Imagine Tom Cruise, not just piloting a movie, but literally filming it! Shawn Levy, the director behind the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, revealed that the legendary actor himself got behind the camera during production. And how cool is that?
Cruise, known for his daring stunts and meticulous approach to filmmaking, has apparently added 'galactic cinematographer' to his already impressive resume. Levy, in an interview with The New York Times, recounted suggesting Cruise wade into ankle-deep water to capture a lightsaber duel scene. According to Levy, Cruise's shoes paid the price, but the resulting footage will forever bear the mark of a true Hollywood icon. "Now when you see the movie, you'll know that part of it was shot by Tom," Levy proudly stated.
The Times caught up with the Starfighter production team during a set visit in the UK, on the very same day Cruise arrived via helicopter. Talk about making an entrance! Steven Spielberg had also visited the set the week before, making the Starfighter set a hotbed of Hollywood royalty.
Star Wars: Starfighter, scheduled for release on May 28, 2027, in the United States, promises to be a fresh perspective on the Star Wars universe. It's a standalone film, meaning it won't directly tie into the Skywalker saga we all know. The story picks up five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Penned by Jonathan Tropper, the film boasts an impressive cast, including Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, Flynn Gray, and Amy Adams.
But here's where it gets interesting... Cruise operating a camera begs the question: Is this just a fun anecdote, or does it signal a deeper shift in how actors are involved in the creative process? Could we see more A-list talent taking on roles behind the camera in the future?
And this is the part most people miss... some might argue that having such a prominent actor operate the camera could be distracting or even detrimental to the overall vision of the director and cinematographer. After all, filmmaking is a collaborative art. Is it truly beneficial to have an actor, regardless of their experience, taking on such a crucial technical role?
Ultimately, Cruise's involvement adds another layer of intrigue to Star Wars: Starfighter. But does this kind of stunt casting behind the scenes enhance the final product, or is it simply a publicity grab? What do you think – does Tom Cruise behind the camera make you more or less excited to see this film? Let us know in the comments!
