Tom Cruise has found yet another way to surprise Hollywood—this time by stepping behind the camera on the set of a new Star Wars movie. During a visit to the set of Star Wars: Starfighter, the Mission: Impossible icon unexpectedly became an impromptu cameraman, personally filming part of a lightsaber duel that will appear in the final cut of the film.
The moment unfolded in November 2025 while director Shawn Levy was shooting a dramatic lightsaber battle in a muddy, waterlogged location. Cruise, who had just flown in from London, initially told the crew he was simply stopping by to observe. That plan changed quickly when Levy jokingly suggested he grab a camera. Cruise didn’t hesitate—he jumped straight into the action.
According to Levy, Cruise waded into a muddy pond, shoes and all, holding a digital camera and carefully framing shots as if he were part of the crew. He stood ankle-deep in water, fully committed to capturing the intensity of the duel. Levy later revealed that some of the footage audiences will see in theaters was literally shot by Cruise himself, calling the moment surreal even by Hollywood standards.
Star Wars: Starfighter is one of Disney’s most anticipated upcoming additions to the franchise. The standalone film is set five years after The Rise of Skywalker and moves away from the Skywalker saga, focusing instead on a new story centered around a starfighter pilot and his nephew. The cast includes Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Amy Adams, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, and Daniel Ings.
Despite his hands-on involvement, Cruise is not acting in the movie and has no official directing role. His appearance behind the camera was a spontaneous, one-off moment driven by curiosity and friendship rather than a formal credit. Still, it has sparked buzz among fans who have long dreamed of Cruise joining the Star Wars universe in some capacity.
Cruise and Levy share a long-standing professional relationship, built on years of mutual respect. Levy has praised Cruise as one of the most inventive minds in action filmmaking, while Cruise has frequently shown up on Levy’s sets to offer support and creative input. That trust made the unexpected camerawork moment possible.
With filming wrapped and post-production underway ahead of its planned 2027 release, fans are now left wondering exactly which lightsaber shots bear the unmistakable influence of Tom Cruise—this time, not as a fearless action hero, but as the man behind the lens.
