Ryan Gosling has received three Academy Award nominations, and his new movie, Project Hail Mary, is one of the first big hits of 2026. But even he seems to have missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime moment. While on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the star shared how he wasn’t there the day Tom Cruise picked up a camera and helped shoot Star Wars.
“I wasn’t there! It’s the one day I’m not there,” Gosling recalled.
Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary – Amazon MGM Studios
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The incident reflects a broader reality in Hollywood, where the stories surrounding a film’s production can shape its appeal just as much as what ends up on screen. Gosling recently claimed that it is Hollywood’s responsibility to make films worthy of bringing audiences back to theaters.
Sharing his frustration at missing Cruise adds an amusing layer to an already compelling anecdote, while at the same time planting a memory audiences can enjoy while watching the next Star Wars adventure.
When Tom Cruise Landed on Set
Last January, Star Wars: Starfighter director Shawn Levy told the New York Times that Cruise dropped by the set during production.
While Ryan Gosling wasn’t there, he heard about the visit after the fact. “Tom Cruise flew his helicopter onto set. They were just shooting, and they heard a helicopter, they had to cut,” he explained. “And it was Tom Cruise. He lands in the middle of set. He takes a camera, and he just starts shooting the action scene.”
Screen Capture from MI: Dead Reckoning
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According to earlier reports, at the time Levy was staging a fight scene in a swamp. He jokingly suggested that the Hollywood superstar lend a hand. Cruise reportedly picked up a digital camera and waded into the muddy pond. The story aligns with Cruise’s reputation for being hands-on in the filmmaking process and willing to put himself in uncomfortable situations.
“It was an incredible moment, and I don’t know why he waited for the one day I wasn’t there. I’m gonna hope that was an accident,” Gosling added, with a hint of mock concern.
If the footage Cruise helped shoot ends up in the final cut, fans will likely be able to identify the moment. It may become a piece of Hollywood lore—like the moment Harrison Ford improvised Indiana Jones shooting the swordsman due to illness, or Viggo Mortensen breaking his toe during The Two Towers.
Moments like this give audiences a sense of access—turning a distant production into something they feel connected to.
Building Buzz Beyond the Screen
Filming for Star Wars: Starfighter wrapped in late 2025, but the film isn’t set to hit theaters until May 28, 2027. Plot details remain tightly under wraps, though it’s been confirmed the story takes place five years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Levy has said in interviews that former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy discouraged him from using familiar legacy Star Wars characters.
Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary – Amazon MGM Studios
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Ryan Gosling leads the film alongside Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams, among others. The story about Tom Cruise—and Gosling just missing him—ultimately serves as a reminder that sometimes the most compelling narratives emerge offscreen, building anticipation in a way no carefully planned campaign can replicate.
As Ryan Gosling looks for ways to draw audiences back to theaters, sharing a real-life story alongside the cinematic one may help spark added interest, even if it comes at his own expense. Tom Cruise, a missed moment, and Star Wars—sometimes that’s all the marketing a movie needs.
Does Ryan Gosling’s story make you any more or less interested in Star Wars: Starfighter? Let us know in the comments!
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No one cares when the Scientology midget picked up the camera, especially for the garbage of what used to be Star Wars, nor who missed it.