Tom Cruise might seem all professional with his sharp, confident look, just like a fitness superhero with tons of stunt and fight skills. Surprisingly, Mr. Cruise has a soft side, too.
The Hollywood star made a big comeback in 2022 after 36 years with the super-hit Top Gun: Maverick. This film earned heaps of praise, snagging numerous Oscar nominations.
People and critics pointed to the movie as a shining example of a ‘legacy sequel’ done perfectly. Cruise earned special kudos for his stellar performance as he reprised the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
Another actor, Val Kilmer, also returned, reprising his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, Maverick’s former rival turned close friend. It was the first time Cruise and the Batman actor had worked together again. And their reunion turned out to be quite emotional.
Tom Cruise’s Heartwarming Moment With His Top Gun: Maverick Co-star
Cruise and Kilmer forged a friendship on the Top Gun (1986) set, where Kilmer played Tom Kazansky. Speaking on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, Cruise revealed he “got emotional” when his co-star returned to the set of the sequel again:
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional, I’ve known Val for decades. For him to come back and play that character…he’s such a powerful actor, that he instantly became that character again [and] you’re looking at Iceman… I was crying, I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, and I love his work.”
Even their onscreen reunion was emotional, too, especially considering the fate of Kilmer’s character in the movie. There are more reunions waiting to be in store for the future, as Miles Teller spilled that he pitched an idea to Cruise for Top Gun 3.
Tom Cruise was the One who Insisted on Val Kilmer’s Top Gun Return
Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer told The Gamer what were Tom Cruise’s terms before signing up for the film. The 61-year-old had a crucial condition – the action had to take place up in the air.
The actor insisted on realism, believing that authenticity required everything to be genuine. Another condition Cruise insisted on having Val Kilmer join the film. He said:
“One of the prerequisites for making this movie from Tom was ‘Val [Kilmer, Iceman in 1986’s Top Gun] has to be in it’. We worked out his character along with Tom, how he was going to play this part, what he was going to do. Chris McQuarrie [writer] and Joe Kosinski were very involved with Tom in creating the character in the dialogue. The emotions, it’s a terrific part of the film.”
Watch Top Gun: Maverick on Prime Video.
