The upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter has suddenly become a hot topic among fans. Not only because Ryan Gosling is leading the cast, but also due to a surprising behind-the-scenes moment involving Tom Cruise. The Mission Impossible star didn’t just stop by the set for a visit—he actually helped film one of the scenes.
Director Shawn Levy, known for his work on Deadpool and Wolverine, shared the story in an interview with The New York Times. According to him, it’s not unusual for major Hollywood figures to drop by movie sets just to observe the creative process. Steven Spielberg had done so before, and this time it was Tom Cruise’s turn.
Tom Cruise reportedly flew in from London and landed his helicopter directly at the filming location. At first, he only wanted to watch. But things took an unexpected turn when Levy was preparing a lightsaber duel scene set in water. Jokingly, the director offered Cruise the chance to operate one of the cameras.
To everyone’s surprise, Cruise immediately agreed. Without hesitation, he jumped into the water and started filming, even though it meant soaking his expensive shoes. That spontaneous moment ended up becoming a real part of the movie.
“Now when you watch the film, you’ll know that a part of it was filmed by Tom Cruise. How cool is that?” Shawn Levy said enthusiastically.
Beyond the fun anecdote, fans are paying close attention to another detail. The mention of a lightsaber duel appears to be an accidental spoiler, strongly hinting that lightsabers will feature prominently in the film. Until now, the filmmakers had not confirmed whether Force-sensitive characters would appear.
While the Star Wars universe does include exceptions—such as General Grievous, who wielded lightsabers through cybernetics and intense training—the presence of this iconic weapon almost certainly signals a return to classic Star Wars elements.
For the record, Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled to hit theaters on May 28, 2027. The film is a standalone story within the Star Wars franchise, set about five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker released in 2019.
Ryan Gosling stars in the lead role, supported by an impressive cast that includes Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Matt Smith, and Aaron Pierre. With a fresh storyline, major stars, and surprising behind-the-scenes moments like Tom Cruise’s involvement, this film is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Star Wars releases in years.
