tom cruise age when filming top gun

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How old was tom cruise when he made top gun in 1986.

Tom Cruise was very young when he was in Top Gun in 1986. There has been a huge time gap between the original and the sequel Top Gun: Maverick.

Tom Cruise has been the leading star in several movies since he was very young, but how old was he when he made the original Top Gun film in 1986? The recent, long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick has sparked new conversation about the actor and his illustrious career in Hollywood. Considering Tom Cruise started his career at a young age, it’s great to see him continue to do what he loves, but it's sometimes easy to forget how young he was when he found superstardom.

Tom Cruise began his acting career at only 18 years old. He started off in smaller roles as most beginning actors do. He was part of the ensemble cast of The Outsiders in 1983, but his career started to blossom when he starred in Risky Business  that same year. His star status was locked in place after leading the original  Top Gun in 1986 . The movie centered around the Navy's flight school, TOPGUN, that trains fighter pilots. Tom Cruise plays the reckless adrenaline junkie Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, alongside co-stars Val Kilmer as Iceman and Anthony Edwards as Maverick’s right-hand man, Goose. The film was packed full of action, plane stunts, tragedy, and iconic songs that are still well known today. Audience members and critics were very fond of his performance in the film and wanted to see more of him on the big screen–the rest is history. Tom Cruise is now one of the most accomplished actors in the industry, going on to star in, among other things, the Mission: Impossible franchise , Jerry McGuire , and Born on the Fourth of July .

Related:  Why Top Gun: Maverick Reviews Are So Positive

Though he had already been acting a few years before his big break, Tom Cruise was still only 24 years old when he starred in the classic film Top Gun in 1986. That role is what began to make a name for him in Hollywood. With the combined success of Risky Business and Top Gun , Tom Cruise began a meteoric rise to the top during the 1980s. In that same decade, he went on to star in and gain critical acclaim for his roles in The Color of Money and Rain Man after his performance in Top Gun .

How Old Tom Cruise Is In Top Gun: Maverick

Nearly 36 years after the original film, a sequel to Top Gun was released. Top Gun: Maverick  made it clear that Tom Cruise’s glory days are not behind him yet. The actor was 59 years old when Top Gun: Maverick was released , and not much has changed since 1986. Similar to the character he plays in the film, Cruise is also an adrenaline hound. He is notorious for doing his own stunts in films, no matter how dangerous. He flew real helicopters and fighter jets while shooting the movie, and he’s had his pilot's license since 1994.

It’s obvious that Tom Cruise has a passion for acting and action alike. He’s been dedicated to his craft since he was 18 years old, and gained fame only a few years later with Top Gun . Decades later, there seems to be no sign of the actor slowing down anytime soon. He will reprise his role as  top spy Ethan Hunt in two more Mission: Impossible movies, set to be released within the next two years.

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Top Gun (1986) cast ages: How old was the cast then (and now)?

By aysha ashley househ | aug 10, 2023.

We’re all so obsessed with 1986 film Top Gun starring Tom Cruise, and it was so amazing to get a sequel, Top Gun: Maverick , in 2022! When the production was first released to audiences in the ’80s, it was to mixed reviews. Can you believe it? However as the weeks went by, the movie became the the highest-grossing domestic film of 1986. And the second film in the franchise has received massive success, currently streaming on Paramount+ .

The action drama takes us to the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School and introduces us to fighter pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise). The new student’s cocky attitude causes tension between him and the other pilots. But this guy has two goals – become the top fighter pilot and get the attention of his flight instructor Charlotte (Kelly McGillis).

Ever wondered how old the actors were at the time? We’ve shared the cast’s ages at the time of the movie’s release in May 1986, as well as how old they are now as of August 2023.

How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun?

The leading man who played LT Pete “Maverick” Mitchell was only 22 years old when the film began shooting, and 23 when it was released. He is the youngest amongst his co-stars. The iconic actor’s birthday is July 3, 1962 which means he is currently 61 years old.

How old was Kelly McGillis in Top Gun?

The actress was two months away from her twenty-ninth birthday when the production came out, taking on the role of Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood. Her birthday is only a few days after her co-star’s – July 9, 1957. She is currently 66 years old. McGillis didn’t reprise her role in the sequel but has continued to act in films throughout the years.

How old was Val Kilmer in Top Gun?

The actor who played LT Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, aka Maverick’s rival at the school, was 26 years old when the movie premiered. He is a winter baby, having been born Dec. 31, 1959. Kilmer is currently 63. The star reprised his role in the sequel and his most recent movie is a documentary about his life and career titled Val which is streaming on Prime Video.

How old was Anthony Edwards in Top Gun?

The LTJG Nick “Goose” Bradshaw actor was 23 years old, just two months away from turning 24 when the production debuted on the big screens. He was born July 19, 1962 and is currently 61 years old. Following his role in Top Gun , you may recognize Edwards from television shows like ER , Law & Order True Crime , and WeCrashed .

How old was Meg Ryan in Top Gun?

Ryan played Edwards’ onscreen wife, Carole Bradshaw. The actress was 24 years old during the action drama. She is currently 61 years old and her birthday is Nov. 19. The celebrity became one of the most successful actresses in the ’90s and 2000s, mostly known for romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle , When Harry Met Sally…. , You’ve Got Mail.

How old was Tom Skerritt in Top Gun?

Skerritt, aka CDR Mike “Viper” Metcalf in the film, was 53 years old when it was released to audiences. He is currently 89, soon celebrating his 90th birthday on Aug. 25. Skerritt is the oldest of his co-stars. The talent has been acting since 1962 with his debut film War Hunt .

How old was Michael Ironside in Top Gun?

The LCDR Rick “Jester” Heatherly actor was 35 years old when the Tom Cruise-led movie was released. Ironside is currently 73 years old and was born on Feb. 12, 1950. He has continued to act, many of his jobs in voiceover roles including projects like Superman: The Animated Series ,  Wolverine and the X-Men , and  Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising .

How old was Tim Robbins in Top Gun?

Radar intercept officer, LTJG Sam “Merlin” Wells, was played by Robbins. He was 28 years old at the time of movie, and is currently 64. Oct. 16 is when the actor celebrates his birthday. He’s known for roles such as Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption , Griffin Mill in The Playe r, and Senator Robert Hammond in Green Lantern .

Top Gun and its sequel Top Gun: Maverick are both currently streaming on Paramount+ .

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How old was Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick?’

Tom Cruise is no stranger to box-office success, but 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick takes the cake in terms of the actor’s biggest blockbuster, which is quite the accomplishment considering the A-lister filmed the original Top Gun a full 36 years earlier.

Ever the action movie star, Cruise is known for not relying on CGI to do carry out his stunt work , even if that sometimes leads to injury . While there were trained Navy pilots actually piloting the jets in Maverick , Cruise was still flying around in an F-18 Super Hornet, which is impressive to say the least, especially considering the huge amount of time that had passed since the first one. Naturally, that begs the question of just how old Cruise was when he was climbing inside the cockpit. Both times.

Tom Cruise’s age in Top Gun

The first Top Gun was directed by Tony Scott and released in 1986. Tom Cruise was a young man at this point in his life, as he was born in 1962, making him only 24 years old when the movie was released.

The film followed Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a hotshot United States Naval Aviator — played by Cruise — as he is sent to attend TOPGUN, the Naval Fighter Weapons School. Alongside him is Lieutenant Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, played by Anthony Edwards, who dies halfway through the film, as well as his rival, Lieutenant Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, played by Val Kilmer. 

The fresh-faced Cruise had already been knocking around Hollywood since 1981, in such films as Risky Business and Legend , but it was Top Gun that manifested him as a bonafide action hero before his 25th birthday.

Tom Cruise’s age in Top Gun: Maverick

Finally, almost half of his lifetime later, Cruise returned to one of his most iconic roles in Top Gun: Maverick . Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the legacy sequel continues the story of the titular character, who is now a captain, as he is picked to instruct a new team of pilots for a dangerous mission. Among these expert pilots is Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of Goose, Maverick’s late best friend.

Cruise’s age in Maverick is interesting in that he was technically 57 years old when the movie finished filming in 2019, but due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he found himself at the ripe age of 59 when it was finally premiered in theaters in May 2022.

Those delays didn’t hurt the film any, however, Maverick generated an eye-watering $1.4 billion at the box office and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It was repeatedly praised for single-handedly saving movie theaters while Cruise was deemed Hollywood’s guardian angel. Had it not been for that December’s Avatar: The Way of Water , he also would’ve had the honor of being the biggest star in the biggest film of the year. If you’re someone who believes Avatar ‘s success comes from its immersive CGI alone (and not its story), you might say he still does.

It just goes to show, that no matter his age, Cruise still has his “need for speed,” which is something that all $1.4 billion dollars’ worth of audience members can appreciate. To see him in action, you can stream both Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick on Paramount Plus.

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How old was tom cruise in top gun: A Journey Through Time

In the world of action-packed cinema, few films have left as lasting an impact as “Top Gun.” At the heart of this iconic film’s success is Tom Cruise, whose portrayal of the daring pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell catapulted him to superstardom. Released in 1986, “Top Gun” not only showcased Cruise’s captivating acting skills but also became a defining moment in his career. As we explore the journey of Tom Cruise in the “Top Gun” series, we dive into the timeless allure of his character and the legacy that continues with “Top Gun Maverick.”

Tom Cruise’s Age in the Original Top Gun (1986)

In 1986, “Top Gun” took to the skies and introduced the world to a fresh-faced Tom Cruise, then just 24 years old. His portrayal of the brash and talented Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell captured the essence of youthful daring and determination. At this age, Cruise perfectly embodied the role of a fearless naval aviator, bringing a unique blend of youthful charm and intensity to the character. Just like a well-crafted crochet top, Cruise’s performance weaved together skill and charisma. The age difference between, Cruise and his co-star Kelly McGillis , who played Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, added a layer of depth to their on-screen relationship. McGillis, five years Cruise’s senior, portrayed an experienced and confident astrophysicist and Top Gun instructor. This contrast not only enhanced the film’s romantic subplot but also underscored Cruise’s ability to hold his own against more seasoned actors. The youthful energy Cruise brought to the role of Maverick helped define the character as a symbol of audacity and ambition, traits that resonated strongly with the film’s audience and contributed significantly to its enduring popularity ( Explore Tom Cruise’s extensive filmography on IMDb ).

The Making of a Classic: Top Gun (1986)

The creation of the original “Top Gun” movie is a tale of cinematic innovation and passion. Directed by Tony Scott, the film brought together a talented cast and crew, determined to deliver an unforgettable experience. Tom Cruise’s dedication to his role was evident, as he immersed himself in the life of a naval aviator, even undergoing grueling flight training to add authenticity to his performance. The film’s production was marked by groundbreaking aerial photography and intense action sequences, setting new standards for the action genre. The film’s high-speed action scenes are as thrilling as pushing a Honda Grom to its top speed. The behind-the-scenes efforts culminated in a movie that not only became a box office sensation but also a cultural phenomenon, inspiring countless fans and future filmmakers. View ‘Top Gun’ ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

Top Gun Maverick (2022) – Tom Cruise’s Triumphant Return

“Top Gun Maverick,” released in 2022, marked Tom Cruise’s return to one of his most beloved roles, this time as a seasoned veteran of the skies. At the age of 59, Cruise reprised his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, showcasing not only his enduring appeal but also his commitment to performing complex stunts himself. This sequel, arriving more than three decades after the original, connects with a new generation while paying homage to the legacy of the first film. Cruise’s age in “Top Gun Maverick” lent an added depth to his character, portraying a more experienced and reflective Maverick, yet still retaining the charisma and daring that defined him in 1986. This film’s success is a testament to Cruise’s timeless appeal and the enduring fascination with the character of Maverick.

For an insight into the dedication and skill akin to Cruise’s performance, discover the world of Top Gun Baseball .

Tom Cruise’s Legacy in the Top Gun Series

Tom Cruise’s journey through the “Top Gun” series is more than just a story of an actor reprising a role; it’s a testament to his enduring legacy in Hollywood. From a 24-year-old actor taking on the world in “Top Gun” to a seasoned performer in “Top Gun Maverick,” Cruise’s evolution mirrors that of his character, Maverick. This parallel showcases his growth not just as an actor but as an influential figure in the film industry. The way he embraced the character at different stages of his life speaks volumes about his commitment to his craft. The impact of Cruise’s performances in both films extends beyond the screen, influencing pop culture and inspiring a new generation of actors and filmmakers. His portrayal of Maverick has become synonymous with courage, determination, and the pursuit of excellence, qualities that resonate with audiences around the globe. Discover the intersection of Hollywood and aviation at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum .

As we reflect on the extraordinary journey of Tom Cruise in the “Top Gun” series, it’s clear that his portrayal of Maverick is not just a role but a landmark in cinematic history. Cruise’s age during the filming of both “Top Gun” and “Top Gun Maverick” brought a unique authenticity to his character, evolving from the audacious young pilot to the wise and experienced aviator. This evolution mirrors the timeless appeal of the films themselves, bridging generations of audiences with their exhilarating action and compelling storytelling. Tom Cruise’s contribution to the “Top Gun” legacy is a vivid reminder of the power of cinema to inspire and entertain, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of moviegoers across the world.

For more insights into the ‘Top Gun’ series, check out our Hangman Top Gun analysis.

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Top Gun: Maverick

After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN's elite graduates on a mission that demands the ... Read all After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN's elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it. After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN's elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.

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• Trivia According to Miles Teller , the cast got to choose their own call signs. He chose "Rooster" because it was in the same family as "Goose."
• Goofs At 1h12'10" Coyote is in G-LOC, releases the stick and his aircraft falls towards the ground. Super-hornet are equipped with auto GCAS (automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System), which would react to the situation and take control to climb and level at a safe altitude with no obstacles.

Rear Admiral : Maverick. Thirty-plus years of service. Combat medals. Citations. Only man to shoot down three enemy planes in the last 40 years.

[Cain looks through pages of Maverick's records]

Rear Admiral : 'Distinguished.' 'Distinguished.' 'Distinguished.' Yet you can't get a promotion, you won't retire, and, despite your best efforts, you refuse to die. You should be at least a two-star admiral by now, if not a senator. Yet here you are: Captain. Why is that?

Maverick : It's one of life's mysteries, sir.

Rear Admiral : This isn't a joke. I asked you a question.

Maverick : I'm where I belong, sir.

Rear Admiral : Well, the navy doesn't see it that way. Not anymore.

Rear Admiral : These planes you've been testing, Captain, one day, sooner or later, they won't need pilots at all. Pilots that need to sleep, eat, take a piss. Pilots that disobey orders. All you did was buy some time for those men out there. The future is coming, and you're not in it.

[Cain faces the officer by the door]

Rear Admiral : Escort this man off the base. Take him to his quarters. Wait with him while he packs his gear. I want him on the road to North Island within the hour.

[surprised look on Maverick's face]

Maverick : North Island, sir?

Rear Admiral : Call came in with impeccable timing, right as I was driving here to ground your ass once and for all. It galls me to say it, but... for reasons known only to the Almighty and your guardian angel, you've been called back to Top Gun.

Maverick : Sir?

Rear Admiral : You are dismissed, Captain.

[Maverick proceeds to leave Cain's office]

Rear Admiral : The end is inevitable, Maverick. Your kind is headed for extinction.

[Maverick turns around]

Maverick : Maybe so, sir. But not today.

• Crazy credits "Top Gun 001: Tom Cruise" is listed among the other pilots who worked on the film.
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• May 27, 2022 (United States)
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• May 29, 2022
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How Old Was Tom Cruise In ‘Top Gun’?

It’s been over 30 years since Top Gun first debuted. It’s been a long wait for the sequel, but the wait is over. Cruise, starring as Maverick will grace the screens again.

In 1986, Tom Cruise, at the age of 23 played Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a dare-devil naval aviator. This Oscar-winning film, directed by Tony Scott skyrocketed Tom Cruise’s career. The young actor was on his way to superstardom and wide-spread recognition.

Years later and Cruise, known for his action-adventure films, is one of the richest actors in the world , but has he still got what it takes to bring the dare-devil charm of Maverick?

Tom Cruise’s Dedication to Stunts

Cruise is renowned for taking on bold stunts and delivering a real, action-packed experience for viewers. 

In a 2018 interview, Cruise said: ‘when I go to make a film. I’m employing every part of me, every skill as a filmmaker – the physicality, the artistry…’

How Tall Is Tom Cruise? Exact Height Revealed

What is tom cruise’s daily routine, where does tom cruise live.

Cruise has already proved his commitment to creating an action-packed film. He does indeed employ every part of him. During the filming of Mission Impossible – Fall Out , he famously broke his ankle on set and finished the scene. 

The broken ankle was described by Simon Pegg as a ‘relief’, which you might understand if you watch the video below. 

Stunt coordinator, Wade Eastwood, and aerial coordinator, Marc Wolff remember losing track of Cruise when he was in the middle of yet another extreme stunt on the same film. 

Cruise is not the young man of 23 anymore, which leaves many asking: how does he do it?

How Does Tom Cruise Stay in Shape?

Well, Tom Cruise is no stranger to sports. He’s been quoted saying that he enjoys “Sea-kayaking, caving, fencing, treadmill, weights, rock-climbing, [and] hiking”.

He also travels with a gym, which means that he can workout on the go.

As well as his disciplined exercise habits, when Cruise is training he eats healthily and avoids sugars. 

He admits to having a sweet-tooth but manages this with a simple trick… 

To get through his sugarless diet, Cruise sends cakes to his co-stars and waits for them to call, so he can hear their feedback.

With his dedication to keeping in shape and with so many different sports under his belt, it’s not surprising to hear that, true to his reputation, Cruise will be performing his own stunts in Top Gun 2.

Tom Cruise and Top Gun Stunts

Despite being over 50, Cruise is still performing stunts so extreme that Top Gun: Maverick director had to get permission from the navy for stunts to go ahead.

Cruise says: ‘It is aggressive, you can’t act that – the distortion in the face. They’re pulling 7.5-8Gs – 16,000 pounds of force…it is heavy duty.’

Not only is this stunt extreme and impressive, it brings with it some incredible viewing.

In order to create this scene, they had the world’s greatest fighter pilots working with them and a new camera system that allows 6 IMAX quality cameras in the cockpit with the actors.

This stunt brings the audience into the cockpit for a very close and very real viewing experience.

Could the need for speed in this 2020 film crush the original Top Gun? 

Top Gun: Maverick – Release Date 

Finally, fans will find out for themselves.

For the hard-core Top Gun fan, the release date could not come sooner. 

Those who follow Cruise and watch his interviews will know that the release of this film was confirmed by Cruise in a 2017 interview. Cruise was asked if the rumors were true on the Australian morning show, Sunrise . He confirmed that there would be a second film and that he would ‘probably’ start filing within the year.

It was already a long wait for fans, but the film was later delayed thanks to coronavirus , which caused the release date to be extended. 

Top Gun: Maverick is set to grace theatres on 23rd December 2020 .

Cruise took to Instagram to make the announcement. 

View this post on Instagram I know many of you have waited 34 years. Unfortunately, it will be a little longer. Top Gun: Maverick will fly this December. Stay safe, everyone. A post shared by Tom Cruise (@tomcruise) on Apr 2, 2020 at 12:29pm PDT

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The Real Military History Behind Top Gun

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In preparing for his role, Tom Cruise shadowed elite pilots in San Diego

A Top Gun sequel has entered production, actor Tom Cruise announced Thursday, sharing a teaser image online. The movie comes more than thirty years after Top Gun hit theaters and took people’s breath away with director Tony Scott’s exhilarating Navy fighter-jet flying scenes and Tom Cruise’s displays of machismo as Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, the pilot striving to be “top gun” at the Navy’s “Top Gun” school for pilots, while wooing his civilian flight instructor, played by Kelly McGillis.

#Day1 pic.twitter.com/7jjPL277Es — Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) May 31, 2018

It became the highest-grossing film of 1986 , and as ticket sales soared, so did interest in the military, among both potential enlistees and Hollywood producers. It was that dynamic that TIME detailed in the Nov. 24, 1986, feature “ The Pentagon Goes Hollywood.”

First and foremost, the movie raised the profile of “TOPGUN,” the real nickname of the Navy Fighter Weapons School that admitted its first class in 1969 — at the height of the Vietnam War — after a 1968 study found that U.S. pilots lacked sufficient aerial-combat training. The study, named the “Ault Report” after author Capt. Frank “Whip” Ault , was “a sweeping review of fighter system performance covering logistics, training and operations and is credited with raising the air combat kill ratio” from two Vietnamese planes downed for every American plane lost “to more than 12.1,” according to the Navy.

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In preparing for his role, Tom Cruise shadowed these elite pilots at the school’s headquarters, which were in Miramar in San Diego at the time, and told TIME that an instructor told him that there were “‘only four jobs in the world worth having: an actor, a rock star, a jet fighter pilot and President.’” Kelly McGillis shadowed the woman who inspired the role, Christine Fox, a 30-year-old civilian employee of the Center for Naval Analyses , who, in 2013, went on to become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the Department of Defense when President Barack Obama appointed her to replace current DoD Secretary Ash Carter as acting deputy defense secretary.

As the magazine reported , producers paid the military a total of $1.8 million for the use of the real Naval Air station, real aircraft carriers, real planes and the flying services of real pilots—for which the film was billed $7,600 an hour. But the use of real equipment did more than make the film look realistic. Such “high-flying hardware” designed to face off against Soviet planes (“MiGs”) made the film seem like “a commercial for the Navy.”

Whether or not it was intentional, the message worked: Apparently thousands of Americans did “ feel the need — the need for speed ,” because military recruiters parked themselves outside theaters and reported a surge in calls about naval aviation officer programs. The number of uniformed personnel in all branches of the military increased by 20,000 over the previous year – about 16,000 of those were just in the Navy, according to an article in the U.S. Naval Institute’s magazine Proceedings.

“By this point, the service was volunteer, so the Navy had to find ways to explain itself, and this film made people again want to go and join the military,” says Lawrence H. Suid, historian and author of Guts and Glory : The Making of the American Military Image in Film . “ Top Gun completed the rehabilitation of the American military after it had been savaged in Vietnam. Films helped get us into Vietnam because there were all of these movies over the years about us winning, so the shock of losing was powerful. [After Top Gun ], we felt like we could win again.”

MORE: The Officer Who Opened the U.S. Navy for Asian-American Women

Not only did more Americans want to join the military after seeing Top Gun, but more Hollywood directors and producers wanted to work with the military. TIME reported that the Pentagon was reviewing more than 200 screenplays by the autumn after Top Gun ‘s release, a major increase over the years before. That review process also meant that the Department of Defense could request changes to screenplays, either based on accuracy or to save face. It had happened in Top Gun , too: the Navy complained that there were too many midair collisions in the original script, so filmmakers replaced a crash that was to have been a major plot point with another device.

Critics called this arrangement censorship. “People are going off to war and getting killed, in part because of some movie that they saw that was adjusted by the military,” David Robb, author of a book about this relationship Operation Hollywood , argued in a 2004 Mother Jones interview . Investigative journalist David Sirota denounced the system as the “military-entertainment complex” in a Washington Post op-ed and online discussion , arguing that there’s no incentive for either side to end the arrangement.

MORE: Read TIME’s 1989 Cover Story about Tom Cruise

The latest incarnation of this relationship may be Secretary of State John Kerry’s February meeting in Los Angeles with Hollywood studio executives to “hear their perspectives & ideas of how to counter #Daesh narrative.” And since the fight against ISIS is the main preoccupation of today’s Top Gun -style fighter pilots, it remains to be seen if and how this battle will be incorporated into the reportedly drone-focused Top Gun 2 that producers say is in the works.

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Tom cruise in ‘top gun: maverick’: film review.

The ace fighter pilot returns 36 years after first feeling the need for speed in Joseph Kosinski’s sequel, also starring Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm.

By David Rooney

David Rooney

Chief Film Critic

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As inescapable a pop-cultural totem as 1986’s Top Gun became, Tony Scott’s testosterone-powered blockbuster has all the narrative complexity of a music video crossed with a military recruitment reel. It’s hard to think of many more emblematic products of the rah-rah patriotism of the Reagan years, with its vigorous salute to American exceptionalism and triumph over a Cold War enemy left purposely vague — hey, don’t want to shut out a lucrative foreign market.

All that has only continued to toxify in the post-Trump age, with patriotism curdling into white supremacy. So depending on where you sit on the political spectrum, your enjoyment of Top Gun: Maverick might depend on how much you’re willing to shut out the real world and surrender to movie-star magic.

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Venue : Cannes Film Festival (Out of Competition) Release date : Friday, May 27 Cast : Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis Director : Joseph Kosinski Screenwriters : Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie

Which this superior sequel — directed with virtuoso technical skill, propulsive pacing and edge-of-your-seat flying sequences by Joseph Kosinski — has in abundance. Every frame of Tom Cruise ’s Maverick is here to remind you, soaking up the awestruck admiration of the young hot shots ready to dismiss him as a fossil and the initially begrudging respect of the military brass who try and fail to pull the cocky individualist into line. “He’s the fastest man alive,” one of the slack-jawed hero worshippers in the control room says early on. And that’s even before he does his signature robotic “Cruise Run.”

“It’s not the plane, it’s the pilot,” we hear more than once. And Cruise leaves no question that he’s the pilot, despite hiring a pro craft team and a solid ensemble cast who were put through extensive flight training. Even the relic F-14 Tomcat, Maverick’s tactical fighter plane of choice in the first movie, gets fired up for a glory lap, a salute to aged movie stars and old technology in one. Cruise’s character is somehow positioned by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie’s screenplay as simultaneously a rule-breaking rebel and a selfless saint. That makes this a work of breathtaking egomania outdone only by the fawning tone of Paramount’s press notes.

Starting when Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” accompanies footage of new-generation F-18 hornets slicing through the clouds and swooping down onto an aircraft carrier amid a sea of high-fives, fist-pumps and thumbs-up, the sequel follows the original beat for beat, to a degree that’s almost comical. And yet, as formulaic as it is, there’s no denying that it delivers in terms of both nostalgia and reinvention. Mainstream audiences will be happily airborne, especially the countless dads who loved Top Gun and will eagerly want to share this fresh shot of adrenaline with their sons.

Pete “Maverick” Mitchell lives alone in a Mojave Desert hangar with a photo shrine on the wall to his former radar intercept officer and best buddy Goose, who died during a training accident in the first film. (Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan are seen in a helpful recap framed as Pete’s tortured memories.)

Maverick zooms into the Naval base on his Kawasaki each day and continues to get his kicks as a daredevil test pilot, resisting the advancement in rank from captain that would have grounded him by now. But when his aerial showboating pisses off Admiral Cain (Ed Harris), who’s pushing to transition to drone aircrafts and make stick jockeys obsolete, Maverick gets his wings clipped.

Despite having lasted just two months as an instructor almost 30 years ago, he’s reassigned to the elite Fighter Weapons School, aka Top Gun Academy, in San Diego, which was established in 1969 to train the top 1 percent of Naval aviators. Neither Cain nor the academy’s senior officer, call sign “Cyclone” ( Jon Hamm ), wanted him for the job. But Maverick’s former rival and eventual wingman Iceman (Val Kilmer), who went on to become an admiral and command the U.S. Pacific Fleet, convinced them he was the only man who could prepare pilots for a top-secret mission.

A uranium enrichment plant has been detected on enemy soil — once again, exactly which enemy is unclear — and two pairs of F-18s need to sneak in, bomb the bejesus out of it and then get out fast, overcoming a near-impossible quick climb over rocky peaks and then surviving the inevitable blast of enemy missiles and aerial dogfights.

The candidates for that mission are “the best of the best,” former star graduates who are pretty much a repeat of the 1986 bunch aside from being more culturally diverse. There’s even — gasp! — a woman, Phoenix (Monica Barbaro). The two that matter most, though, are swaggering blowhard Hangman (Glen Powell) and Goose’s son Rooster ( Miles Teller ), still carrying around the ghost of his father and hostile to Maverick for stalling his career by taking his name off the Naval Academy list.

The Hangman-Rooster dynamic more or less mirrors the Iceman-Maverick friction from Top Gun , just as the incongruously homoerotic shirtless volleyball scene is echoed here with a rowdy team-building football game on the beach.

The only notable place where the screenwriters don’t genuflect to the original model is with Kelly McGillis’ astrophysicist and civilian Top Gun instructor Charlie, who declined a plum Washington job to stick with her man but doesn’t even rate a mention here. Instead, Maverick sparks up an old romance with Penny ( Jennifer Connelly ), a single mom with fabulous highlights. She runs a local bar — its name, The Hard Deck, doubles as a tactical plot point — which apparently puts her in an income bracket to own a sleek sailboat and drive a Porsche. (Producer Jerry Bruckheimer never met a power vehicle he didn’t love.)

Maverick’s task during training is to test the limits of the super-competitive candidates, whittling them down from 12 to six and choosing a team leader. “It’s not what I am. It’s who I am,” he says of his aviator vocation during a rare moment of self-doubt. “How do I teach that?” Anyone failing to guess who’ll land the team leader spot and who’ll be their wingman isn’t paying attention.

The simmering conflict between Maverick and Rooster — who can’t see past his resentment to perceive the protective responsibility his dad’s friend feels toward him — provides an emotional core even if the role makes scant demands on Teller’s range. But that’s true also of Connelly, Hamm and everyone else in the cast; all of them get the job done while remaining satellites that merely orbit around Cruise’s glittering Planet Alpha, eventually having to acknowledge that Maverick’s a helluva guy no matter what stunts he pulls.

The film’s most moving element comes during the brief screen time of Kilmer’s Iceman, whose health issues reflect those suffered by the actor in real life, generating resonant pathos. There’s reciprocal warmth, even love, in a scene between Iceman and Maverick that acknowledges the characters’ hard-won bond as well as the rivalry that preceded it, with gentle humor.

Kosinski (who directed Cruise in Oblivion ), the writers and editor Eddie Hamilton keep a close eye on the balance between interpersonal drama and flight maneuvers; scenes intercut between field practice and classroom discussions during which Maverick points out fatal errors on a computer simulator are particularly sharp. This is all nuts-and-bolts buildup, however, to the mission itself, in which hair-raising action, seemingly insurmountable setbacks and miraculous saves keep the tension pumped.

This is definitely a film that benefits from the Imax experience and the big-ass soundscape that comes with it. The muscular score by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer also pulls its weight, with Gaga’s song, “Hold My Hand,” getting prime romantic placement. Musical choices elsewhere tend to lean into a retro vibe — Bowie, T. Rex, Foghat, The Who — while Teller gets to hammer the piano keys and lead a Jerry Lee Lewis sing-along that pays direct homage to his screen dad.

The most memorable part of Top Gun: Maverick — and the scenes that will make new generations swell with pride and adulation for good old American heroism — are the dogfights and tactical maneuvers of the pilots. Just as they should be. The best thing this movie does is boost visceral analog action over the usual numbing bombardment of CG fakery, a choice fortified by having the actors in the airborne cockpits during shooting.

Cinematographer Claudio Miranda’s work benefits from the technological advances of the past three decades, with camera rigs allowing for you-are-there verisimilitude. Cruise’s insistence on doing his own flying is undeniably impressive, even if the headgear’s breathing apparatus gets in the way of his trademark clenched-jaw intensity. No one is going to dispute that he works hard in this movie, justifying the labor of love. But no one is going to come out of it concerned for his self-esteem, either.

Full credits

Venue: Cannes Film Festival (Out of Competition) Distribution: Paramount Production companies: Skydance, Jerry Bruckheimer Films Cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer Director: Joseph Kosinski Screenwriters: Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie Story: Peter Craig, Justin Marks, based on characters created by Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr. Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison Executive producers: Tommy Harper, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson Director of photography: Claudio Miranda Production designer: Jeremy Hindle Costume designer: Marlene Stewart Music: Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer Editor: Eddie Hamilton Visual effects supervisor: Ryan Tudhope Aerial coordinator: Kevin LaRosa II Casting: Denise Chamian

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Den of Geek

Top Gun: How a Single Flight Changed the Course of the Movie

Top Gun screenwriter Jack Epps Jr. tells us what inspired the movie, why his sequel was abandoned, and how a single flight changed Tom Cruise forever.

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Screenwriter Jack Epps Jr. took the assignment to write a movie called Top Gun in the mid-1980s for one reason: he wanted to fly in a fighter jet.

“I have my private pilot’s license that I got when I was an undergraduate at Michigan State, so as a private pilot, I said, ‘Well, that’d be fun,’” Epps tells Den of Geek during a recent Zoom chat. “At least I’ll get a jet ride out of it, if nothing else.’”

Epps and his writing partner, the late Jim Cash, got a lot more out of it than that out of Top Gun . The story of a rogue fighter pilot named Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, who joins the Navy’s elite Fighter Weapons School at Miramar base in southern California and must learn the hard way how to fly and fight as part of a team, Top Gun became the highest grossing movie of 1986. It also made a superstar out of rising talent Tom Cruise while influencing decades’ worth of buddy-action films, often set against military backdrops.

The initial idea for the film came from an article called “Top Guns,” written by Ehud Yonay for the May 1983 issue of California magazine, which focused on the lifestyle of the Navy pilots and the personal and professional challenges they faced as they risked their lives every time they took to the skies. The article came to the attention of producing team Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, who had already scored with hits like Flashdance (1983) and Beverly Hills Cop (1984).

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“I was working on Dick Tracy , ” recalls Epps about how he and Cash got involved in the project. “Jeffrey Katzenberg was head of production at Paramount, and he wanted to basically do another picture with us, because he really liked the script we had done for Dick Tracy . So I had the famous 8 a.m. breakfast meeting with Jeff Katzenberg. He pitched out six ideas, and one of the ideas was Top Gun .”

Epps says that the “Top Guns” article was merely a launching pad for Cash and him to write their own original story.

“The article basically just said that there’s a school, it’s called TOPGUN, the guys have fun, it’s a cool place, that’s all,” Epps recalls. Yet that gave a lot of latitude to Epps and his co-writer, even if only one of them liked to actually be up in the air.

Indeed, for a man about to co-write a movie about jet pilots, Cash did not like to fly at all.

“I said, ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll fly planes,'” Epps remembers saying. “‘You don’t have to get in the plane. I’ll tell you all about it. Then I met with Simpson and Bruckheimer. One of the things I said to them initially was, ‘I don’t want to do this unless we get the actual planes. If we don’t get the real planes, I’m not interested.’ And they agreed.”

Bruckheimer and Simpson deployed lobbyists from the Motion Picture Academy to get a meeting with high-ranking officials in the Navy and gain their cooperation in making the film. “After a day of meetings there, they agreed to cooperate with us and support the vision we were pitching to them,” Epps says, “and they told me I’d have to ride in a jet, which is what I wanted all along.”

Epps says that doing the research on the ground and in the air was key, with the writer going through some of the same training that the pilots had to undertake. That included having to swim with a heavy pack out of a simulated helicopter crash in the water, and of course going up in the air with the pilots. But Epps, who also interviewed around 25 pilots and Radar Intercept Officers (RIOs) to learn their personal stories , says that the one thing he didn’t get to do was fly in an actual F-14 Tomcat.

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“At that time, the F-14 was classified, so I couldn’t even look in the cockpit,” he explains. “So I flew in what they call their aggressor squadron plane, which is an F-5F, and that was an amazing experience. Flying in a Navy jet is like nothing else . You’re off the ground and up there at 10,000 feet in 10 seconds. We went with pilots named Boomer and Hollywood, and they said, ‘We’re not supposed to do this,’ but then they did a bunch of close passes and rollovers and dogfighting while pulling six, seven, eight G’s, gravitational force, which was amazing. We had a blast.”

Epps adds that his experience of flying with the pilots changed his conception of what Top Gun was actually about.

Says the writer, “I called my partner and said, ‘Jim, this is not the movie we thought it was.’ This is a sports movie. These guys are amazing, top-level athletes because you have to be in great shape to withstand all those pressures and to be able to control that. So that became sort of our metaphor—as both of us were athletes in high school and I was in college a little bit—through which we could find our way into the movie to help us personally relate to what they were doing.”

From the start, Epps maintains that he and Cash had Cruise, who was already on his path to stardom at the time thanks to the success of 1983’s Risky Business , in mind for the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

“I basically dropped the script off to Jerry Bruckheimer and I said, ‘Think Tom Cruise when you read this,’ because we wrote it for Tom,” says Epps. “Tom was in our mind as the perfect young American pilot. He was ascendant in his career, and because Maverick is a bit of a jerk, you need a guy who you’re really going to like even though he’s not acting in his best interest. So two days later, I get a call from Don Simpson, and he said, ‘I will kill to get this movie made.’”

Top Gun: Maverick – Do You Need to See the Original Movie First?

Tom Cruise: The Last Movie Star Who Gets Better with Age

Ironically enough, Epps says that Cruise was initially hesitant to do the movie, although he was eventually persuaded to get involved after getting a chance to fly with the real-life pilots—just as Epps did—an experience that also launched Cruise’s own lifelong interest in flying planes.

“When it was offered to him, he didn’t get it,” says Epps. “So Jerry smartly said to his agent, who wanted him to do it, ‘Why don’t you have Tom go take a flight?’ So they worked it out that he could fly out of Point Mugu . Tom had just finished Legend with Ridley Scott, so he had long hair. He drives up on his motorcycle to the base, and all these Navy guys look at him and they don’t know this guy—-this isn’t the Tom Cruise that we all know today. So they take this long-hair up in the plane, and they just do what they like to do, which is shake him around, and he threw up all over the plane, but he got out and went, ‘I love this. I’ve got to do this!’ So that’s how Tom got involved and hooked on flying.”

Once filming on Top Gun started, Epps and Cash were already involved in the pre-production for their next script, Legal Eagles , with director Ivan Reitman . So they were unfortunately not able to visit the set of Top Gun or participate in any rewrites during the shoot. Epps says that while “a couple of things got cut out,” including a graduation dogfight over the Mojave Desert, the script stayed essentially unchanged. Epps credits late director Tony Scott, for whom Top Gun was just his second film and first commercial success, with bringing the flying sequences to life onscreen.

“Tony Scott should get a tremendous amount of credit for creating a visual style of the fighting and how they did it,” Epps says. “In the original movie, all the dogfighting was choreographed by the TOPGUN pilots. They were using the world’s greatest pilots to choreograph the flights. They set these cameras up on mountaintops over valleys where they could do high speed passes right near the camera. So they really worked out a whole series of carefully choreographed fight sequences with the top pilots in the world flying those sequences. It was really a very rare thing to have happen.”

Although Top Gun was largely panned by critics upon its release, it was an instant smash with audiences and played for almost six months in theaters. Some 47 million tickets were sold in North America alone, with the film grossing $180 million on its home turf and another $177 million internationally. Its global total of $357 million made it the biggest box office hit of 1986.

Although it may seem strange that it took 36 years for a sequel to arrive in the form of the new blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick , Epps says that he and Cash actually penned a follow-up just a few years after the first film’s release.

“We wrote a sequel in the early ‘90s, and then Tom decided to do Mission: Impossible instead, which I think was a good career move,” explains the screenwriter. He adds that the story was set just five years after the first movie and was “a very different type of story,” although he declines to go into further details about the plot since the movie ended up not getting made at the time.

“It took it to a different level of competition,” Epps hints. “We added some female pilots, which was definitely overdue. It was just taking it to a higher level. But Tom moved on, and they were never going to make it without Tom. That’s just all there was to it. By that time they did get to it, Tom had writers he knew and people he had worked with, and that’s how that moved forward.”

Development of a Top Gun sequel began in earnest around 2010 with the involvement of Tony Scott (before his tragic passing in 2012), Bruckheimer, and of course Cruise. The result, Top Gun: Maverick , is not only getting a rapturous reception from fans and even critics but looks set to become one of the biggest films of the year , eclipsing even the mammoth success of its predecessor.

That, no doubt, is certainly due to the way that Top Gun became ingrained in pop culture from the moment it was released with its then-innovative action sequences , themes of loyalty, courage, and loss, and its unabashedly patriotic tone. Epps believes that the original movie was the right film at the right time at that moment in 1986.

“Timing is one of the most important things in the success of anything,” he muses. “I think the timing was perfect. We were exactly the right people to write the script, Don and Jerry were exactly the right producers, Tony Scott was exactly the right director, Tom Cruise was exactly the right star. Then you have all these young actors… whether it’s Meg Ryan or Anthony Edwards, here’s an amazing group of actors. Where we were at that time as a culture when it was released, I think that we hit a deep emotional chord. It all just happened at the right time.”

Top Gun: Maverick is in theaters now.

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Top Gun: Maverick review - Tom Cruise defies age and gravity | reviews, news & interviews

Top gun: maverick review - tom cruise defies age and gravity, make sure you see it at an imax.

Only 36 years later, Tom Cruise is back with his eagerly-awaited Top Gun sequel (it was delayed a couple of years by Covid), and there are loyal legions of fans out there desperate to see it. The original, some say, in some way helped to “define” the 1980s , grossing $360m and spinning off a monster multi-platinum soundtrack album, headlined by Berlin’s cheesy synthetic megaballad “Take My Breath Away”. Early reviews have been ecstatic, even delirious, but altitude can play strange tricks.

From a ground-level perspective, Maverick , directed by Joseph Kosinski, is a game of two halves. The flying sequences are staggering and spectacular, enveloping the viewer in a zooming, whirling, super-speed aerial ballet in which F18 Hornet fighter jets soar over mountain tops and flip over on their backs to go screaming down the other side at treetop height, maybe threading through the arches of a viaduct along the way. The US Navy wouldn’t let gung-ho Cruise pilot an F18 himself (they cost $70m each), but the actors at least got to ride in the back seat. The aerial footage was shot with real aircraft and no CGI, so you get full-spectrum actualité hitting you from all sides. Especially if you see it on an IMAX screen.

There are aerial combat scenes where Cruise’s Maverick (aka Captain Pete Mitchell) peels off impossible manoeuvres while pulling enough G-force to crush a rhinoceros, but some of the training sequences are better still. Tasked with auditioning a batch of super-gifted US Navy pilots – all stars of the elite Top Gun flying academy – for a top-secret mission, Maverick blows their “what can this old guy each us?” cockiness to smithereens as he whooshes around the sky, ambushing them from below, behind and above. Veteran viewers might even be reminded of Christopher Plummer’s Squadron Leader Harvey doing something rather similar, albeit more slowly, in 1969’s Battle of Britain .

When the story opens, Maverick is a test pilot flying a revolutionary aircraft that he manages to crank up to Mach 10.2 before it falls to bits, which earns him a bollocking from the gruff, no-nonsense Rear Admiral Cain (Ed Harris). How come, he asks Maverick, that after all this time he’s still only a Captain and not an admiral or a Senator? The answer, of course, is that flying is Maverick’s first and only love (sorry Penny), and somehow he’s still piloting the fastest machinery on earth at age 60. He’s saved from being benched permanently by the one-last-mission job, where he’s only supposed to be the instructor. But, to the chagrin of mission commander Vice Admiral “Cyclone”(Jon Hamm, pictured below , who could easily have handled a more fully developed role), the mission is so complicated and hazardous that Maverick is the only man who can lead it.

The earlier film is referenced in a variety of ways. A major theme is Maverick’s difficult relationship with Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), who’s the son of Maverick’s former flying partner “Goose” Bradshaw. Goose was killed in a training accident, and Rooster is seething with rage and resentment at the way Maverick blocked his quest to become a jet pilot. There’s also a melancholy appearance by Val Kilmer as Maverick’s former sparring partner “Iceman” Kazansky. Ice has reached the rank of Admiral but is now battling throat cancer, as is the real-life Kilmer. There’s even a cameo by the F14 Tomcat, now considered an antique but the plane Cruise & co flew in the original film.

But you have to hand it to Cruise for his single-minded focus and ability to galvanise a huge production like this. He’s a movie star like they don’t make any more, and Top Gun: Maverick is the kind of grandiose summer blockbuster that the streaming services seem to be in the process of killing off. Just add beer, popcorn and an IMAX screen.

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What Miles Teller Remembers Most About Filming His ‘Cathartic’ Final Scenes With Tom Cruise For Top Gun: Maverick

Have tissues ready.

This story is going to get into spoilers for Top Gun : Maverick , so if you landed in here but haven’t yet strapped yourself in for the sequel, pull the eject chord now.

For the bulk of Joseph Kosinski ’s Top Gun: Maverick , Tom Cruise’s legendary fighter pilot is hated on by Miles Teller’s Rooster, the son of the late Goose who blames Mav for his father’s death. Maverick could clear up some of the disconnect between the men, but first he needs to train Rooster and his compatriots to complete a harrowing mission… if Maverick decides to nominate Rooster for the gig, in the first place. The emotional tension between these two men gives Top Gun: Maverick more emotional weight than I personally expected, and the moment when Rooster and Maverick return to the flight deck and hug as the movie concludes , I legitimately choked up. The pent-up frustration expressed by Miles Teller throughout the movie finally melted away. 

So when we sat across from each other at the Top Gun: Maverick world premiere press event in San Diego, I had to ask Miles Teller what it felt like to film that pivotal scene with Tom Cruise , knowing how much emotion needed to be conveyed between the actors. And he told CinemaBlend:

I just remember it’s tough to… there’s very few moments, I think, that are satisfying between two characters that kind of put a button on it. And I just remember, you know, the whole cast is there and just knowing what our characters went through – I think ‘cathartic’ is a good word. But yeah, we are on the flight deck. We’re on the carrier. And it was just really sweet.

I confessed to Miles Teller during our conversation that it was during the hug when the tears I had been holding back finally emerged, and I gave in to the emotional sobs of the moment. Top Gun: Maverick earned them. And he jokingly told me:

That’s what Top Gun’s been doping for years! Making grown men cry.

After opening weekend, Top Gun cried into a big pile of money. The movie broke box-office records over the Memorial Day weekend , packing theaters and earning raves from the critical community . Part of the success – as well as the emotion – stems from the popularity of the Lady Gaga track “Hold My Hand,” which Tom Cruise himself credits as being the beating heart of the movie . Though, a conversation with Joseph Kosinski on CinemaBlend’s official ReelBlend podcast revealed that Gaga’s track replaced Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” for a totally different reason . His explanation makes a lot of sense. 

By now, you have seen Top Gun: Maverick … or else, you shouldn’t be down here reading this far, because I kinda spoiled the ending for you. If you are thinking about going back to see the sequel on the big screen again, there is a specific way to see an extra hour of footage you won’t find anywhere else. And be sure to scan our list of upcoming 2022 movies to see what else is playing at a theater near you.

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Sean O’Connell is a journalist and CinemaBlend’s Managing Editor. Having been with the site since 2011, Sean interviewed myriad directors, actors and producers, and created ReelBlend, which he proudly cohosts with Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy. And he's the author of RELEASE THE SNYDER CUT, the Spider-Man history book WITH GREAT POWER, and an upcoming book about Bruce Willis.

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Tom Cruise Had to Be Convinced to Star in Top Gun in the Most Tom Cruise Way

"They took one look at him and thought, We’re going to give this hippie a ride ."

That's all to say, Tom Cruise enjoys a good thrill. And it turns out that his taste for insanity is what convinced him to take on one of his most famous roles: Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 1986's fighter-pilot epic, Top Gun . In a new interview with Variety celebrating the movie's 35th anniversary , Top Gun producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that "it wasn't easy" to convince Cruise to take the role, with the actor hot off of Risky Business . Apparently, Top Gun 's crew arranged for actual Navy pilots to spin Cruise around in their planes, thinking they'd scare the hell out of the actor and show him a lesson for dragging his feet on the role.

We wanted Tom after we saw “Risky Business” and he kind of hemmed and hawed. So we arranged for him to fly with the Blue Angels at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California. He drove up there on his motorcycle and he had just finished a movie with Ridley Scott, Legend, and his hair was long and in a ponytail. And they took one look at him and thought, we’re going to give this hippie a ride. They took him up on an F-14 and flipped him and did all kinds of stunts to turn him around and make sure he never got back in a cockpit. But it was just the opposite. He landed and he walked over to a phone booth and called me up and said, “Jerry. I’m making the movie. I love it.” He became an amazing aviator himself. He can fly just about any plane they can make.

Well, this one tracks. Of course, we know that Cruise is dedicated to both acting and thrills. But it's incredible to see that it took Cruise sling-shotting around in an F-14 to get him so revved up that he wanted to take what has become one of his most iconic roles. Hell, even 35 years later, during the filming of this fall's Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick , Danny Ramirez (who plays a new recruit in the film) told us that Cruise flew him home —like, as the pilot—from set. Then, when they landed, Cruise hopped off the plane and sped away on his motorcycle. Never change, Tom.

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How Old Was Tom Cruise In Top Gun? (Explained)

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, most commonly known as Tom Cruise, was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York.

He became famous in the 1980s after starring in several popular films such as “ Top Gun ” (1986) and “Mission Impossible” (1996).

However, the two films that made him most famous were probably “Risky Business” (1983) and “Top Gun” (1986).

Despite “Risky Business” being nearly 40 years old today, the actor appears to defy the normal characteristics of aging causing many fans to wonder how old he really was when he first got his start in Hollywood, and what his secret to aging gracefully is.

How Old Was Tom Cruise In Top Gun ?

“Top Gun” was released on May 16, 1986, when Tom was just 24 years old.

The action and drama film was produced by the late Tony Scott (deceased August 2012) and produced in association with Paramount Pictures alongside producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer.

Cruise’s character, Maverick, was loosely based on real-life Vietnam War veteran, Duke Cunningham , who received accolades for his efforts in the War.

Cunningham was highly decorated and had been recommended for the Medal of Honor.

The age of Maverick, Cruise’s character in “Top Gun” is difficult to pinpoint.

It’s never been confirmed by the producers, but the movie indicates that Maverick’s age is between 23 and 25.

The new “Top Gun: Maverick” film also causes confusion regarding the actor’s age, in part due to a delay in the movie’s release after the onset of COVID-19 in 2019.

As of July 2022, the actor is 60 years old.

However, the film was intended to be released in 2019 when the actor was 57 years old.

How Do The Other Actors In Top Gun Compare In Age To Cruise?

At the time of filming the first “Top Gun” movie, the main actors in the movie were all relatively close in age.

Kelly McGillis , Maverick’s romantic interest, was several years older than Cruise at 29.

Interestingly enough, McGillis’ reasoning for not coming back for “Top Gun: Maverick” was in part due to her age.

She is 66 years old as of July 2022. She also stated that the producers of “Top Gun: Maverick” never contacted her or asked her to be part of the sequel.

Iceman, or Val Kilmer, was 24 years old at the time of filming “Top Gun.”

Unfortunately, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, making it difficult for him to talk. He has since undergone surgery.

Fans were ecstatic for his return in the “Top Gun” sequel as the great Admiral Kazansky, known for handling Maverick’s rebellious moves throughout his career and oftentimes saving him from career-ruining consequences.

Anthony Edwards, the actor who played Maverick’s best friend Goose, was also 24 years old during the filming of the movie.

Goose’s tragic accident in “Top Gun” had a profound effect on Maverick.

He references Goose multiple times throughout the film, particularly during dangerous or contemplative situations in which he says, “Talk to me Goose.”

We see his connection to Goose throughout “Top Gun: Maverick” as well.

Meg Ryan, Goose’s wife in the film, was 25 years old, and “Top Gun” was only her second film.

Prior to “Top Gun,” she had been a part of several television soap operas including “As the World Turns” (1982), “One of the Boys” (1982), and “Wildside” (1985).

However, the film “When Harry Met Sally” (1989) was when Meg truly got her break in Hollywood.

Meg has been called “ America’s Sweetheart,” a seemingly harmless name she never intended to bear.

She states the name caused a stigma to accompany her early fame.

The pressure to live up to the name, all while she had never intended to become an actress, is what ultimately led her to step out of the spotlight to focus on her health and family.

What’s Cruise’s Secret To Aging Gracefully?

When asked what his secret is to staying young, Cruise said, “sea Kayaking, caving…fencing, treadmill, weights…rock climbing, hiking…I jog…I do so many different activities.”

He attributes variety as the secret to his success.

Cruise’s stylist, Alan Au also, states that Cruise’s style plays a big part in conveying who he is, as well as making him look younger than he is.

Well-tailored clothing helps Cruise look “relaxed” without appearing grungy.

Au says that he avoids boxy cuts and styles.

Also, the length of a sleeve hem is very important, so he ensures that Cruise’s sleeve hems only stick out a quarter inch from his jacket sleeves.

Tom states that his mindset also plays a role in maintaining youthful feelings.

He says, “I don’t invalidate it when I can’t do something…I say, ‘that’s interesting’ and go with it.

It’s from there you get your energy.” Tom views failures as a chance to learn from mistakes and use them to uncover new skill sets.

He uses the skills he’s learned to create little successes along the way which reframes the initial “fail” that he experienced.

How Was He discovered?

Cruise appeared in several movies in the early 1980s but his breakthrough role was in “Risky Business” where he played an American teenager intent on having some fun while his parents are away.

The fun goes awry after he hires a prostitute and crashes his father’s expensive car, leading to a desperate attempt to raise a lot of money quickly.

“Risky Business” earned Cruise his first Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

Since then, he has starred in other movies such as “Rain Man,” “The Color of Money,” and “Born on the Fourth of July.”

Cruise has been nominated for three Academy Awards, but has yet to win one.

He has been nominated for Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Macguire, and Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia.

He received a Worst Picture Razzie nomination, or a Golden Raspberry Award, for “Cocktail” in 1988.

He has also starred in six “Mission Impossible” films from 1996 to 2018 (spoiler: there is another Mission Impossible coming out in summer 2024).

  Some may argue that his most exciting films have been “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”

He performed most of his own stunts in “Top Gun.”

Many years later, despite being nearly 60 years old during the production of “Top Gun: Maverick,” he continued to do most of his own stunts.

How Realistic Are The Stunts In Top Gun And Top Gun: Maverick ?

GQ interviewed Kevin LaRosa II, the aerial stunt coordinator for “Top Gun: Maverick”.

He confirmed what everyone’s been dying to know: that the stunts we see in both movies were conducted by the actors themselves .

The planes used in the film were rented from the Department of Defense for a hefty price.

Kevin stated in GQ that the F-18 planes were rented for $11,000+ an hour.

However, before flying in the F/A -18 models, the actors first went through extensive training in Cessna 172s, Extra 300s, and L-39 Albatrosses.

Cruise was a major driving force behind flying real planes in the films.

In fact, he put himself and the other actors (including fan favorite Miles Teller from “Top Gun: Maverick”) through an intensive three-month boot camp designed to accustom their bodies to the effects of flying and filming at those high speeds.

The film shows actors flying at speeds up to 10 Gs.

The boot camps and training were successful, with no actors having symptoms of air sickness when flying and filming despite the incredibly high speeds.

This is impressive given Cruise’s age at the time of filming.

What Kind Of Technology Did They Use To Film On The Planes?

As we can all imagine, shooting a high-quality movie on a flying fighter jet is no easy task, especially as they are twisting and turning at breakneck speeds.

“Top Gun: Maverick” movie executives report that they worked with manufacturers for a year to create the L-39 Cinejet , which is a camera system that provides quality scenes without jerky movements as the plane dips and flips.

They used four cameras in the cockpit to get views of all sides of the actors as they flew.

Additionally, cameras were mounted on the plane’s exterior facing forward, backward, and underneath the plane.

However, technology in 1986 was not nearly as advanced as in 2019 when they began producing the sequel.

The scenes filmed of the carrier flight deck were taken from an operational Navy carrier flight deck.

Scott, the director of the film, and the film crew would request an occasional flyby by Navy pilots for them to film.

At one point, Scott paid $25,000 to have the carrier ship turn in a specific direction to capture the setting sun at a better angle while the planes flew by.

They also filmed the planes as they took off from and landed on the carrier.

Most of the shots filmed over land were done by using ground-mounted cameras located at the Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada.

How Much Money Did Top Gun And Top Gun: Maverick Make?

Top Gun was a huge hit, grossing $357 million in 1986.

The Numbers reports that the production budget for the film was $15 million.

Therefore, worldwide the film earned 23.8 times the production budget, making it the top-grossing film of that year.

At first release, “Top Gun” received some mixed reactions from fans due to its political and military themes.

However, within four weeks, its views had risen dramatically, and it had 46% more views than its first month at the box office.

This put the film ahead of “Crocodile Dundee” ($116 million) and “The Karate Kid II” ($115 million).

So how do the original movie costs and gross earnings compare to the sequel released in May 2022?

It is difficult to compare due to inflation through the years.

However, with this inflation calculator , it is estimated that if “Top Gun” had been released in 2022, it would have earned about $900 million.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is still a clear winner, coming in at $1.288 billion as of August 2022.

The film has already reached the incredible milestone of the 9th highest-grossing movie of all time at the box office.

It has surpassed Marvel’s “The Avengers” (previously 9th) and may even pass “Jurassic World” (8th) and “Titanic” (7th) by the end of 2022.

It still has a long way to go to catch up to ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (1st highest-grossing at $936 million) and “Avengers: Endgame” at $858 million (2nd highest-grossing).

In line after those great films are “Spiderman: No Way Home,” “Avatar,” “Black Panther,” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”

What Does Cruise’s Family Life Look Like?

Cruise has had three wives – Mimi Rogers (divorced 1990), Nicole Kidman (divorced 2001), and Katie Holmes (divorced 2012).

He has two adopted children with Kidman and one biological daughter with Holmes.

He has homes in multiple locations, such as Beverly Hills, CA; Clearwater, FL; and southern England.

Vanity Fair’s October 2012 issue mysteriously states that Cruise held “auditions” to find an actress to be his girlfriend.

This effort led to only a few short-term relationships, including British-Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi.

They report that Cruise was interested in women who studied Scientology, as Cruise is an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology.

Interestingly, Nazanin Boniadi left Scientology after breaking up with Cruise.

About Stacey Larson

I've been writing since childhood when my mother gave me a notebook in which to write down my stories. Later in life, I thanked her for being the spark that ignited my writing career. When I'm not writing, you can find me enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee on my porch.

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Tom Cruise’s ‘Top Gun: Maverick’: Everything to Know About the Film’s Release Date, Plot and 1st Wave of Reviews

When did it film.

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The need for speed! After much anticipation from both the cast and fans alike, Tom Cruise ’s Top Gun : Maverick finally hit theaters in May. Cruise, 59, who played pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in 1986’s Top Gun, announced back in summer 2017 that a sequel was in the works. “We’re going to have the same tone that we had from the first,” the Jerry Maguire star told Access Hollywood in June 2017, revealing the official title. “Stylistically, it’s going to be the same.” The original movie — which also starred Kelly McGillis , Anthony Edwards, Meg Ryan and Val Kilmer — followed a rookie Maverick as he attended the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school. Throughout the film, Maverick went head-to-head with Kilmer’s Iceman as they competed to be “top gun” a.k.a. the best pilot in the class. More than 30 years later, Cruise’s Maverick returned to his old stomping grounds in Top Gun: Maverick to train the newest Top Gun recruits, including Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), who is the son of his late friend Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Edwards). "Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears,” the film’s official synopsis read. “Culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it." While fans had to wait four years to see the sequel come to fruition, Glen Powell, who plays student Hangman in the new movie, teased the finished product in August 2020 after wrapping filming one year prior. “Tom and I talked after I watched it, and I told him! I was like, ‘I literally have no more fingernails left. I’ve chewed off all of my fingernails.’ … You cry, you laugh. It’s got adventure. It’s got romance,” the Texas native, 33, exclusively told Us Weekly at the time. “It’s just like one of those movies, where you’re like, ‘Oh, God, why can’t all movies be this fun and great?’ It’s so rare.” The Scream Queens alum confessed that he did shed a tear or two while watching the movie. “It was a manly cry!” Powell said with a laugh. “There were tears but they were dry and salty, you know!” Scroll down for everything to know about Top Gun: Maverick:

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How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick?

Tom Cruise is a renowned American actor and film producer. Among his best movies is the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick , a sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun . Due to the film's success, Tom Cruise's age in the two movies has been debated for a while. How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick ?

Tom Cruise has worked as an actor and film producer in Hollywood for over 40 years. He has received numerous awards, including four MTV Movie & TV Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and two Producers Guild of America Awards. The actor's most recent film, Top Gun: Maverick , was a box-office success. What is Tom Cruise's age in Top Gun ?

How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun?

Top Gun is an American classic film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. The film revolves around a hotshot Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a United States Naval Aviator pilot played by Cruise.

Famous Toms: 20 popular celebrities who share this name

Lieutenant Maverick is sent to Top Gun, an elite fighter weapon training centre. There, he trains alongside Lieutenant Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, portrayed by Anthony Edwards, and Lieutenant Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, portrayed by Val Kilmer . At the school, Maverick begins a fierce rivalry with Iceman. They must, however, work together to complete the mission.

The film performed well , grossing $357 million from a budget of $15 million. It was praised and awarded for its soundtrack, action and aerial footage. It was the most successful movie of 1986, box office-wise, but the critics were mostly lukewarm about it.

How old was Tom Cruise in the first Top Gun ? The film premiered in May 1986, and the actor was born in July 1962, making him 23 years old during production.

How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick?

Top Gun: Maverick , also called Top Gun 2, is a 2022 American action film written by Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr. and Peter Craig. Joseph Kosinski directed it, and it is one of Tom Cruise's best movies . The film is a sequel to the original Top Gun film released in 1986.

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Top Gun: Maverick also revolves around Peter Mitchell, who is now the instructor to a team of the best Top Gun graduates for a dangerous assignment. They have to bomb an unnamed country's uranium facility, which poses a threat to the US and its allies. Among Captain Maverick's pilots is Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son of Goose, who died in the original film.

How old was Tom Cruise when he made Top Gun, the sequel? The actor finished filming the movie in early 2019, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film premiered in 2022. Tom Cruise was 56 when he was shooting the film and 59 when Top Gun: Maverick was released .

What is Tom Cruise's age now?

Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on 3 July 1962 in Syracuse, New York, United States. He is 61 years old as of 2023, and his zodiac sign is Cancer.

How did Goose die in Top Gun? The real story behind the tragedy

• Who is Tom Cruise? He is an American actor and producer.
• Where is Tom Cruise from? He was born in Syracuse, New York, but resides in Clearwater, Florida, United States.
• How old is Tom Cruise? He is 61 years old as of 2023. He was born on 3 July 1962.
• How old was Tom Cruise in the original Top Gun ? The actor was 23 years old during the filming.
• How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick ? He was 56 years old when shooting the movie and 59 when the film premiered in 2022.
• Why did it take so long to make Top Gun 2 ? The director's death led to several years of searching for another director. Eventually, American director Joseph Kosinski was picked.
• How does Tom Cruise look so young? The acter looks so young 36 years after the first Top Gun because of regular workouts, skincare routines, and a good diet.

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How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun ? Tom Cruise is one of the best actors and producers in Hollywood. He has played Maverick in Top Gun movies 36 years apart. The American actor was 23 years old in the original 1986 movie and 56 in its 2022 sequel.

Legit.ng published an article about SpongeBob's age . SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most popular animation shows. It premiered in 1999 on Nickelodeon, and the lead character, SpongeBob, has stayed the same since. How old is SpongeBob?

SpongeBob SquarePants anime has been around for over 20 years. The animation revolves around a sea-living creature named SpongeBob. The character seems ageless despite being on the show for long leading to questions about his age. Find out how old SpongeBob is on the show and in human years.

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Tom Cruise Age In Top Gun 1986

[ad_1] In 1986, Tom Cruise starred in the iconic film “Top Gun,” which became a huge hit and solidified his status as a Hollywood superstar. At the time of filming, Cruise was just 24 years old, but he portrayed the role of Maverick with such confidence and charisma that it’s hard to believe he was so young. In this article, we will delve into Tom Cruise’s age during the making of “Top Gun” and uncover 8 interesting facts about his involvement in the film.

1. Tom Cruise was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York. This means that he was 24 years old when “Top Gun” was released in 1986. Despite his young age, Cruise had already made a name for himself in Hollywood with roles in films like “Risky Business” and “All the Right Moves.”

2. Cruise’s portrayal of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in “Top Gun” catapulted him to super stardom. The film was a massive success at the box office, grossing over $356 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1986. Cruise’s performance as the cocky and talented fighter pilot earned him critical acclaim and helped solidify his reputation as a leading man in Hollywood.

3. To prepare for his role in “Top Gun,” Cruise underwent extensive training to learn how to fly fighter jets. He spent months working with real-life Navy pilots and even flew in F-14 Tomcats to get a feel for what it was like to be a fighter pilot. Cruise’s dedication to his craft and willingness to push himself to the limit is evident in his performance in the film.

4. One of the most iconic scenes in “Top Gun” is the volleyball scene, where Cruise’s character Maverick and his fellow pilots play a game of beach volleyball. Cruise, who was known for his athletic abilities, trained extensively for this scene and performed all of his own stunts. The scene is now considered one of the most memorable moments in the film and has become a pop culture phenomenon.

5. Despite his youth, Cruise’s chemistry with his co-star Kelly McGillis, who played Charlie, the civilian instructor at the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School, was palpable on screen. The two actors had a natural rapport that translated into a believable and compelling romance. Their scenes together helped elevate the emotional depth of the film and added another layer to Cruise’s character.

6. Cruise’s performance in “Top Gun” earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film also received several other accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing and a Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special.

7. In addition to his acting skills, Cruise’s physicality and charisma were also on full display in “Top Gun.” His intense gaze, chiseled features, and confident swagger made him a heartthrob for millions of fans around the world. Cruise’s star power and natural charm helped make “Top Gun” a cultural phenomenon that has endured for decades.

8. Despite his success in “Top Gun,” Cruise’s career continued to evolve and expand in the years that followed. He went on to star in a wide range of films, from action blockbusters like the “Mission: Impossible” series to dramatic roles in films like “Jerry Maguire” and “Rain Man.” Cruise’s versatility as an actor and his willingness to take on challenging and diverse roles have cemented his status as one of Hollywood’s most enduring and beloved stars.

Common Questions about Tom Cruise’s Age in Top Gun:

1. How old was Tom Cruise when he filmed “Top Gun”?

Tom Cruise was 24 years old when he filmed “Top Gun” in 1986.

2. What was Tom Cruise’s character’s name in “Top Gun”?

Tom Cruise played the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in “Top Gun.”

3. Did Tom Cruise actually fly fighter jets in “Top Gun”?

Yes, Tom Cruise underwent extensive training to learn how to fly fighter jets for his role in “Top Gun.”

4. Who played Tom Cruise’s love interest in “Top Gun”?

Kelly McGillis played the role of Charlie, Maverick’s love interest in “Top Gun.”

5. Did Tom Cruise win any awards for his performance in “Top Gun”?

Tom Cruise received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in “Top Gun.”

6. What is the most iconic scene in “Top Gun”?

The volleyball scene, where Tom Cruise’s character Maverick plays beach volleyball with his fellow pilots, is one of the most iconic scenes in “Top Gun.”

7. How much money did “Top Gun” gross at the box office?

“Top Gun” grossed over $356 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing film of 1986.

8. What other films has Tom Cruise starred in since “Top Gun”?

Tom Cruise has starred in a wide range of films, including the “Mission: Impossible” series, “Jerry Maguire,” and “Rain Man.”

9. Did Tom Cruise do his own stunts in “Top Gun”?

Yes, Tom Cruise performed all of his own stunts in “Top Gun,” including the intense flight sequences.

10. How did Tom Cruise prepare for his role in “Top Gun”?

Tom Cruise trained extensively with real-life Navy pilots and flew in F-14 Tomcats to prepare for his role in “Top Gun.”

11. Is there a sequel to “Top Gun” in the works?

Yes, a sequel titled “Top Gun: Maverick” is set to be released in 2022, with Tom Cruise reprising his role as Maverick.

12. What is Tom Cruise’s net worth?

Tom Cruise’s net worth is estimated to be around $570 million, making him one of the wealthiest actors in Hollywood.

13. Has Tom Cruise won any Academy Awards?

Despite his numerous nominations, Tom Cruise has yet to win an Academy Award.

14. Who directed “Top Gun”?

“Top Gun” was directed by Tony Scott, who also directed films like “Beverly Hills Cop II” and “Man on Fire.”

15. What is Tom Cruise’s next project after “Top Gun: Maverick”?

Tom Cruise is set to star in the upcoming science fiction film “Mission: Impossible 7,” which is slated for release in 2023.

In conclusion, Tom Cruise’s age during the making of “Top Gun” may have been young, but his talent and charisma shone through in his performance as Maverick. The film catapulted Cruise to super stardom and solidified his status as a Hollywood icon. His dedication to his craft, physicality, and charm were on full display in “Top Gun,” making it a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences to this day. Tom Cruise’s age in “Top Gun” may have been just 24, but his impact on the film industry and pop culture has been immense and enduring. [ad_2]

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Jennifer Connelly Is 'Ready' to Film Top Gun 3 with Tom Cruise: 'I'll Be There'

The actress also noted that she hasn't "seen anything" yet when it comes to 'Top Gun 3,' though she's discussed it with director Joseph Kosinski

Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures/Courtesy of Everett

Jennifer Connelly would love to return to the world of Top Gun again.

The Snowpiercer actress, 53, revealed in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight that if she got the call to do a third movie in the popular franchise, she’d do it in a heartbeat. 

"I'll be there. I'm ready," Connelly told the outlet. 

She also pointed to her positive experience filming Top Gun: Maverick as the reason why she would return to the film series, saying, "We had such a great time shooting it. It was fun."

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Despite her enthusiasm for the potential project, the actress noted that she hasn’t been privy to “anything” in the works yet. 

"I haven't seen anything," she said. "I had a casual chat with my friend, Joe Kosinski, who directed it, who I worked with twice now. I'm his biggest fan. I think he's so great. [I talked to him] about the possibility of it, but I don't know anything concrete."

Her comments come a month after Jerry Bruckheimer , the producer behind both Top Gun movies, confirmed to PEOPLE "we're working on" Top Gun 3 .

"We pitched Tom [Cruise] a story he liked. But he's a very in-demand actor and he's got a lot of movies lined up, so we have to wait and see," Bruckheimer, 80, shared of the potential for a third installment.

He noted that part of what makes the Mission Impossible actor, 61, so popular is his work ethic, saying, "A lot of actors, they finish the day, they get in their car and they go home. Tom stays around, talks to the other actors, looks at the film that they shot, wants to know what's happening tomorrow. He's really engaged in every part of the process."

Never miss a story — sign up for  PEOPLE's free daily newsletter  to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Reports initially circulated in January that a third installment of the Top Gun movie franchise was in the works. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the film’s co-writer Ehren Kruger had been writing a script for the film and that Kosinski would be tapped once again to direct.

Miles Teller , who plays Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw in the film series, teased in July 2022 that he and Cruise had "been having some conversations" about the possibility of another movie . Though the actor, 36, noted at the time, "It's all up to Tom.”

He and costar Glen Powell , 35, both shared that they would be open to returning to the franchise again as well. 

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Here's Why The Kawasaki GPz900R Was The Ideal Candidate For Top Gun

The original Top Gun was an iconic movie, and that's not just down to the fighter jets featured in it.

Read update

The Kawasaki GPz900R is one of the biggest highlights from the original Top Gun movie. More than that, though, it had plenty going for it, even without the movie. Given that, we have updated this piece to include a few more highlights of what was once the fastest-production motorcycle in the world.

Key Takeaways

• The Kawasaki GPz900R from Top Gun was more than just a prop; it was a statement made by Tom Cruise during iconic scenes.
• The bike's innovative design, powerful engine, and revolutionary features put it ahead of its time, making it a standout choice.
• Despite being the fastest production bike of its time, the Kawasaki GPz900R can be acquired today for a range of $4,000 to $13,000.

When you consider massively successful Hollywood movies with cameos of popular motorcycles and cars, it's likely that a number of them will come up in discussion. Even more likely, the Kawasaki GPz900R's starring role in the original Top Gun will be voted one of the best.

There are plenty of reasons for this, but predominantly, it had to do with the fact that it wasn't just a mere prop used in the film; Tom Cruise made a statement with the bike, especially during the iconic scene when the Kawasaki is seen riding alongside a runway and a fighter jet at full bore.

UPDATE: 2024/04/25 21:17 EST BY RAUNAK AJINKYA

And unless you've been boycotting the movies for a while, you'd know that a sequel's out, which also features another incredible Kawasaki , unsurprisingly. That, however, is a story for another day.

For now, the focus is on the original movie and the GPz900R, which was pivotal in so many scenes. Why did the movie demand that particular motorcycle, though? And what made the GPz900R so special in the first place? There is a fair amount to get through, and that's just what this piece will get into.

Why It's No Surprise Tom Cruise Sticks With Another Incredible Kawasaki In Top Gun: Maverick

Here's why maverick's kawasaki gpz900r is so special.

The Kawasaki GPZ900R appeared on the market in 1984 and was in production until 2003. When it debuted, the bike made an immediate impression and impact on the automotive market for several exciting reasons. Firstly, the Kawasaki GPZ900R was the first member of the Ninja family sports bikes. Secondly, it brought a revolutionary design to the picture, becoming a direct predecessor of the modern-day sport bike.

The story of the Kawasaki GPZ900R is interesting. Rumor has it that Kawasaki developed the bike six years in secret before it showcased its innovative design to the world. Aside from getting the bike itself sorted out, one of the reasons behind this lengthy gestation period is that Kawasaki was particularly innovative with the bike and was planning to incorporate a host of technological features that weren't seen before. Understandably, then, Kawasaki wanted to keep things under wraps for as long as possible, just in case their rivals got a sniff of what they were planning.

Gearheads, then, had quite a thing to see when the bike finally launched — the world's first 16-valve liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine. However, the innovative styling was far from everything this motorcycle offered .

10 Best Kawasaki Ninja Models Ever

Here's what made the kawasaki gpz900r tick.

Above everything else, the newly developed (for the time) 908cc four-cylinder engine was a powerhouse. It could put out an incredible 115 horsepower and develop a top speed of 151 mph, allowing the GPZ900R to be the first road bike to exceed 150 mph. The box for the world's fastest production bike, then, was ticked.

Admittedly, the Kawasaki GPZ900R achieved exceptional performance and handling because of some standard components, such as the steel frame, 16-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, air suspension, and anti-drive forks. However, the step away from the then-standard styling was the lower placement of the compact engine, which allowed the bike to boost performance even more. It's not a stretch to suggest that the Kawasaki GPz900R was unlike anything the world had seen then, and plenty consider it to be the seed that sprouted the current generation of superbikes.

In addition to being the fastest production bike in the world, the GPz900R reportedly retained the smooth and reliable character that made it suitable for daily rides and traffic.

So, looking at the Kawasaki GPZ900R with all this information (and as the fastest bike of the time), it makes perfect sense that the producers chose it for Maverick (and that racing scene with a jet). Keep in mind that this was a time when people conjured images of big, heavy cruisers parading on our roads at the mention of a motorcycle, and for the GPz900R to not just change that narrative but become an icon in the process is something that's deeply impressive.

Anyhow, the protagonist is a daring pilot in the movie, and the producers knew exactly that the appearance of the outstanding Kawasaki GPz900R would wow the crowd. That's why they chose it over other options, including a Honda , increasing the popularity of both Top Gun and the bike.

1984 Kawasaki GPz900R Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs )

How The Famous Top Gun Kawasaki Motorcycle Was Almost A Honda

Here's how much a kawasaki gpz900r costs today, maximum value: $13,000.

Maverick's Kawasaki GPz900R from Top Gun achieved great customer reach over the years. Because of its innovative design and stunning specs, the bike would undoubtedly become a star even without starring in a movie. But it's also true that Top Gun and Tom Cruise made the Kawasaki GPz900R more iconic and ushered it into pop culture .

The status of the Maverick's Kawasaki GPz900R from Top Gun is even more apparent when you see that the producers of the 2022 sequence again briefly showcased the good old ride. The bike simply became and remained that iconic over the years.

However, Maverick's Kawasaki GPz900R from Top Gun didn't reach the same heights in pricing, much to our surprise. If you want to acquire this very special bike, you can find used examples ranging from as little as $4,000 to a fairly steep $13,000. Of course, not every example you come across will be in mint condition, which explains the rather wide used price range. That said, you do come across the occasional unicorn, and those make the entire experience worth it.

Although we were surprised by the pricing of such an important motorcycle classic, we're pleased that more fans of Maverick's Kawasaki GPz900R from Top Gun can buy and brag about it.

• Source for features : Kawasaki, Mecum Auctions, IMDb
• Source for technical specifications: Motorcycle Specs
• Source for used prices: Bring A Trailer

Tom Cruise Doesn't Really Do Sequels Very Often, But There's Apparently One Movie His Co-Star Was Shocked Didn't Get A Follow-up

U nless we are talking about Mission: Impossible – M:I 8 is currently filming or the long-delayed Top Gun: Maverick –Tom Cruise isn’t known for making very many sequels to his flicks. But, according to one former cast member, there is one film in his oeuvre that he is shocked never got a follow-up. The former cast member in question is Christian Slater, who co-starred along with Cruise and Brad Pitt in one of the best films of the 90s , the film adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel Interview With The Vampire . According to the Heathers alum, he’s shocked that he and the Risky Business star never got a second bite at the neck, playing a vampire in a sequel.

Christian Slater Reflects on The Missed Sequel Opportunity

It's hard to believe it's been nearly three decades–the movie turns 30 this year–since we were first mesmerized by one of the most iconic vampire performances on screen. In an interview shared on Comicbook.com’s Chris Killian’s Instagram , Christian Slater discussed how he and Cruise were reflecting on the project. The pair expressed a mutual astonishment over the movie's lack of a sequel despite their roles becoming fan favorites. He recounted:

Tom Cruise and I were both surprised that Interview With The Vampire didn’t get a sequel. You know, that would have been fun. Uh, I mean, he did bite me at the end of that thing.

For my money, even three decades since its release, Interview With The Vampire is still one of the best vampire movies ever committed to celluloid. Upon release, it was a critical and financial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing R-rated horror films of 1994, and grew to become a goth cult favorite. Not to mention, it introduced the broader world to actress Kirsten Dunst, a role Cruise helped the young actress secure thanks to some very practical advice.

The Enduring Legacy of 'Interview With the Vampire'

Tom Cruise's electrifying turn as the vampire Lestat was central to the film’s success. Initially, Anne Rice, the source material's author, hated Cruise’s casting in the role. However, his performance won her over and helped cement the film's place in cinematic history. Despite this success and the buzz around it, plans to continue Lestat's story with Cruise in a sequel never came to fruition. While the potential for a direct follow-up to this beloved film sparked plenty of discussions, ultimately, those plans remained just out of reach, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.

There was anticipation over a sequel starring the Top Gun A-lister, yet various factors, including rights issues, changes in production companies, and creative decisions, led to a different path for the book to screen adaptations of Rice's novels.

The next film in the series, Queen of the Damned, starring the late singer and actress Aaliyah , was released in 2002, but it did not involve Tom Cruise. Instead, Stuart Townsend took over the role of Lestat. The film combined elements from the second and third books of Rice's series, The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned . Still, it diverged significantly from the source material and did not continue directly from where Interview left off.

Interview With The Vampire is enjoying a second adaptation and return to screens as a television series, which is gearing up for its second season on AMC .

The Possibility Of A Sequel With Cruise

The ending of Interview with the Vampire set the stage perfectly for a sequel. It left audiences reeling from its final twist and introduced a new narrative thread with Daniel, the San Francisco reporter who becomes enthralled with Louis's tale of the undead. As Christian Slater hinted in the recent interview, the setup was ideal for a follow-up. Yet, despite the ripe storytelling potential, a direct continuation wasn't in the cards. Could a sequel with Cruise still happen? As the interviewers and Slater point out, Tom Cruise barely looks like he's aged since the last time he put on the Vampire Lestat's fangs. So, never say never.

Christian Slater's most recent work, another book adaptation, the series The Spiderwick Chronicles , is available now for free on The Roku Channel . Be sure to check out our 2024 movie schedule to see what upcoming horror movies are heading to a screen near you.

The 8 Most Absurd Sports Scenes Ever, From ‘Teen Wolf’ to ‘Top Gun’

Now that “Challengers” has given us tennis (and throuple) fever, we look back at the most surprising sporting moments in TV and film, from hockey goons to horny volleyball.

Geoffrey Bunting

Freelance Writer

Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Netflix/MGM/Paramount

I have played tennis approximately three times in my life and embarrassed myself each time. As such, it takes a lot to get me to watch tennis—even on film. Fortunately, Challengers , Luca Guadagnino’s steamy tennis drama, has granted us a vehicle to pretend we’re innocently watching sports, when we’re all really here to see Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor make out while Zendaya watches.

While Challengers is hot , it also features a lot of tennis (of the non-tonsil variety )—which is surprising coming from a director who professes to dislike the game . It got me thinking: If I can’t get paid to write a list of the questions raised by this being the second film about a love triangle to come out of the marriage between Celine Song and Justin Kuritzkes, perhaps there’s something to be said about how surprisingly excellent Challengers ’ sports sequences are and what other similar sporting moments can be found in TV and film? What moments were so shocking or so good that they made me consider buying a pair of shorts and slithering outside? I don’t mean the best sporting moments or even the most iconic—but the moments in TV and film that are most memorable for their quality and, importantly, absurdity.

Top Gun ’s homoerotic beach volleyball

“Keep it gay,” sings Roger De Bris (the late, great Gary Beach) in The Producers musical remake. Though it opened on Broadway in 2001, 15 years after the release of Top Gun , it’s clearly a lesson Top Gun director Tony Scott understood. Undertones become overtures as Tom Cruise and his pilot pals rip off their shirts halfway through the film and get homoerotic with a volleyball. After an hour of hyper-masculinity with military nonsense, planes, and motorbikes, the crew gets sweaty and sandy, as they indulge in a surprisingly high-quality game of beach volleyball—all while Kenny Loggin’s “Playing with the Boys” plays in the background. It’s a sudden pivot, but perhaps the biggest surprise is that Tom Top Gun (I don’t know the character’s name, and it’s too late to learn it) ends up with Kelly McGillis in the end, and not Val Kilmer.

One final bout in Cinderella Man

While not his most famous film, Ron Howard’s Cinderella Man is a criminally underappreciated gem that brings out the best of the director. Perfect to stumble across as you recover from a Sunday afternoon white wine pass-out, the story of Great Depression era boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe) and his rise from poverty and obscurity to challenge for the heavyweight championship of the world is rousing and relatable. It’s the final bout, Braddock’s legendary 1935 fight with Max Baer (Craig Bierko), however, that leaves the most lasting impression. It’s brutal, jarring, and visceral as flashbulbs cut the action while Crowe and Bierko work behind thuds and thwacks in one of the best boxing matches committed to film. Is it surprising Ron Howard made a good film? No. It is surprising, however, that Cinderella Man doesn’t get the plaudits of its more illustrious peers.

Batman & Robin brings out Mr. Freeze’s ice hockey goons

“It’s the hockey team from hell!” yells Robin (Chris O’Donnell) as he and Batman (George Clooney) are surrounded by a team of goons dressed as hockey players, all under the employ of Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger). It’s the kind of power of deduction that highlights just why Batman chose him as his detective protégé. Is this a sports scene? These goons are hockey players just because there’s ice on the ground—that’s it. But, in a film that includes Bat-nipples and the Bat-credit card, the absurdity of Robin chasing a diamond around the Gotham Museum of Art like a hockey puck while battling goons is perfectly in keeping with the tone of the film. At any point, anyone could just… pick the diamond up and leave. But then it wouldn’t be Batman & Robin , would it?

Teen Wolf takes to the b-ball court

Imagine you’re back in high school and gearing up for the big game (sorry nerds; this flashback’s not for you). You’ve got your fancy vest on, the cheerleaders are dancing, the crowd is buzzing. In the next two hours, you could cover yourself in short-lived sporting glory or an embarrassment that will follow you into adulthood. Then, as you take to the court, a surprisingly fuckable werewolf turns out for the other team to ruin your night. That’s right: 39 years later, I’m going to “hear me out” Scott Howard’s furry transformation into Teen Wolf (both played by Michael J. Fox). The basketball is fine, but we’re here for Michael J. Fox ruining the lives of his opponents by effectively leaping from one end of the court to the other. It’s ridiculous, but it’s also a little concerning how much ’80s Michael J. Fox in fake fur could get it. No wonder both Pamela (Lorie Griffin) and Boof (Susan Ursitti) wanted in on it. This is my Challengers .

Twenty-Five Twenty-On e’s Olympic gold medal fencing match

Twenty-Five Twenty-One is the best sports series you’ve never seen—mostly because it’s wrapped in a nostalgic and unconventional K-romance set in the ’90s. This K-drama about rival fencers who become best friends culminates in Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) and, fresh off her defection to Russia, Ko Yu-rim (Kim Ji-yeon aka “Bona”) facing off for the gold medal at the fictional 2001 Madrid Olympics. I was weeping before the fight started, but the interplay between Hee-do and Yu-rum as they transition to adulthood and out of each other’s lives—an event represented neatly by their increasing competitiveness—is heartbreaking. The K-drama melodrama is off the charts, but this fight also captures better than anything before the unique highs and lows of sport. All of it’s wrapped up in surprisingly dynamic filmmaking. There’s not much fencing in film and TV, but this is it at its best.

GLOW takes leg work a little too far

RIP GLOW ; gone too soon. The surreal, beautiful, and often too relatable story of misfits finding a home in the world of women’s wrestling was one of the best things to grace Netflix. But funny as it was (I still think about “a mother without a baby is just a person”), the comedy was always anchored with sobering drama. The core of this humanistic element was the rivalry between Debbie (Betty Gilpin) and Ruth (Alison Brie). As Debbie spirals from a successful acting career, and Ruth thrives in a new role (after sleeping with Debbie’s husband), GLOW teases that the frictions that haunt them outside the ring will get them in the ring, too. It doesn’t happen until the midpoint of Season 2, but when Ruth (a.k.a. Zoya the Destroya) and Debbie (a.k.a. Liberty Belle) face off, it not only combines GLOW ’s great fight choreography and drama, but gives us a shock, too. In an episode aptly named “Work the Leg,” a spaced-out Debbie—drunk and high on cocaine—takes the performance a little too far and breaks Ruth’s ankle. Brie shrieking “Debbie!” as her ankle cracks is probably the most realistic wrestling that has ever been on TV.

The Karate Kid: “Get him in a body bag, yeah!”

I’ve seen 1984’s The Karate Kid upward of 30 times. It’s got everything: ’80s music, a surrogate father-son relationship, Elizabeth Shue being baby-Geoffrey’s first crush, and wicked karate. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) heads to the Under-18 All-Valley Karate Championship to face off against the Cobra Kai dojo. Winning means his bullies, led by Johnny Lawrence (Billy Zabka), will back off, losing means his mentor, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) will sanction them continuing to beat him up—it’s probably best not to think too hard about the plot of The Karate Kid . There are too many perfect moments in The Karate Kid to list: the crane kick, “sweep the leg,” the moment Daniel realizes Miyagi’s chores are actually lessons—I could go on, but my editor told me to stop. What stays with me all these years later, however, is Rob Garrison’s pitch-perfect line delivery of, “Get him in a bodybag, yeah!” It’s vicious, it’s emotive; it’s exactly the kind of competitive spirit you’d expect from top-flight athletes. It’s also a little silly when you realize this is the most local of local teenage karate tournaments…

The Gang gets into inspirational sports movie-mode on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

In 2019, The Guardian reported that 12 percent of British men live under the delusion that they could win a point against Serena Williams , arguably the greatest tennis player in history. Absurd as that clearly is, if you’ve ever had to watch sports-ball around dudes, particularly older men, you know just how many truly believe that if they only had the chance, they could compete at a similar level to professional athletes. “The Gang Gets Invincible” doesn’t just make this list because the gang trying out for the Philadelphia Eagles—a la Marky Mark’s terrible Invincible (2006)—is peak sporting buffoonery, but because it’s a surprisingly realistic rendition of what would happen if any of these dudes actually played professional sport. Dennis (Glenn Howerton) gives an internal monologue that’s ripped straight from the mind of someone playing Thursday night five-a-side, before turning to take a long pass and getting knocked out by a pigskin. It’s funny—and humbling—and, more than anything, it should be a warning to you all: You’re not as good as a pro.

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Top Gun: Maverick actor Jennifer Connelly has revealed that she would return to do a third movie if the makers approach her for a role.

In a recent interview, she said that she would instantly agree if she got the call to do Top Gun 3, PEOPLE reported.

“I’ll be there. I’m ready,” Jennifer Connelly said.

Recalling her positive experience while filming Top Gun: Maverick, the actor said that she would return to the film series due to this reason.

“We had such a great time shooting it. It was fun,” Connelly added.

Read more: ‘Top Gun 3’ in the works with Tom Cruise returning in iconic rule

In January this year, reports said that Paramount has greenlighted the third installment of Top Gun: Maverick.

Actor Tom Cruise plays iconic Navy pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the action movie.

The 61-year-old action star first played the character in 1986’s Top Gun and returned in 2022 for Top Gun: Maverick, which was a massively successful box office hit grossing $1.49 billion worldwide.

Top Gun: Maverick was a massive overperformer at the box office in 2022, earning $1.5 billion globally and sparking Steven Spielberg to credit Cruise with saving the theatrical business, which had been beleagured by the coronavirus pandemic.

The feature followed decades after Tony Scott’s 1986 Top Gun, which helped cement Cruise as a rising movie star. As well as being a commercial hit, the movie was also nominated for Best Picture at last year’s Oscars.

According to an international media outlet, Paramount commissioned “Top Gun: Maverick” co-writer Ehren Kruger to work on a script for a sequel to the action blockbuster.

It is pertinent to mention that Tom Cruise had signed a non-exclusive deal to develop franchises and original movies for Warner Bros., the studio where he made “Interview With the Vampire,” “Eyes Wide Shut,” “Magnolia” and “Edge of Tomorrow.”

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