According to director Shawn Levy, actor Tom Cruise visited the set in November 2025 and unexpectedly took the camera himself to film a lightsaber duel scene in the movie.
The director said that initially, Tom Cruise had come to visit the crew simply as a guest, but his enthusiasm and passion for cinema quickly drew the Mission: Impossible star into the action.
This information was shared by Shawn Levy in a conversation with The New York Times, delighting Star Wars fans.
Tom Cruise, just like a real cameraman
According to Shawn Levy, Tom Cruise stood in mud and pond water, sacrificing his fancy shoes, fully concentrating to frame shots on the digital camera. Levy described the scene as both astonishing and unbelievable.
“Last week, Steven Spielberg visited the set. And now, here’s Tom Cruise holding the camera, sacrificing his beautiful shoes just to capture the perfect angle for the film,” Shawn Levy recalled – Photo: Netflix
The director mentioned that while preparing to shoot a lightsaber fight scene in water, he half-jokingly suggested that Tom Cruise try one of the cameras.
No one expected Tom Cruise to immediately accept. The actor waded into the muddy pond, handling the camera professionally like a real cinematographer.
“Now when people watch the movie, they will know that part of the footage 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 does not follow the familiar storylines. The movie is presented as an entirely new story, expanding the galaxy far, far away in an independent direction.
Ryan Gosling plays the lead role, alongside a cast including Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams.
The film is directed by Shawn Levy, with a screenplay by Jonathan Tropper, the writer behind popular TV series such as Banshee and Warrior.
Although plot details are still kept under wraps, the project is expected to bring a fresh tone to Star Wars, both in storytelling style and audience engagement.
Sharing more about his filmmaking philosophy, Shawn Levy said he does not pursue the typical “industrial” blockbuster approach.
“Some directors and stars take pride in spending massive amounts of money and prolonging production,” he said. “But I am the director studios call when they need someone responsible, who respects the investment, and completes the project on schedule.”
According to Shawn Levy, this approach may not be glamorous, but it is a point of pride. His previous success with Deadpool and Wolverine—which earned $1.3 billion in the summer of 2024, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film in history—clearly demonstrates his capability.
Not only successful in cinema, Shawn Levy is also the executive producer of Stranger Things and directed several episodes in the final season.
His experience balancing creativity and commercial appeal is expected to bring new life to the Star Wars franchise, which is seeking to reconnect with mainstream audiences after several controversial projects.
Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 28, 2027.
