The dashing co-star of Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, Miles Teller had to embark on an especially tedious journey after landing the coveted role. Be it grueling weeks of training, navigating intense flight boot camps, and even braving a daunting “naval torture chamber,” the actor poured his heart and soul just to shine alongside the iconic stunt master Tom Cruise. His dedication not only ensured the movie’s success but also left the internet swooning over his captivating presence on screen.
Miles Teller Had to Survive a “Dunker”
In the midst of filming alongside Tom Cruise, actor Miles Teller had to battle a series of daunting challenges, including an unusual ordeal known as the “dunker.” This peculiar contraption, often referred to as a “naval torture chamber,” involved strapping someone to a chair, blindfolding them, and plunging them into water while spinning them upside down. To escape the clutches of this trap and prevent drowning, participants had to rely on their wits and find their way out.
In addition to that, the flight training hours also drained him. But despite working so hard and training for hours on end, the actor found it very difficult to grasp all the training needed and, in turn, fly the jets with ease. As he stated on the YouTube channel JOE,
“Flying these jets is so hard–I underestimated the amount of training that it was going to be,–I knew that we were going to be in the jets. But I really didn’t understand how intense that was going to be. It pushed me to the limit every time I went up. It’s a really intense experience, and you feel like you’re gonna throw up the whole time.”
In the end, it was all worthwhile, as the movie became a mega hit, and the actor received numerous praises and acclaim for his significant contribution to the film
Tom Cruise Created a Mandatory Flight Training Program for the Rest of the Cast
In a daring move that mirrors Tom Cruise’s inclination to push the boundaries every time in cinema, especially in the action genre, he insisted that the actors in Top Gun: Maverick deliver their lines from the speeding F/A-18 planes. However, facing the threat of g-forces at such an altitude unprepared would be stupidity.
Thus, Cruise took matters into his own hands. He crafted an intensive month-long program, immersing his co-stars in the world of diverse jets and skilled instructors. Through this meticulous training, they not only learned to fly but also gradually braced their bodies for whatever lay ahead in the stunt-heavy sequel. At the Cannes Film Festival Miles Teller said,
“Nothing bonds a cast together more than collective suffering,–I think, when you’re going through something and you know how tough it is yourself, and you look to the left of you and to the right of you and you see that person going through it, it kind of pushes you a little harder and further than you would normally go. It’s so unique for us that we will only be able to talk about this with each other for the rest of our lives.”
The actor then also explained to Men’s Journal, how helpful that training ended up being despite it being drastic. As he said,
“Every single day of the shoot we were really getting after it,”
With Tom Cruise’s extensive expertise in the field, he wanted to ensure that his co-stars seamlessly embodied their roles. Beyond their acting abilities, this film subjected them to a rigorous trial of gravity and bravery, challenging them to their very core.
Top Gun: Maverick is available on Prime Video to stream.
Source: YouTube || JOE
