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Tom Cruise advocated for Val Kilmer to be in 'Top Gun: Maverick': 'We have to have Val'
Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer played rivals in Top Gun, but they were a package deal for Top Gun: Maverick.
"[Cruise] said, 'We have to have Val, we have to have him back. We have to have him in the film,'" Jerry Bruckheimer, who served as a producer on both films, told People. "And 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."
"It was a really emotional experience for all of us," Bruckheimer added. "It was a long time getting there, but we did."
Top Gun premiered in 1986 and starred Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, an ambitious pilot attending the United States Navy's top fighter weapons school known as "Top Gun." Maverick butts heads with fellow student Iceman (Kilmer).
Top Gun: Maverick, due Nov. 19, finds Cruise's iconic character's present intersecting with his past, according to the official synopsis:
"After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka 'Goose.' Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it."
The sequel features Kilmer reprising Iceman, which his 26-year-old son, Jack, told People the 61-year-old actor "was so stoked by" because "they honor the legacy of Iceman."
"They were coming up to us and telling us that the first Top Gun inspired them to join the navy and the air force," Jack continued, referencing the "hundreds of extras of real pilots" he and his 29-year-old sister, Mercedes, encountered on the Maverick set. "Then we had these big F-bomb planes flying overhead. It was like one of the proudest moments of being American that you could think of really."
Kilmer has been in the news lately for his moving Amazon Prime Video documentary Val, an intimate portrait of his life and career using his own archived footage. The project also captures Kilmer's battle with throat cancer, which he was first diagnosed with in 2015, that has cost him his natural speaking ability. Jack narrates much of the doc in Val's place.
Top Gun: Maverick was directed by Joseph Kosinski, and the cast additionally boasts Jon Hamm, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, and more.
More must-reads:
- 20 actors who were given chances to be A-list movie stars, but failed
- 25 iconic film deaths that stay with you forever
- 20 films where a supporting actor outshined the star
- 20 A-list actors who passed on iconic roles
- 25 beloved actors who were one-hit wonders
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TODAY'S BEST
Significant concern emerges for Bengals, Joe Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals defense has stepped up its game in training camp this summer, and it's giving the coaching staff some pause about Joe Burrow's protection. The Bengals were tied with the New York Giants giving up the 11th most sacks in the league last year (48). Given Burrow's importance to the team and long injury history dating back to his time at LSU, Cincinnati needs to see improvement from the offensive line. Per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the Bengals' depth on the offensive line is a concern at training camp. During one practice, backups Cody Ford and Devin Cochran were seen getting first-team reps while starting right tackle Amarius Mims was sidelined dealing with a hand injury. But it's not just the backups that are a worry. Cincinnati is expected to give third-round rookie Dylan Fairchild the starting job at left guard. "On top of concern regarding rookie third-round pick Dylan Fairchild, currently the leader in the clubhouse to start at left guard, the cast of question marks lacking experience, floating behind the starting tackles, is startling," Dehner wrote. "If the Bengals had to play Cleveland this Sunday without Mims, they couldn’t tell you who would hold down the starting spot. "Meanwhile, the Bengals’ defensive line consistently produced disruptive reps, and they are a group lacking historically potent pass rushers in their own right...The Bengals just feel notably weak and inexperienced. When the rest of the offense is so stacked with talent, and the history of the performance in front of Burrow being what it is, that’s hard to look past right now." The Bengals decided to spend their money on pass catchers for Burrow. Given the results of the offense last season, it's easy to understand why Cincinnati wants Burrow to deliver the ball to exceptional athletes. The risk is that Burrow won't hold up behind an offensive line that is lacking investment. If injuries pile up during the regular season, it's a concern that will only increase.
Boston Bruins Forward Chooses to Walk Away From the NHL, Signs Multi-Year Deal Overseas
Jakub Lauko has flashed great potential as an NHLer, but now, the former third-round pick and current Boston Bruin is headed home after signing a new deal overseas. Back in 2018, the Boston Bruins used a third round pick on Czech forward Jakub Lauko, and after some promising seasons with the Providence Bruins in the AHL, it appeared as though they had a solid forward of the future on their hands. Since arriving in the NHL however, the 6-foot-1 centre has tallied just 11 goals and 28 points in 139 games played, and after putting up just 5 points in 18 games a season ago, many wondered if he indeed had a future in the National Hockey League. Now, that question has officially been answered, as the 25-year old has signed a deal overseas with HC Dynamite Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga, suggesting that he'll be heading home in 2025/26. While he was never a prolific scorer, Lauko was always seen as a very dynamic bottom-six player at the NHL level, but unfortunately he just hasn't been able to develop and consistently produce at the next level, and it's clear that he has disappointed in the league so far. At 25-years of age, there's plenty of time for Lauko to turn things around and find his way back to the NHL at some stage, but with the opportunity to play on the biggest stage back in his home country in a league that continues to grow in quality and popularity, he may want to spend the rest of his career there, but for now, he's got a great opportunity to do either one.
Surprising Marlins earn MLB first in sweep of Yankees
The Miami Marlins achieved a franchise first on Sunday. In doing so, they carved out an interesting place in MLB history. With a 7-3 victory over the Yankees, the Marlins swept New York for the first time in a series of three or more games. In doing so, the Marlins became the only team to have a winning record, including the postseason, against the Yankees. The Yankees now have a 22-21 record against the Marlins in the regular season. However, the Marlins won the 2003 World Series against the Yankees in six games, giving the Fish a 25-24 record all-time. The Marlins' victory on Sunday meant more than a unique place in baseball history. That victory evened the Marlins' record at 55-55, the first time they have been at .500 or better since April 15 (8-8). The Marlins are 30-14 in their last 44 games, tying the 2003 championship team for the best stretch (last done from June 18-Aug. 9) in franchise history. The Marlins defied expectations at the trade deadline, holding on to pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. Their only trade involved sending outfielder Jesus Sanchez to Houston, acquiring pitcher Ryan Gusto and a pair of prospects. Expectations were that the Marlins were simply waiting for the offseason to trade those pitchers, as there may be a larger market. Instead, the generally inexperienced Marlins roster is growing and improving by the day. They have clawed back from a 24-40 start to the season to pull themselves into the NL wild-card conversation. Although a lot would need to go right for the Marlins to reach the playoffs this season, they could be a dangerous team over the rest of the season and beyond. The Yankees found that out the hard way.
Montreal’s Cap Strategy: Canadiens Face Hutson Contract Dilemma
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