriter behind popular television series such as Banshee and Warrior.
Although details about the content remain under wraps, this project is expected to bring a fresh perspective to Star Wars, both in storytelling style and audience engagement.
Sharing more about his filmmaking philosophy, Shawn Levy stated that he doesn’t pursue the “industrial” blockbuster style.
“There are directors and stars who take pride in spending a lot of money and extending production time,” he said. “But I’m the kind of director studios call when they need someone who works responsibly, appreciates their investment, and completes projects on schedule.”
According to Shawn Levy, this approach may not be glamorous, but it’s something he’s proud of. His previous success with Deadpool and Wolverine – a film that grossed $1.3 billion in the summer of 2024, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film in history – is clear evidence of his capabilities.
Beyond his success in film, Shawn Levy is also the executive producer of the Stranger Things series and directed several episodes in the final season.
His experience in balancing creativity and commercial success is expected to help him breathe new life into the Star Wars franchise, which is seeking to win back mainstream audiences after several controversial projects.
Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled to be released on May 28, 2027.
