A Maverick Behind the Lens, Tom Cruise Makes Surprise Contribution to 'Star Wars: Starfighter'

“Last week Steven Spielberg was here. And now Tom Cruise is wielding a camera, ruining his very nice shoes.”

Summary

• During a high-profile set visit in November, Tom Cruise ended up wading into a muddy pond to operate a camera for a pivotal lightsaber duel in the upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter
• Director Shawn Levy confirmed that Cruise’s handiwork will appear in the final cut of the Ryan Gosling-led blockbuster, which is scheduled for a theatrical release in May 2027
• The project is an original, standalone story written by Jonathan Tropper and features an ensemble cast including Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams

In a cinematic crossover that feels almost like fan fiction, director Shawn Levy recently shared an incredible anecdote with The New York Times regarding his upcoming blockbuster, Star Wars: Starfighter. While filming in November 2025, the set welcomed a high-profile visitor in Tom Cruise, who didn’t just stay behind the safety of the monitors—he ended up waist-deep in the creative process.

As Levy recounted, Cruise arrived merely wanting to observe the production of the Ryan Gosling-led tentpole. However, the energy of a lightsaber duel being filmed in a muddy pond proved irresistible. When Levy jokingly suggested Cruise take over a camera, the Mission: Impossible star didn’t hesitate. Soon, the actor was wading through muck to help frame a high-stakes action sequence. “Last week Steven Spielberg was here,” Levy remarked. “And now Tom Cruise is wielding a camera, ruining his very nice shoes.”

The result is a genuine piece of film history embedded in the May 2027 release. “Now when you see the movie, you’ll know that part of it was shot by Tom,” Levy noted. “I mean, how cool is that?” Scripted by Jonathan Tropper, Starfighter is a standalone epic featuring a powerhouse cast including Matt Smith and Amy Adams. While Levy prides himself on being a responsible filmmaker who respects studio schedules, he clearly couldn’t pass up the chance to have an industry titan provide a literal “maverick” perspective to a galaxy far, far away.