Tom Cruise has never been directed by a woman — he would like Taylor Swift to be the first
Tom Cruise says Taylor Swift is ‘absolutely brilliant’ — and that he would happily make a film with her, even one she directs.
Here’s one for the crossover wish list: Tom Cruise apparently wants to make an actual film with none other than Taylor Swift. No, not a quick cameo in one of her music videos — we’re talking a proper, big-screen project. The actor, who will next be seen in Oscar-winner Alejandro González Iñárritu’s upcoming dark comedy Digger, let this slip in an interview with BuzzFeed UK.
When pressed on whether he’d ever do a Swift music video, Cruise answered: “Let’s go make a movie.”
He wasn’t exactly shy about his admiration for Swift’s creativity either. According to Cruise, she’s not just a global pop juggernaut, but genuinely “brilliant” as a writer, and apparently more than capable of directing a feature film herself. Cruise pointed out that if she ever wanted to direct a film, he’d be up for working with her in that capacity, as he thinks her music videos already show she’s got the chops for it. Given how hands-on Swift is with her visuals, that’s actually not a half-baked observation.
Who Directs Tom Cruise?
Now, here’s where things get a bit more eyebrow-raising. Despite a long career spanning over 50 films, Cruise has never been directed by a woman. Not once, since starting out at 18. Not unless we’ve all missed an obscure indie somewhere along the line, and I’m fairly certain nobody has. He mentions working with plenty of powerhouse directors — your Tony Scotts (Top Gun), Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut), and Steven Spielberg (a double bill with Minority Report and War of the Worlds).
Still, his strongest working relationship over the past decade or so has been with Christopher McQuarrie. They teamed up first on Jack Reacher and then made the Mission: Impossible series basically their own playground. McQuarrie has been the architect behind every M:I film since Rogue Nation in 2015, and has kept that run going all the way through to next year’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning — which, in case you’re counting, will be Cruise’s third M:I film on the bounce with McQuarrie.
Cruise, now 64, has appeared in over 50 films — all directed by men.
What’s Next?
If you’re hoping to see Cruise and Swift share a set any time soon, you’ll have to wait. Cruise’s own slate is still packed, with Digger due to hit cinemas on 2 October 2026. As far as Taylor Swift taking on directing duties for a Tom Cruise feature? File that one in the “fascinating, but not happening just yet” box.
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