Tom Cruise: The Unexpected Director of a ‘Star Wars : Starfighter’ Lightsaber Duel

The upcoming “Star Wars: Starfighter” will feature at least one or two shots filmed by none other than Tom Cruise

Actor Tom Cruise dropped in for a set visit on Star Wars: Starfighter to see what was going on with this mysterious Shawn Levy film, and something unexpected happened.

It’s no secret that Tom Cruise has been heavily involved with some of the greatest films of all time, showcasing his ability to deliver massive box office and critical successes through high-stakes action and enduring star power. Primarily known as an actor and producer, Cruise doesn’t typically work “behind the camera” and leaves that job to the professionals. However, in what appears to be a complete accident, the actor ended up doing one of the most unlikely things ever for a Star Wars shoot.

Speaking with The New York Times, director Shawn Levy, known for his recent work on the final season of Stranger Things, explained that during a set visit last year, Cruise ended up landing his personal helicopter at the location of his new Starfighter film. After a quick tour around the set, Levy jokingly suggested to Cruise that he should jump behind the camera for a shot or two. The recent Governors Awards recipient, at the 2025 Oscars for his significant contributions to filmmaking, took his offer seriously and immediately did just that.

“He wore a look of great concentration as he stooped over a digital camera, trying to frame the perfect shot.”

Starfighter‘s set has seen visits from many high-profile celebrities during its long shoot, so Cruise wasn’t the first. But he was the first celebrity to shoot a scene for a Star Wars film. There have been many famous actors who’ve had cameos, like Simon Pegg, Tom Hardy, Princes William and Harry, and Sofia Coppola, but none who have gone behind the camera. When the actor’s shot was completed, Levy loved it so much that the footage Cruise filmed will be included in the final theatrical cut.

“Last week Steven Spielberg was here. And now Tom Cruise is wielding a camera, ruining his very nice shoes,” Levy reflected (the Times interview took place in November last year, before Starfighter had wrapped), saying that Cruise was initially there just to watch, but after Levy jokingly offered the chance for Cruise to get stuck in, he did. “Now when you see the movie, you’ll know that part of it was shot by Tom. I mean, how cool is that?”

The most significant news here isn’t just Cruise being behind the camera for a shot; it’s the fact that the actor landed his helicopter on the set because he wanted to watch the cast film a lightsaber battle. So far, very little is known about the film, other than the release of a few set and production photos, so news that the film will feature a significant lightsaber sequence set in a muddy pond comes as a bit of a surprise. The scene confirms that Starfighter will delve into some sort of lightsaber combat, potentially exploring new forms or characters wielding these iconic weapons.

Ryan Gosling headlines the film, which Levy has described as a “standalone” project set in “a period of time that Star Wars hasn’t explored yet.” Other cast members include, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and newcomer Flynn Gray.

Shawn Levy on the set of Star Wars: Starfighter from The New York Times Interview.

Shawn Levy on the set of STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER pic.twitter.com/XnN2JzefBu

— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) January 8, 2026

Star Wars: Starfighter hits theaters on May 28, 2027.

May the Force be with you….