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As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taugh... Read all As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom. As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

• Jack Epps Jr.
• Tim Robbins
• Kelly McGillis
• 853 User reviews
• 192 Critic reviews
• 50 Metascore
• 11 wins & 9 nominations total

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• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Who Was Almost Cast in 'Top Gun'?

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• Trivia Stunt pilot Art Scholl was killed during the production of the movie, aged 54. He died when his Pitts S-2 camera plane failed to recover from a flat spin and plunged into the Pacific Ocean. Scholl's last words over the radio were "I have a problem - I have a real problem." The exact cause of the crash was never determined, and neither the aircraft nor Scholl's body were ever recovered. The film is dedicated to him.
• Goofs The term "bogey" is misused throughout the movie. A bogey is an unidentified aircraft. Once identified, it is referred to as a "friendly" (for friendly aircraft), "bandit" (for non-friendly aircraft) or "hostile" (for non-friendly aircraft that may be fired at). In USN terminology, a non-friendly surface radar contact is a "skunk".

Iceman : You! You are still dangerous. But you can be my wingman any time.

Maverick : Bullshit! You can be mine.

• Crazy credits The opening credits sequence features a history of the Top Gun program before the title of the film appears on screen, with the remainder of the opening credits devoted to footage of planes being launched from and landing on an aircraft carrier.
• Alternate versions The version of the film shown on the Paramount Network has nearly all of the profane language intact (basically everything but the word "shit"). However, this version also randomly cuts out several scenes and parts of scenes, presumably to fit in the network time slot allotted. Scenes missing altogether include (but are certainly not limited to) Maverick and Goose conversing in their housing regarding whether or not they'll graduate, and Jester and Viper conversing, with Viper revealing hew knew Maverick's "old man." The latter is especially surprising considering this plot point plays a major role in a later scene.
• Connections Edited into MacGyver: GX-1 (1987)
• Soundtracks Danger Zone Written by Giorgio Moroder & Tom Whitlock Performed by Kenny Loggins Produced by Giorgio Moroder Kenny Loggins courtesy of CBS Records

User reviews 853

• Nov 3, 2002
• How long is Top Gun? Powered by Alexa
• What military conflict is going on in the movie? Is there an actual war, or just one isolated incident against Soviet fighter planes for some reason?
• What is Top Gun about?
• The soundtrack has a song called "Through The Fire" but does that song actually appear in the movie?
• May 16, 1986 (United States)
• United States
• 102 Pacific Street, Oceanside, California, USA (Charlie's house)
• Paramount Pictures
• Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $15,000,000 (estimated)
• $180,258,178
• May 18, 1986
• $357,288,178

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 49 minutes
• Dolby Stereo
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Digital EX
• Dolby Atmos

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Photos: Tom Cruise stars in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

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‘Top Gun’: 30 Things You Didn’t Know About the Tom Cruise Classic (Photos)

Fighter-pilot blockbuster was released on May 16, 1986

Now that “Top Gun” is revving up for a sequel , TheWrap counts down 30 facts about the iconic movie you may not have already known. 

(The facts not directly cited in this gallery came from the 30th anniversary edition Blu-ray/DVD of “Top Gun.”)

1. The role of Maverick was written expressly for Cruise — whose performance in “All the Right Moves” gave the writers inspiration for the part.

2. Cruise was initially reluctant to take the role of Maverick, but his mind was immediately changed after his first time up in the air with The Blue Angels.

3. Val Kilmer initially turned down the part of Iceman until director Tony Scott tracked him down and passionately recruited him. 

4. When it was in the casting phase, “Top Gun” became the hot title around town. Nearly all young Hollywood men wanted to be involved, including a very young Charlie Sheen , who was said to be willing to take any part, even a small one. (He didn’t get one.)

5. Scott’s original vision for the film was “‘Apocalypse Now’ in an aircraft carrier.” He later realized it was a “definite popcorn movie… the rock ‘n’ roll stars of the sky.” 

6. The original script called for Goose’s death to be the result of a midair collision. The Navy wouldn’t approve that, so they changed it to a scenario that was more plausible, depicting an accident that actually happened (but didn’t result in death). 

7. The look of the actors in the pilot program was inspired by Bruce Weber’s photography, specifically his first book featuring scantily clad (and some nude) male models in a military theme. 

8. The original title of the film was “Top Guns” — plural. 

9. Kelly McGillis’ love interest character, Charlie, was originally supposed to be an officer. But the Navy wouldn’t approve a script involving two officers fraternizing. Filmmakers needed the Navy’s involvement, so they changed her profession to that of a Navy consultant, one who assesses pilot performance.

10. Scott had to fight the studio to cast McGillis. Execs wanted a younger “more fashionable” actress to play opposite Cruise. 

11. Remember John Stockwell, who plays Cougar in a memorable scene at the beginning of the film when he gets so scared he struggles to land his jet? He’s gone on to direct sun-soaked popcorn flicks like 2002’s “Blue Crush,” with Kate Bosworth and Michelle Rodriguez , and 2005’s “Into the Blue,” with Paul Walker and Jessica Alba , along with the 2006 horror movie “Turistas.”

12. The love scene was shot after filming wrapped. Yes, there was no love scene in the script!

13. McGillis’ hair was different by that time, she recalled in a 2013 interview, so that’s why the sexy sequence made use of silhouettes and dim lighting. (McGillis’ wrong hairdo is also why she wore a hat in the elevator sequence, also part of reshoots.)

14. McGillis, knew Kilmer before the movie, she revealed in the aforementioned interview. They went to Julliard together. 

15. Encouraged by filmmakers to do so, the cast partied a whole lot during the production in order to get into character. “I remember it being one giant weekend as far as making the thing,” recalls Kilmer in the film’s DVD commentary. 

16. Hanging out constantly, the lead cast also played basketball, tennis, and went to the driving range.

17. In order to keep their onscreen rivalry alive, either Cruise would join the group of partying cast mates or Kilmer would. But the two never hung out together. 

18. According to Barry Tubb, who played Wolfman, the cast would pile into Kilmer’s van (a vehicle in which Kilmer claimed he lost his virginity). They would use it to “wreak havoc across the Mexican boarder” before racing back for their call time on set. 

19. Kilmer ad-libbed when he coughed the line “bullshit” in the hangar scene.

20. Pilot Art Scholl was killed while performing a stunt during filming. He intentionally dove into a spin to capture it on a camera mounted inside the plane and failed to recover, making impact with the Pacific Ocean. 

21. Cruise was nervous and stressed, feeling the pressure of carrying the film. “He was as out of his depth as I was,” recalled Scott.

22. Edwards and  Ryan , who play husband and wife in the film, also dated in real life.

23. Ryan was not Scott’s first choice to play Goose’s wife. The late director was initially reluctant to cast her because she had been a soap opera actress on “As the World Turns.” 

24. The film originated from an article first published in California Magazine. 

25. Jack Epps Jr. wrote the movie with Jim Cash, his writing partner on films like “The Secret of My Success” and “Turner & Hooch.” Epps decided “Top Gun” was more of a sports movie than a military film after he went for a real jet ride. “Things happen with such force,” he said of experiencing six Gs of force in midair. “This was one of the greatest athletic things that I’ve ever been involved with in my life.”

26. The so called “Top Gun” award for which the pilots in the film compete doesn’t actually exist in the real Navy. 

27. “We’re paying $1 million for Tom Cruise so we gotta show some flesh,” recalled technical adviser Pete Pettigrew of what filmmakers said regarding the need for a locker room scene.

28. Then-Paramount executives, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Eisner , didn’t like the script. The film was sidelined until a new CEO, Ned Tanen, took over and greenlit it during a lunch meeting. He hadn’t even read the screenplay. 

29. The actors who played pilots got certified and did a training course with the Navy, including riding in an F-14 jet. Rick Rossovich, who plays Slider, earned the nickname “Rock” after he almost sunk like one in a pool during pilot training before filming. 

30. The Navy reported a 500 percent increase in applicants to its aviation program after the film came out, according to the 2004 book “Operation Hollywood: How the Pentagon Shapes and Censors the Movies.”

If you’ve made it this far, you get the Top Gun award of top Top Gun fans. Reward yourself with this history of the volleyball scene .

Tom Cruise Is Dapper In A Suit At ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Premiere: Photos

Tom Cruise shined bright as he walked the carpet in San Diego for the long-awaited 'Top Gun: Maverick' movie. See the pictures here!

Tom Cruise arrived in style at the May 4 Top Gun: Maverick world premiere! The 59-year-old actor touched down on the USS Midway in San Diego, California, in a helicopter adorned with the Top Gun: Maverick  logo. He looked as handsome as ever as he posed on the red carpet wearing a smart-looking black suit, matching vest, and black dress shoes. A white dress shirt and gray tie completed his look.

And if it seems like you have been hearing about Top Gun   for a while, it’s because you have. The movie, starring Miles Teller , 35, Jennifer Connelly , 51, Jon Hamm , 51, Glen Powell , 33, Lewis Pullman , 29, Ed Harris , 71, and Val Kilmer, 62, was filmed between 2018 and 2019. The original premiere date of June 24, 2020 got pushed back four times amid the coronavirus pandemic. The movie is set to premiere in theaters for the public on May 27.

Top Gun: Maverick  is the long-awaited sequel to the original 1986 Top Gun  film. Tom will reprise his iconic role of Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell alongside Val Kilmer, who will return as Maverick’s rival, Commander Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. Apparently, Tom had a huge helping hand in making sure Val came back for the sequel. “He said, ‘We have to have Val, we have to have him back. We have to have him in the film,’” the film’s director, Jerry Bruckheime r, 61, told People in August 2021. “He was the driving force. We all wanted him, but Tom was really adamant that if he’s going to make another  Top Gun , Val had to be in it.”

Meanwhile, Jon, who plays Vice in the movie, said the wait will be worth it for fans. “This is a movie that you want to see in theaters. It feels like a welcome back to the theaters, after a couple years of pause that we were all on,” he previously told Entertainment Tonight . “I think when people start seeing this in the theaters, and they see it big and loud, and they understand what kind of experience it is, they’re gonna forget about the last two years.”

The premiere comes weeks after Tom was spotted in South Africa while filming the latest installment of Mission Impossible , which he originally starred in in 1996. Photos of him looking just as he did when he was filming the original Top Gun showed him smiling at and applauding fans who sang the movie’s theme song.

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Nearly 40 Years Later, See the Cast of "Top Gun" Then and Now

Thirty-six years after the original " Top Gun " hit theaters, its sequel, " Top Gun: Maverick ," is still packing a powerful punch for fans of the first film and new audiences alike. The film, which stars familiar characters Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, centers around Maverick's return to TOPGUN to train a new set of ambitious, experienced Navy pilots in the years following his experience at the flight school over three decades ago.

"Top Gun: Maverick" keeps the nostalgic, lively tone that first drew viewers to the screen in the 1980s but revitalizes Maverick's story in a way that is equally as poignant. While some characters of the original "Top Gun" are present in the sequel, there are others that did not physically return for "Top Gun: Maverick," though their presence is established in the film. Let's look back the cast of "Top Gun" from their days in the original movie compared to today.

Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell Then

In the original "Top Gun," Tom Cruise played the ambitious, daring, and certifiably handsome Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. In the film, Maverick is a young lieutenant who trains in the US Navy's Fighter Weapons School (aka TOPGUN) alongside his best friend, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw. When "Top Gun" was released in 1986, Cruise was an up-and-coming actor. He appeared in films like "The Outsiders" and "Risky Business" before landing his role in "Top Gun."

Tom Cruise Now

Since his early days of acting in the 1980s, Cruise has established himself as one of Hollywood's most dependable stars. He has led several critically acclaimed films over the years, including "Rain Man," "A Few Good Men," "Mission Impossible," and "Jerry Maguire." Most recently, he is known for playing Jack Reacher in the self-titled film series.

The road leading to Cruise reprising his role was a long one that had dragged out for years. In an interview on " The Graham Norton Show ," he told the host how the process unfolded. "For years, the studios wanted me to do it and audiences wanted me to do it . . . And there was just a moment where Jerry Bruckheimer wanted to do it, and he came to me, we were talking about it and just came up with some good ideas," he said. "It was just that moment, I thought, 'If I'm gonna ever do this, now's the time.'"

Val Kilmer as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky Then

Val Kilmer is notorious for playing Maverick's cocky, competitive rival in the original "Top Gun." In the film, Maverick and Iceman both attend TOPGUN flight school, which leads them to butt heads and compete against one another to be the best pilot. Prior to his role in the original "Top Gun," Kilmer starred in two other feature films, "Top Secret!" and "Real Genius." After the film's release in 1986, Kilmer's career took off.

Val Kilmer Now

Following the success of "Top Gun," Kilmer landed roles in several successful films in the '90s, including "The Doors," "True Romance," and "Batman Forever." The actor continued working well throughout the end of the '90s and into the 2000s, but by 2014, he was diagnosed with throat cancer . After receiving chemotherapy and a tracheotomy, Kilmer has limited use of his voice, but that didn't stop him from taking on acting projects like "Top Gun: Maverick."

In the film, Kilmer's character, Iceman, has limited lines , but his voice is loud and clear on screen due to the help of a company that re-created his voice using AI technology. In 2020, he vaguely discussed his role in the "Top Gun" sequel with ET and praised his costar Tom Cruise, saying, "I have to tell you, Tom Cruise is very cool. That is all I can tell you. The rest you will have to [find out]."

Kelly McGillis as Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood Then

What's a good action flick without a sprinkle of romance? Actor Kelly McGillis played the role of Maverick's love interest, Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood. The character of Charlie is not just a pretty face, however. In "Top Gun," she is an instructor at the flight school and woos Maverick with her brains and beauty. Before appearing in the film, McGillis starred alongside Harrison Ford in the 1985 film "Witness," which earned her Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.

Kelly McGillis Now

After "Top Gun," McGillis continued acting in film, television, and even plays. Some of her film appearances include "The Accused," "Winter People," and "The Babe." Outside of her roles on screen, she has also performed on stage in Shakespeare plays like "The Twelfth Night" and "The Merchant of Venice." She most recently landed roles in TV movies, such as "An Uncommon Grace" and "Maternal Secrets."

Despite being a lead character in the original film, McGillis is not in "Top Gun: Maverick ." When asked by ET in 2019 if she was approached to return for the sequel, she jokingly said, "Oh my god, no. They did not, nor do I think they would ever. I mean, I'm old and I'm fat, and I look age appropriate for what my age is, and that is not what that whole scene is about."

Anthony Edwards as Nick "Goose" Bradshaw Then

Before Iceman, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, played by Anthony Edwards, was Maverick's best friend and wingman. In "Top Gun," Goose is a radar intercept officer who grows close with Maverick as they train together at the flight school. Unfortunately, Goose tragically dies in a flight accident and leaves behind his best friend, wife Carole, and a son named Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw .

Edwards landed a few roles in successful films before his appearance in "Top Gun" and had acting credits that included "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Revenge of the Nerds" at the time.

Anthony Edwards Now

"Top Gun" was just the beginning of a prolific career for Edwards. Along with a number of movie roles, Edwards is perhaps most known for his portrayal of Dr. Mark Greene in the medical drama series "ER," which he worked on from 1994 to 2002 and then again in 2008. Most recently, he appeared in Apple TV+ 's series " WeCrashed ," as well as Netflix's " Inventing Anna ." Due to his character's death in the first "Top Gun," Edwards did not have a role in the sequel.

Meg Ryan as Carole Bradshaw Then

One of Meg Ryan's first movie roles was in "Top Gun," where she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Nick "Goose" Bradshaw. Carole is the mother of Bradley Bradshaw, who grows up to follow in his father's footsteps in "Top Gun: Maverick." Prior to acting in the film, Ryan had a few small roles in "Rich and Famous" and "Amityville 3-D."

Meg Ryan Now

Ryan's career blossomed during the 1990s. Throughout the decade, the actor starred in a handful of hugely popular movies, including "The Doors," "Sleepless in Seattle," and "You've Got Mail." Over her career, Ryan has earned several accolades, including three Golden Globe nominations.

The actor did not reprise her role in "Top Gun: Maverick ," which was a choice by the film's director, Joseph Kosinski. He told Cinemablend that the choice was influenced by his idea to introduce a new perspective to Maverick's life, saying, "Clearly, their spirits hang over the film in certain ways. There is a glimpse, as you guys know, of both of them in the film. But it was important that we wanted to make sure we were telling a new chapter of Maverick's life. We didn't want to be looking back the whole time."

• Movie Casting
• Top Gun: Maverick

Tom Cruise Shared Sweet Photos To Celebrate Top Gun Day, One From The Original Movie And Another From Maverick

The need for speed continues.

In less than two weeks, audiences can return with Tom Cruise to the cockpit of Naval aircrafts with Top Gun: Maverick . The sequel will mark a triumphant return for the action star to the title that became an iconic ‘80s film and an important moment for the dawn of his career. In anticipation for Maverick , Cruise celebrated Top Gun Day with a couple sweet throwback images.

Tom Cruise took to Instagram to celebrate the Top Gun national day with two photos of himself and Jerry Bruckheimer, who has been a pivotal producer to both movies. Check them out: 

A post shared by Tom Cruise (@tomcruise) A photo posted by on

In the caption, the actor said he “couldn’t ask for a better wingman” in Jerry Bruckheimer, while sharing two images of the pair from both films. The images are over thirty years apart and show off just how ride or die the filmmakers have been when telling the story of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. 

In the first Top Gun movie, Maverick’s wingman was Anthony Edwards’ Goose, but he unfortunately (and famously) dies over the course of the 1986 film. The upcoming sequel will follow Maverick all these years later, with the notable return of Val Kilmer ’s Iceman, who Cruise rallied to get back for the upcoming movie . The two will also be joined by a host of franchise newcomers stars including Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris and Monica Barbaro. 

While National Top Gun Day was designated as May 13, it celebrates the anniversary of the release in 1986, which fell on May 16, 1986. This year marks the 36th anniversary of its release. When the now-classic film hit theaters, it debuted at No. 1 ahead of becoming the highest-grossing movie of that year over that year’s top five Crocodile Dundee , The Karate Kid Part II , Back To School and Aliens .

Maverick will be released during Memorial Day three-day weekend this May 27. The movie has already been screened for critics and has inspired overwhelmingly positive reviews thus far, including CinemaBlend’s own review of Top Gun: Maverick by Eric Eisenberg, who gave the movie a 4 out of 5 and called it a “thrill” and a “visceral cinematic experience.” 

The sequel initially began development back in 2010 with Top Gun ’s director, Tony Scott , before he died two years later by suicide as the movie’s location scouting was underway . It wasn’t until 2017 that the movie got off the ground again, with Oblivion director Joseph Kosinski taking the helm. The movie filmed between mid 2018 and mid 2019, with initial plans to be released in summer 2019. 

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The movie was delayed to 2020 the first time to allow the production to work out its complex flight sequences, but then COVID happened and it was delayed multiple times to ensure a theatrical release. Tom Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer and co. seem quite proud of what they've made this time around, and it'll be exciting to take to the skies once more with this iconic franchise. 

As you celebrate Top Gun ’s anniversary and get excited for the sequel, check out how to stream the original 1986 movie . 

Sarah El-Mahmoud has been with CinemaBlend since 2018 after graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Journalism. In college, she was the Managing Editor of the award-winning college paper, The Daily Titan, where she specialized in writing/editing long-form features, profiles and arts & entertainment coverage, including her first run-in with movie reporting, with a phone interview with Guillermo del Toro for Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water. Now she's into covering YA television and movies, and plenty of horror. Word webslinger. All her writing should be read in Sarah Connor’s Terminator 2 voice over.

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The best of tom cruise through the years, share this article, mission: possible.

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Tom Cruise slid into a living room back in the early 1980s and began a pop-culture journey that has soared to an iconic film career.

From those classic movies like “Risky Business,” Cruise has risen to a level of worldwide stardom that few actors—if any—can claim they have achieved.

His fame has been the quintessential Hollywood tale for nearly 40 years, one filled with controversy and marriages, rumors and roars, and a resume that includes some of the biggest hits in the cinematic vault.

The nostalgia mixed with a general infatuation with Cruise is at an all-time high in 2022, as the long-awaited (and delayed) “Top Gun: Maverick” hits theaters over Memorial Day weekend.

The rush of aerial excitement and the actor’s appearances have the camera flashes popping, which is nothing new for the legendary talent.

Just take a look back through his career…

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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 12: Actor Tom Cruise attends The Friars Club and Friars Foundation Honor of Tom Cruise at The Waldorf=Astoria on June 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

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New images from  Top Gun: Maverick   reveal more looks at Tom Cruise and Miles Teller's characters. Cruise starred in the original 1986 Top Gun , his first proper action blockbuster, as Lieutenant Pete Mitchell, a young naval aviator better known by his callsign, Maverick. Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, he and his Radar Intercept Officer, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards), get the chance to attend the Naval Fighter Weapons School known as Top Gun.

Thirty-six years after he first portrayed Pete Mitchell, Cruise has now returned to the role for the long-awaited sequel. Top Gun:  Maverick is set 30 years after the first film and will find the titular test pilot tasked with training a group of talented Top Gun graduates for a special mission. Among the group is Bradley Bradshaw, the son of Maverick's best friend, Goose, who perished during the events of the first movie. Known for his roles in Whiplash and The Divergent Series , Teller will make his debut as the pilot known as Rooster. The sequel will also see the return of Val Kilmer as Iceman and star Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Ed Harris.

Related:  Top Gun 2 Already Lost Its Most Exciting New Cast Member

Now, new looks at Cruise and Teller in Top Gun: Maverick  images are here courtesy of Total Film (via GamesRadar+ ). The first photo shows Maverick looking ecstatic in full aviator gear, though in the second, he is more subdued as he repairs a fighter jet. Teller's Rooster can also be seen outside the cockpit attending a formal Naval meeting. Check out the new images below:

Along with Mission: Impossible 7 &  8 , Top Gun: Maverick is one of a few Cruise projects that has been utterly derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially set for a release in the summer of 2019, Maverick  will now debut in theaters this spring. The various delays forced Paramount to put the promotional campaign on hold, though it's been picking back up again in recent days. Another new look at Cruise as Maverick just graced the cover of the latest issue of Total Film magazine.

Though some may have forgotten about the Top Gun sequel after all the delays, these recent looks should remind everyone that the film exists and is releasing in theaters this May. Based on these new images, Cruise clearly looks stoked to be back in the role and that feeling should begin to rub off on the majority of moviegoers, setting the stage for  Top Gun: Maverick  to become another successful action blockbuster.

Next:  Top Gun 2 Theme Tease Reveals Maverick's Biggest Challenge

Source: Total Film (via GamesRadar+ )

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• Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

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Tom Cruise Feels the Need for Speed in First ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Photo

He’s feeling the need for speed! Tom Cruise has officially shared the first photo from his upcoming film Top Gun: Maverick .

The actor, 55, who just joined Instagram in January, quietly posted the pic on his personal account on Thursday, May 31. “#Day1,” he wrote.

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Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is ready to jet off in the promotional teaser. Geared up, he looks out into the distance as he holds his helmet and wears his uniform and trademark aviator sunglasses. “Feel the need,” the pic reads.

After much speculation (and hoping!) Cruise confirmed in May 2017 that a Top Gun sequel was in the works. “It’s not going to be called Top Gun 2,” the actor told Access Hollywood that June. “I didn’t want a number. You don’t need a number.”

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He added: “We’re going to have the same tone that we had from the first. Stylistically, it’s going to be the same.”

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Skydance CEO David Ellison even teased the possible story line two years prior. “It’s really exploring the end of an era of dogfighting and fighter pilots and what that culture is today are all fun things that we’re gonna get to dive into in this movie,” he told Collider in 2015. “There’s gonna be jets, very fast jets. There’s gonna be an aircraft carrier, maybe two – and a wide range of jets. [There] may be a volleyball scene.”

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The 1986 original also starred Kelly McGillis , Anthony Edwards , Meg Ryan and Val Kilmer .

Jerry Bruckheimer is producing Top Gun: Maverick , which is written by Peter Craig and Justin Marks . It is set to hit theaters on July 12, 2019.

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Tom Cruise Shares First Look Photo as ‘Top Gun 2’ Begins Production

By Robert Mitchell

Robert Mitchell

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Tom Cruise has heralded the start of shooting on Paramount ‘s long-anticipated “ Top Gun ” sequel. Cruise tweeted an image late Wednesday featuring his character, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, looking at a fighter jet down the tarmac.

The teaser image for “Top Gun: Maverick,” which Cruise also posted on his Instagram page, featured the legend “Feel the need,” a reference to the original film’s legendary quote, “I feel the need – the need for speed,” accompanied by the hashtag #Day1.

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

Sources confirmed to Variety on Thursday that the sequel had started filming in the U.S.

Although the plot is being kept under wraps, it’s been previously reported that Cruise’s character would now be a flight instructor and that the film would explore a world of drone technology, fifth-generation fighters and the end of the era of dog-fighting. Joseph Kosinski, who is directing the sequel, told ComingSoon.net in October that his approach would be “appropriate for the times we live in.”

“The navy is very different now than it was in 1986,” said Kosinski, who previously worked with Cruise on 2013 sci-fi pic “Oblivion.” “It’s just a different world now, so you can’t remake the first movie. It has to adapt, [but] I certainly want to re-create the experience of that movie, which gives you a front seat into the world of naval aviation and what it’s like to be in a fighter jet.”

Eric Warren Singer, who wrote Kosinski’s 2017 “Only the Brave,” worked on the screenplay alongside Peter Craig (“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay”) and Justin Marks (“The Jungle Book”).

The Paramount Pictures movie is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer for Jerry Bruckheimer Films and David Ellison for Skydance. Cruise also serves as a producer.

No other casting has yet been announced. The original film co-starred Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Tom Skerritt, Anthony Edwards (whose character did not survive) and Meg Ryan.

“Top Gun” grossed $179.8 million domestic and nearly $357 million worldwide on its release in the summer of 1986. It was directed by Tony Scott, who had been working on the sequel with Cruise prior to Scott’s death by suicide in 2012. The original film was produced by Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, who died in 1996.

In 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected “Top Gun” for preservation in the National Film Registry as one of the 25 films named annually that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is scheduled for release on July 12, 2019.

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Tom Cruise shares first photo from "Top Gun" sequel

By Andrea Park

June 1, 2018 / 1:10 PM EDT / CBS News

Tom Cruise shared the first photo from the long-awaited "Top Gun" sequel. The actor announced with a photo that the film is now officially in production. The photo had a line from the original movie emblazoned on it -- "Feel the need" -- as Cruise's character, Maverick, watches a plane in the distance. He captioned the photo, "#Day1."

It's been 32 years since the first "Top Gun," which was released in 1986. The first film follows Maverick as he navigates elite fighter pilot training, becoming friends with Goose and trying to romance his instructor, Charlotte. 

"Feel the need" refers to a famous scene from the first film when Maverick and Goose are preparing for take-off and Maverick says, "I feel the need -- " and the two, in unison, say, "The need for speed" before high-fiving. 

• Tom Cruise reveals name of "Mission Impossible" movie on new Instagram account

In 2017, producer Jerry Brukcheimer talked about the possibility of a "Top Gun" sequel. 

"Listen, it's an iconic character that [Cruise] helped create, so I think we would like to see what happened to Maverick for the last 30 years,"   he told Entertainment Tonight . 

• Tom Cruise addresses "Valkyrie" fake butt rumors

Last year, Cruise  talked about the sequel's name .

"It's not going to be called 'Top Gun 2,' it's going to be called 'Top Gun: Maverick,'" Cruise revealed. "I didn't want a number. You don't want a number. You don't need a number." 

"We're going to have the same tone that we had for the first one. Stylistically, it's going to be the same," he added. "It's going to be a competition film like the first one, and it's going to be in the same vein, the same tone as the first one. So a progression for Maverick."

"Top Gun: Maverick" is set for release in 2019. 

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

Andrea is an entertainment producer at CBSNews.com

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Photos of Kate Middleton, Prince William, Tom Cruise at the 'Top Gun: Maverick' Premiere in London

Prince William and Kate Middleton got all dressed up to welcome the stars of Top Gun: Maverick to London's Leicester Square on May 19

In London on Thursday night, May 19, Prince William and Kate Middleton helped welcome Tom Cruise and his castmates to the U.K. premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in Leicester Square.

The royals went glam for the evening, with William in a navy tux (and loafers embroidered with F-18 planes!) and Kate in an off-the-shoulder gown by Roland Mouret

Cruise graciously helped Kate up the steps and into the theater.

Outside the venue, William and Kate met more of the film's stars, including Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly.

The duchess chatted with the actors; she previously met Cruise at the 2021 Euro final in London, according to the Express .

Cruise was fresh off the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in France at the Cannes Film Festival, where he received an extended standing ovation.

Kate also caught up with Top Gun: Maverick star Jon Hamm.

On the way down the theater steps, Cruise and William were deep in conversation.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer was also on hand for the big premiere.

The cast took five for a group photo in front of a plane brought to the red carpet for the starry occasion.

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‘Top Gun 3’ In The Works At Paramount Following Tom Cruise Warner Bros Pact

By Anthony D'Alessandro

Anthony D'Alessandro

Editorial Director/Box Office Editor

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Even though Tom Cruise inked a non-exclusive pact at Warner Bros earlier this week, it looks like he’ll continue to be busy with Paramount for some time. Reports tonight are that Top Gun 3 is in development at Paramount with Top Gun:Maverick co-writer Ehren Kruger currently writing a draft.

The word is that the project would reunite Cruise with Maverick ‘s Miles Teller and Glen Powell as well as producers Jerry Bruckheimer and David Ellison. Joe Kosinski, will reportedly either direct or produce.

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Puck had the news about Top Gun 3 tonight, and they’re speculating that it could be the 3x Oscar nominee’s potential next project after Mission: Impossible 8 . Even without Top Gun 3 , it will be a challenge for Cruise to get anything off the ground at Warners for a couple of years.

Top Gun: Maverick is the highest grossing movie of Cruise’s career at $1.49 billion. It won one Oscar last year for Best Sound and was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture.

What’s really glaring in tonight’s news is that Ellison’s Skydance, which is circling to scoop up National Amusements in an all-cash bid, was a producer on Top Gun: Maverick. Deadline first told you that Ellison and Red Bird Capital were kicking the tires on National Amusements. The Shari Redstone-led exhibitor controls nearly 80% of Paramount shares and is the gatekeeper for any M&A deal. One of the backers of the current bid by Skydance is Ellison’s father, Oracle founder Larry Ellison per a  WSJ  report. Ellison co-financed Top Gun: Maverick at 25% and shared in an overall net profit for the sequel of $391M.

Deadline reached out to Paramount for comment.

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Tom Cruise Poses with Kids Bella and Connor for First Photo in Almost 15 Years — See the Rare Shot!

The actor shares his two older kids with ex-wife Nicole Kidman

Tom Cruise stepped out with his two older kids in a rare public appearance.

The Mission: Impossible actor, 61, made one of his first public outings with daughter Isabella "Bella", 31, and son Connor, 29, in almost 15 years in a picture posted to former NFL player Derrick Brooks' Instagram on December 27.

In the photo, Cruise has his hand in his pocket and stands in the front next to Brooks, who is in between the star and his son Connor. Towards the back of the group photo, Bella peeks their head over the shoulder of another woman, smiling as she looks into the camera.

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. 

Related: Tom Cruise and Son Connor Attend Los Angeles Dodgers Game Together

Cruise shares his two older kids with ex-wife Nicole Kidman . The actor also shares 18-year-old daughter Suri with ex-wife  Katie Holmes .

In October 2021, the star and his son Connor made a rare public appearance together when they attended a Los Angeles Dodgers game.

Cruise was photographed sitting next to Connor in the stands , where he leaned down to take photos with fans while watching the game. He kept warm in a navy jacket while his son opted for a black-and-white baseball hat and a black hoodie.

Before the baseball game, the father-son duo was last publicly  photographed  together in October 2019 in London. At the time, the two were seen walking to a private helicopter.

Although Bella isn't often photographed in public, she often share artwork on Instagram . In 2021, Bella shared a photo on Instagram of an eerie abstract-looking portrait .

"Ready for spooky season," she  captioned  the post.

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Read the original article on People .

The Awful Accident That Happened While Filming Tom Cruise’s ‘American Made’

Death, severe injury, and charges of negligence loomed over the Hollywood star's 2017 film.

The Big Picture

• Tom Cruise's performance in American Made deserves praise, as he portrayed real-life pilot Barry Seal in a daring role.
• The tragic plane crash during the film's production resulted in two deaths and severe injuries to the surviving pilot.
• Lawsuits were filed by the families of the deceased pilots, alleging negligence on the part of the film's production and questioning safety measures.

Any movie fan not living under a rock is well aware of Tom Cruise 's affinity for aviation. Having attained a pilot's license in 1994, the 60-year-old actor has put his skills to jaw-dropping use in several films , most dangerously in the Mission: Impossible films and Top Gun: Maverick . While his role as Pete Mitchell in the latter film and its predecessor remain iconic portrayals of a pilot, his performance as a flying daredevil in another film – American Made – also deserves praise.

In 2017's American Made , Tom Cruise played real-life pilot Barry Seal , a man who would turn to drug smuggling in the 1980s. Featuring many aerial sequences and high-altitude stunts, many of which were performed by the actor himself, the film's production was beset by tragedy on September 11, 2015. Carrying three pilots working on the film, Carlos Berl , Jimmy Lee Garland , and Andrew Purwin , a twin-engine Aerostar 600 crashed while en route through the Colombian Andes . The accident resulted in two deaths and severe lifelong injuries sustained by the sole survivor. But how did such an accident happen? And who would answer to the grieving loved ones filing lawsuits with charges of negligence?

American Made

The story of Barry Seal, an American pilot who became a drug-runner for the CIA in the 1980s in a clandestine operation that would be exposed as the Iran-Contra Affair.

Who Were Pilots Carlos Berl, Jimmy Lee Garland, & Andrew Purwin?

Having grown up among aviators in Venezuela, Carlos Berl followed in his family's footsteps and became a pilot himself. Eventually relocating to Florida and New York, he amassed a variety of licenses over the years, and in 2015, caught wind of an upcoming Tom Cruise-starring film looking for experienced pilots. Won over by the opportunity, but with a constant eye toward safety, Berl voiced concerns after learning the production wanted him to fly the Aerostar 600, an aircraft with which he had no experience and was infamous among aviators for its involvement in "more than 260 deaths in 191 accidents around the world since 1969."

A native of Georgia, Jimmy Lee Garland had also never worked on a film. But as a pilot and mechanic running his own aviation company and teaching lessons, his knowledge and experience put him on Hollywood's radar. In addition to serving as Tom Cruise's double, Garland also taught the actor how to fly a Cessna 414, noting that his student "liked to participate in the stunts" and was "a very good pilot." The month before the crash, Garland was in Colombia putting his skills to use, racking up many hours in flight and enjoying the good life in the hotels and casinos of Medellín.

Unlike Berl and Garland, however, Andrew Purwin's aviation record was not without controversy. Particularly known in the industry for performing helicopter stunts, and having worked on high-profile films like Pirates of the Caribbean , Tropic Thunder , and Transformers , he'd cultivated a reputation among colleagues as a "dangerous" and risk-taking pilot. Purwin was also well-known to the Federal Aviation Administration, though perhaps not for the most reassuring reasons. In 1996, he crashed a helicopter that resulted in the death of a business partner, and would eventually be prohibited from flying fixed-wing aircraft in certain "weather and regulatory conditions." Purwin was involved in "dozens of incidents" over the years, and according to some in Hollywood's aviation circles, was even a member of the so-called "death pool," a group composed of pilots considered likely to lose their lives in a plane crash.

What Happened on the Set of 'American Made'?

As cameras were rolling on American Made in Colombia, Berl, Garland, and Purwin were tasked with flying the twin-engine Aerostar 600 from Santa Fe de Antioquia to Medellín after a long day of filming. Embarking on what should've been a 35-mile flight lasting just 20 minutes, the trio took off around 5:30 P.M., only moments after Tom Cruise had departed the set in a helicopter. According to initial reports, the Aerostar encountered bad weather and crashed near the village of La Clarita.

Upon discovering the wreckage , local civilians found all three pilots alive, though severely injured. But after summoning help and returning to the downed plane, Carlos Berl and Andrew Purwin had perished. The lone survivor, Jimmy Lee Garland, suffered "a shattered vertebra, collapsed lung, herniated diaphragm, 10 broken teeth, broken ribs, a broken jawbone, and a cracked skull on both sides of a dislodged eye socket." Waking up in a hospital nine days after the crash, Garland would later claim to have no memory of the flight, who was flying, or how the plane went down.

What Happened After the 'American Made' Set Accident?

Many questions were being asked after the tragedy in the Colombian mountains. How could three experienced pilots, each of whom had logged hours over the dramatic terrain of South American jungles and rainforests, end up crashing on a routine flight? What kinds of safety guidelines and industry regulations did the film's production have in place to avoid such an accident? What, if any, external factors may have contributed to what happened? And perhaps the most crucial question of all, who was flying the plane? With survivor Johnny Lee Garland unable to remember anything about the flight and its demise, it appears the question of who was flying the Aerostar will never be answered.

The loved ones of Carlos Berl and Andrew Purwin filed lawsuits, each citing negligence on the part of the film production and making claims regarding shortcuts taken at the expense of overall safety. Filed a year after his death, the suit on Berl's behalf alleged that American Made 's producers, as well as his fellow co-pilots, pressured him into piloting the notorious Aerostar that he'd not been trained to fly. Filed in April 2016, the lawsuit on Purwin's behalf made similar allegations against the film's producers and flight coordinators, claiming that Berl was flying the plane and his inexperience contributed to the crash. For their part, the producers filed a countersuit against Purwin, claiming that his aviation company, Heliblack, supplied the film production with a compromised plane and that the pilot had been dishonest about his qualifications.

The True Story Behind Tom Cruise’s ‘American Made’

Regarding the events immediately preceding the flight, an anonymous source noted, "Apparently there was an argument about needing to leave immediately, even though they had some information about the weather that they should have stayed behind. I was just told there was intense pressure to get out as soon as possible." Another source, an experienced Colombian pilot, acknowledged, "I fly there regularly, and I would have stayed on the ground that day. You have to have experience to fly in Colombia. You cannot fly here like you fly in Miami, where there’s not a mountain anywhere. If you fly in South America, you have to be very trained in the conditions."

In April 2019, more than three years after the accident and a year-and-a-half after American Made hit theaters, the legal battles came to an end. According to Variety , the litigation was resolved in an undisclosed settlement between the plaintiffs and the film's producers . While it may never be known exactly why the Aerostar went down, or who was flying the plane in the first place, the tragedy behind the 2017 film shined a sobering light on the often contentious issues surrounding overall safety, the vetting of individuals, and regulatory processes as they relate to the logistics of film production.

Something Similar Happened on the 'Top Gun' Set

As tragic as it was, the accident associated with American Made wasn't the first of its kind while filming a movie starring Tom Cruise . Renowned pilot Art Scholl , 53 years old and known for his stunt work in Hollywood and air shows, was flying a Pitts Special biplane to capture footage for Top Gun in 1985. While in an inverted flat spin over the Pacific, Scholl suddenly radioed, "I've got a problem here." Moments later, he crashed into the ocean, and though debris was recovered, neither the full wreckage nor Scholl's body was ever found by authorities. Much like the events leading to the deaths on American Made 's production, a level of mystery and speculation will forever shroud the accident involving Scholl , only further confirming the inherent risks and danger that come with efforts to capture thrilling aerial feats on film.

'American Made' Has Seen a Resurgence in Popularity on Streaming Services

Six years after its release, American Made has made waves on streaming platforms , particularly Netflix, in which it held a position in the service's Top 10 Movies for weeks. There is no simple explanation for why a film or TV show from yesteryear sees a resurgence among viewers, but Tom Cruise's reassertion as a cinematic force in recent years is a likely factor. Between Mission: Impossible - Fallout and the unexpectedly massive box office performance of Top Gun: Maverick , the 61-year-old superstar is enjoying a well-deserved career renaissance after a period of lukewarm reception among audiences. American Made is one of Cruise's most breezy and watchable efforts in a forty-year career , balancing its real-life narrative basis with a playful sense of humor and irreverence for its subject and lead character. And, of course, its status as a true-crime film can't hurt as it streams on a service well-known as a haven for such non-fiction fare. Even so, understanding the tragic context surrounding the film's creation remains important and sobering.

American Made is available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.

Rent on Prime Video

Tom Cruise's coronation concert cameo almost identical to his MTV award acceptance video

The Hollywood star had a brief cameo at the coronation concert, filmed while flying his Top Gun Warbird plane, and he used the same filming opportunity to accept his MTV Movie & TV award on Sunday.

Arts and entertainment reporter @BethanyMinelle

Monday 8 May 2023 11:14, UK

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Tom Cruise has taken multi-tasking to a whole new level, appearing to film his coronation concert skit and his MTV Movie & TV award acceptance speech in the same sky-high shoot.

Both of the star's cameo appearances appeared in shows which aired on Sunday evening, with the King's concert taking place live from Windsor Castle , and the MTV Movie & TV Awards switching from a live show in Santa Monica, California, to a pre-recorded show on the same night.

Cruise delivered his pre-recorded airborne messages while at the controls of his Top Gun Warbird plane, wearing the same pale blue top, aviator sunglasses, green headphones and headset.

Messages aside, the only difference in the clips was the prop added to the backseat for his MTV award acceptance speech - his golden popcorn trophy for best performance in a movie for last year's blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick.

Telling film fans "there's just no better feeling" than entertaining them, he went on to plug his next Mission: Impossible movie, which is due out in the summer.

In Cruise's brief royal message from the same cockpit, he highlighted the fact the King qualified as a pilot, saying: "Pilot to pilot, Your Majesty, you can be my wingman any time."

Cruise then saluted and steered the plane away from the camera at speed in the coronation concert clip.

The actor is an experienced aviator and was referring to the King's own experience in the Royal Navy and RAF, where he learned to fly both planes and helicopters.

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan also highlighted the monarch's "action man" side during the concert.

Speaking in a pre-filmed video, Brosnan said the King had developed a "host of action man skills" over the years, as old footage was played of him skiing, windsurfing and flying.

Adventurer Bear Grylls also reminded viewers the King "even took on the Royal Marines commando training - one of the hardest programmes in the world".

Read more: William speaks of pride in his 'Pa' at coronation concert King and Queen 'deeply touched' by nation's celebration William and Kate to meet volunteers for the Big Help Out initiative

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The monarch served in the forces between 1971 and 1976 and is now the commander-in-chief of the UK military - with personnel giving him a rousing three cheers in the palace gardens on Saturday.

It's not the first time Hollywood star Cruise has turned out for the Royal Family.

Last May he presented a segment at the Queen's platinum jubilee show in Windsor and has met the royals many times during his career.

Sunday's coronation concert in Windsor saw the King and Queen join a crowd of 20,000 to watch stars such as Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Take That .

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