Shawn Levy Confirms Tom Cruise’s Involvement in ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’

4 days ago 13

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Tom Cruise is the President of Movies for a reason, and it seems he can even turn up to somebody else's movie and take over shooting it. And that's exactly what happened recently, as director Shawn Levy has confirmed that Cruise wasn’t just hanging around the set of Star Wars: Starfighter — he actually stepped behind the camera and shot part of the movie himself before production wrapped.

Speaking about the moment to the New York Times, Levy stated that Cruise had arrived on set from London, landing via helicopter of course because how else would Ethan Hunt travel? The crew then took the liberty of piping in the Mission: Impossible theme with an amused Cruise stating he was only there to watch and enjoy the process, but shortly after, Levy jokingly suggested he grab a camera during a lightsaber duel staged in shallow water. Obviously, Cruise would immediately do it and be the best at it. He waded straight into the muddy pond — shoes and all — and started framing shots like a seasoned cinematographer. According to Levy, that footage is staying in the film.

“Now when you see the movie, you’ll know that part of it was shot by Tom. I mean, how cool is that?”

What Is 'Starfighter' About?

Starfighter stars Ryan Gosling and is set five years after The Rise of Skywalker, though plot details remain tightly under wraps. The film has already become known for its parade of high-profile visitors, including Steven Spielberg, who dropped by the set shortly before Cruise’s visit.

For Levy, the experience has been surreal — not just because he’s directing a Star Wars movie, but because it represents the culmination of a career built on reliability, efficiency, and audience-first storytelling. From Night at the Museum to Deadpool & Wolverine to shepherding Stranger Things, Levy has earned a reputation as the director studios trust to deliver on massive investments without chaos. That reputation is a big reason Lucasfilm handed him the keys at a moment when the franchise is eager to rebuild goodwill.

Levy previous told On Film… With Kevin McCarthy that Starfighter won’t follow any familiar structure — and isn’t tied to the Skywalker saga’s timelines, which is sure to be a relief for some fans.

“It’s not a sequel. It’s not a prequel. It is not legacy characters, and it’s not in a period of time in the galaxy that’s ever been explored. It’s five years after IX, after Rise of Skywalker.

Star Wars: Starfighter is currently in post-production and is set to arrive in theaters in 2027.