A Scene in Star Wars: Starfighter Was Directed on Tom Cruise Control!
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Phil Roberts 
Shawn Levy has revealed that a Lightsaber duel featured in Star Wars: Starfighter was directed by Hollywood icon, Tom Cruise!
Although the release of Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter is still a way off, the director is already busy pouring fuel into the hype train. Speaking earlier with the New York Times, the director opened up about his Star Wars adventure. But in a jaw-dropping reveal, he shared that a scene in the film involving a Lightsaber duel was filmed by none other than Tom Cruise! You heard right, Tom Cruise has directed a Lightsaber sequence in a Star Wars film.
The scene in question saw Cruise wading deep into thick mud to film the action as it unfolded. The scene was shot on location in the UK, where the actor dropped by to visit the set. But after a few jokes, the gauntlet was thrown down, and Cruise jumped into the mud to capture the duel. Read an excerpt from the interview below.
CRUISE CONTROL
Tom Cruise was up to his ankles in mud and pond water. He wore a look of great concentration as he stooped over a digital camera, trying to frame the perfect shot.
Shawn Levy glanced around in slight disbelief. Partly it was that he was on the set of his very own “Star Wars” movie, “Star Wars: Starfighter,” with Ryan Gosling. And partly it was the steady stream of A-list visitors. “Last week Steven Spielberg was here. And now Tom Cruise is wielding a camera, ruining his very nice shoes.”
It was a brisk morning in November and Cruise had dropped by from nearby London, landing his helicopter on set as the crew piped in the “Mission: Impossible” theme over the loudspeakers. Cruise just wanted to watch, he told them, but Levy, setting up a scene involving a lightsaber duel in the water, suggested the star jump on one of the cameras. He’d meant it as a joke. But there was Cruise, wading into the muddy pond, holding the camera like a pro.
“Now when you see the movie,” Levy said — it’s scheduled for 2027 — “you’ll know that part of it was shot by Tom. I mean, how cool is that?”
POST PRODUCTION
As mentioned, Cruise was one of many high-profile visitors to the set. Even the great Steven Spielberg paid a visit to the set to get a bird’s-eye view of Levy’s new adventure. But it is wonderful to hear that Cruise flexed his directorial muscles to catch an iconic moment in Star Wars history. And now, fans will watch with bated breath to see his masterwork firsthand when the film opens in theaters next year.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Recently, Levy announced that Thomas Newman will compose the score for his Star Wars adventure. The composer whose works include Skyfall, Finding Nemo, Meet Joe Black, and The Shawshank Redemption is bringing his expertise to the galaxy far, far away. He joins a small fraternity of composers who have helped craft the soundscape of the saga on the big screen.
Star Wars: Starfighter features Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film is produced by Levy and Kathleen Kennedy. Executive producers include Ryan Gosling, Dan Levine, Mary McLaglen, and Josh McLaglen. The screenplay is by Jonathan Tropper. The film is directed by Shawn Levy and produced by Levy and Kathleen Kennedy. Executive producers are Ryan Gosling, Dan Levine, Mary McLaglen, and Josh McLaglen. The script is by Jonathan Tropper.
RELEASE
Shawn Levy has assembled an all-star cast to bring the adventure home, and judging by this news, the film appears to be one of the most anticipated Star Wars films to date. Exciting times ahead for the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars: Starfighter arrives in theaters on Memorial Day 2027.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
