Lightsabers and Mud: Tom Cruise Star Wars Starfighter Camera Role Revealed

Imagine the Mission: Impossible theme blaring from loudspeakers while a helicopter touches down on a muddy film set. That's exactly how Tom Cruise made his grand entrance into the Star Wars universe. But he wasn't there to wield a lightsaber—he was there to capture one.

The Tom Cruise Star Wars Starfighter Camera Role and Set Secrets

Director Shawn Levy recently shared a surprising story with The New York Times about his upcoming film, Star Wars: Starfighter. During a major lightsaber duel scene filmed in November, Cruise didn't just stand on the sidelines. Instead, he ended up "up to his ankles in mud and pond water," stooping over a camera to help frame the perfect shot.

The Top Gun: Maverick star's visit followed a similar stop-by from Steven Spielberg just a week prior. According to Levy, Cruise displayed great concentration despite ruining his "very nice shoes" in the process. It's a testament to the actor's legendary reputation for being a hands-on filmmaker.

What We Know About Star Wars: Starfighter

Headlined by Ryan Gosling, the film is described as a standalone project set in an unexplored era of the galaxy. The cast features heavy hitters like Amy Adams and Matt Smith. Production officially wrapped in December, and the script comes from the mind of Jonathan Tropper, known for 'The Adam Project'.