Tom Cruise Steps Into a Galaxy Far, Far Away — Camera in Hand

Tom Cruise has officially left his footprint on the Star Wars universe — and in true Cruise fashion, he didn’t just visit the set, he jumped straight into the action. Lightsabers, mud, and all.

Director Shawn Levy, who is currently at the helm of Star Wars: Starfighter, revealed in a recent interview with The New York Times that Cruise was among several high-profile visitors to the film’s set. But while most guests are content to observe from a safe distance, Cruise had other ideas. His visit coincided with the filming of one of the movie’s major lightsaber duels, and what began as a joking suggestion quickly became a cinematic moment in the making.

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

According to the report, Cruise made a dramatic entrance that November morning, arriving by helicopter as the Mission: Impossible theme blasted over the loudspeakers. Before long, he was fully immersed in the shoot — literally. The actor found himself “up to his ankles in mud and pond water,” intently framing shots as the lightsaber battle unfolded.

Witnesses described Cruise stooped over a digital camera, wearing an expression of deep concentration as he worked to capture the perfect angle. What might have been a playful cameo turned into a genuine contribution to the film. As Levy later joked, “Now when you see the movie, you’ll know that part of it was shot by Tom. I mean, how cool is that?”

Cruise’s behind-the-scenes involvement remains one of the few concrete details revealed about Star Wars: Starfighter, a project that has been shrouded in secrecy. The film stars Ryan Gosling in the lead and is described by Levy as a standalone Star Wars story, set in a period of the galaxy that audiences have not yet seen explored. The cast also includes Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams.

Beyond the spectacle, Levy also offered a more personal insight into the themes shaping Starfighter. Known for films that explore father-son dynamics — such as Real Steel, Night at the Museum, and The Adam Project — the director admitted he only recently recognized the emotional thread connecting his work. Estranged from his own father until the age of 13, Levy revealed that these stories reflect something deeply formative in his life.

“There was something defining about that moment for me,” he shared, acknowledging that Starfighter continues this thematic tradition. “And with Star Wars, I’m doing so again.”

The film features a script by Jonathan Tropper, creator of Banshee and Warrior, and production officially wrapped in December. Levy has previously described the experience of making the film as “hard as hell,” but one that has been profoundly rewarding.

“It is surreal and awesome every day walking onto this set,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “To have made up a new and original Star Wars story that is neither a sequel nor a prequel to anything — it’s dream-come-true territory every day.”

With its blend of fresh storytelling, emotional depth, and even an unexpected contribution from Tom Cruise himself, Star Wars: Starfighter is shaping up to be one of the franchise’s most intriguing new chapters when it hits theaters next year.