tom cruise girlfriend top gun 2

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Star Jennifer Connelly on Love Scenes With Tom Cruise and Learning to Tend Bar

By Matt Donnelly

Matt Donnelly

Senior Film Writer

• CinemaCon Winners and Losers: Wolverine’s F-Bombs Boost Disney, Paramount Soars With Paul Mescal’s New Gladiator and More 11 hours ago
• ‘Alien: Romulus’ Scares CinemaCon with Bloody, Bone-Cracking Footage of Creatures Shredding Human Chests 1 day ago
• ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Rocks CinemaCon With 9-Minute Clip Featuring Hugh Jackman’s Debut and Jokes About Cocaine and Strippers 1 day ago

Despite the optics of shirtless volleyball games and locker room sparring, you can’t make a “Top Gun” movie without a strong and emotionally centered woman. For “ Top Gun: Maverick ,” a sequel 36 years in the making, the successor to the original film’s Kelly McGillis is Jennifer Connelly . She plays Penny Benjamin, a character referenced in the first film, and love interest to Tom Cruise ’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Playing a single mom who owns an Air Force watering hole, Connelly brings new dimensions to an ’80s classic.

It’s hard to believe you haven’t worked with Tom Cruise before.

I had never even met Tom Cruise before. He’s so exceptional. Spending time with him, you understand how someone has been such a movie star for so many years. It was clear to me what the franchise means to him, so I felt beholden to him, [producer] Jerry Bruckheimer and the audiences who love the film so much.

Your character isn’t active military. Does that mean you were spared the grittier action scenes?

Popular on Variety

I have a sailing scene, and it was a very distracting environment. We were on a boat shooting up in San Francisco; it was incredibly windy, with big waves. The boat was at an impossible angle, moving so fast, and we had to play the scene at the same time. I was so paranoid that I was going to forget something with all those distractions. I found myself standing on the coffee table in my living room, practicing with my kids spraying water at me and blowing on me while I ran my lines. I have video of it.

You have a love scene in this, which is not something we see often from Cruise at this stage in his career.

We focused on the intimacy of how they fit into each other’s lives. I think those characters have a really tender relationship, the way she understands him. They share a moment in bed chatting, and it tells as much about their relationship as the scene that is the preamble to that. Clearly, they have some unresolved business between them, and she navigates that with humor and playfulness. I feel like she’s someone who is positive and is moving toward happiness.

Did you go Method for this? Were you on set making drinks?

We had a working beer tap on set, and I spent a lot of time pouring. I practiced a lot because I thought that would be a terrible giveaway if I couldn’t do it properly.

If you had a “Top Gun” pilot nickname, what would it be?

I do have a nickname, but from way back when I was in college. I run, but casually. I thought, “I’d love to be on a team, but I don’t play sports.” I am really stubborn and determined, so I thought maybe I could will myself to run really fast. In retrospect, I was more of a mascot. I never competed, and I was the slowest on the team. My nickname on the roster was Death Grip.

Similar to “Top Gun,” a lot of the work you’ve done has cultural staying power, like “Labyrinth.”

Yes, wow. I was 14 when I made that movie. I attribute that staying power so much to Jim Henson — those exquisite, huge practical sets. It was a wonderland. And, of course, David Bowie. So all of those elements: amazing sets, puppets and Bowie.

Things you didn’t know about Jennifer Connelly

Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Head of class: Attended Yale and Stanford universities, studying English literature and drama, respectively.

Man on the street: The movie most people approach Connelly about is not her David Bowie romp “Labyrinth” or the awards player “Little Children” from Todd Field. “‘Requiem for a Dream’ is a big one,” she says. “That movie had a profound impact on people.”

More From Our Brands

Peso pluma celebrates mexican heritage music on coachella main stage, kanye west is now facing an $18 million loss on his tadao ando-designed malibu house, arizona coyotes are no more, will move to salt lake city, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, fire country poll: would you watch a sheriff fox spinoff, verify it's you, please log in.

Who Is Top Gun: Maverick’s Penny and Is She in the First Film?

Since Kelly McGillis did not return for the Top Gun sequel, producers turned to an "old flame" for Maverick's love interest, Penny Benjamin.

• Kelly McGillis' portrayal of Charlie in the original Top Gun brought a sense of equality to her relationship with Maverick, dictating the terms of their romance.
• In the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, Jennifer Connelly's character Penny Benjamin replaces Charlie as Maverick's love interest, addressing outdated attitudes and reflecting on Maverick's advancing age.
• Penny's inclusion adds dramatic weight to the film, helping Maverick reckon with his choices and make peace with Rooster, while maintaining the essence of Charlie's role in supporting the male protagonist.

Kelly McGillis' Charlie was one of the big reasons the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun worked so well. A smart, capable woman in an era of token girlfriends, the Top Gun actress brought a surprising sense of equality to her relationship with Tom Cruise's Maverick. She dictated the terms of their romance, she was presented as the more emotionally mature of the two, and, at the end of the film, he came to her rather than staying out with the boys and their shirtless volleyball games. Her status as an instructor keeps her in Maverick's orbit without much effort, and she was a shoo-in for Top Gun: Maverick , the 2022 sequel that turned into an even bigger hit than the first film.

Yet McGillis didn't appear as part of the cast of Maverick , citing ageism as the cause. Her absence left Maverick without one of the key ingredients to its predecessor's success. Instead, Jennifer Connelly joined the Top Gun: Maverick cast as the new love interest: Penny Benjamin, who, as it turns out, is really the only other viable option for the part. Penny Benjamin appeared in Maverick's life before the smash-hit sequel that saved theaters and cemented Cruise's status as one of the last bankable movie stars in an era defined by franchises and high-concept films. Her appearance in Maverick plays off of a minor subplot in the first Top Gun, which develops into a solid romantic relationship in the new one. Connelly's casting indicates that the filmmakers needed more than just lip service when it came to replacing a figure as important to the first film as Charlie was.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on April 4, 2024: Top Gun: Maverick was one of the biggest hits of 2022, and it brought the series back in a big way. Alongside familiar faces, it also introduced new characters such as Penny Benjamin. Though only hinted at in the first movie, she has a history with Tom Cruise's Maverick, making the Jennifer Connelly character something of an old flame. She's also a key part of the popular movie's story, and with a sequel on the way, she may likely return.

Who Was Penny In the First Top Gun Movie?

Jon hamm's role in top gun: maverick almost went to major marvel actor.

While Jennifer Connelly wasn't a part of the Top Gun 1986 cast , her character was mentioned in the film. The original Top Gun framed Maverick's bad-boy heroics as something of a backlash against his father's reputation. The elder pilot was killed in Vietnam, and held accountable for a mission failure that wasn't his fault. Maverick, in response, tends to color outside the lines, using his piloting skills to get away with stunts like ignoring orders and buzzing the tower. It impedes his career advancement and ultimately costs him the Top Gun trophy to his best frenemy Iceman, though it's a big part of what makes him such an effective pilot. (That includes his unauthorized test run of the supposedly impossible mission in the new film: breaking the rules and somehow demonstrating his indispensable nature in the bargain.)

His antics involve plenty of ground-based shenanigans, including an infamous incident with a woman (Penny Benjamin) referred to as "the admiral's daughter." It starts when his commanding officer reads a litany of his bad-boy behavior as exposition, including "high-speed passes over five air-control towers and one admiral's daughter." At the accusation, Goose whispers the woman's name: Penny Benjamin. Meg Ryan's Carole Bradshaw also mentions the incident later in the film, teasing Maverick about the time he went "ballistic" with Penny Benjamin, the admiral's daughter. It's presented as part of a pattern of womanizing and one-night stands that Charlie breaks with true love, and quietly contrasts the comparative maturity of their romance with the adolescent flirtations of his past.

Penny Benjamin becomes a ready way to address it without creating a new character out of whole cloth. Like Maverick, she comes from a military family, and presumably grapples with the expectations that come from a "legendary" father. With Charlie gone -- rightly or wrongly -- she's the only other love interest with a presence in the series. Including her provides context that Maverick can build upon, instead of trying to squeeze an entirely new character into a film already packed to the gills with content.

How Penny Replaces Charlie in Top Gun: Maverick

Tom cruise takes a wild ride in mission: impossible 8 set photos.

Maverick suggests Maverick and Penny have maintained an on-again, off-again relationship for many years. That downplays the notion of Maverick as Lothario, and further implies that -- infamous tryst aside -- the two had genuine feelings for each other. It explains their rekindled love interest in the film, with Penny now a bar owner and single mom who reconnects with Maverick as he struggles with the consequences of his choices. Specifically, he blocked Goose's son Rooster from joining the Naval Academy at Carole's behest before she passed away. Penny helps Maverick to reckon with that, which allows him to make peace with Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick 's third act.

In addition, it gives the Top Gun universe a past with a history that audiences can relate to. The sequel portrays Maverick as someone still dedicated to his job. Most of his friends are colleagues in the military, and many of them have died over the years: including Carole and Iceman, whose passing from cancer constitutes the film's most gut-wrenching moment . Penny lets Maverick connect with a romantic interest without having to spend screen time filling out her backstory.

Since the original film declined to elaborate on her personality, Maverick's filmmakers have an essentially blank canvas to work with. Like Maverick, Penny has clearly experienced her ups and downs in life, including a marriage that didn't work out and a son whom she's presumably raised on her own. Her occasional flings with Maverick mean that she knows at least a little of what he's lost over the years, and that the two have been there to support each other in the past. That connection provides both a solid background for the pair and commiserate experiences that allow them to become a couple quickly and organically.

It also gives her some dramatic weight beyond just being a replacement for Charlie, as well as reframing Maverick for an era when "scoring" has a very different connotation. Penny still serves the same purpose she did -- supporting a male protagonist without generating any energy of her own -- but bringing in a previously established figure at least organically addresses the specifics. It's a testament to the care Maverick has put into its story, and it helped keep the Top Gun franchise flying high after 35 years. The film quite likely wouldn't have succeeded quite as well without her.

Jennifer Connelly is an Oscar-Winning Actor with a Long Career

The best aviation movies to watch for masters of the air.

Jennfer Connelly was a Hollywood veteran long before her role as Penny Benjamin, with a career stretching back to Once Upon a Time in America in 1984. She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2001 for the Ron Howard biopic A Beautiful Mind alongside the actor Russell Crowe, and has worked on an impressive array of projects in the four decades since she began. Though she's appeared in her share of big-budget Hollywood projects, she's known for truly daring performances in smaller films, such as Requiem for a Dream by iconic director Darren Aronofsky , in which she played a clothing designer who destroys her life through drug addiction. Comic book fans know her as the original Betty Ross in Ang Lee's 2004 film Hulk .

Though not directly connected to the first Top Gun, Jennifer Connelly does have an oblique off-screen link. The same year it was released, Connelly starred in the Jim Henson fantasy Labyrinth . The film bombed that summer against the original Top Gun and other militaristic films like Aliens , but quickly gained a cult following, and today is considered an indispensable fantasy classic. Her performance in that film -- made at the tender age of 15 and opposite no less a presence than David Bowie -- is as much a signature role for her as Maverick is for Cruise.

Top Gun: Maverick

*Availability in US

Not available

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.

Why The Love Scene In Top Gun: Maverick Is So Important According To Jennifer Connelly

It's been a long time coming to the big screen, but it appears " Top Gun: Maverick " is finally ready to stick the landing. 

After numerous delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-awaited sequel will make its way to theaters on May 27. While there are entirely new cadets this time around, there will also be some familiar faces, particularly when it comes to Tom Cruise's character of Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. He has a new love interest this time around, seeing how Charlotte Blackwood ( Kelly McGillis ) is out of the picture. Instead, he's getting together with Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly), the daughter of a former admiral. 

Connelly may not have appeared in the original film, but she's also an icon of the 1980s, so she should fit right at home next to Cruise. And apparently, the two share a rather steamy scene together that will likely live up to expectations set by the original movie. Connelly spoke about that precise scene to Variety and how important it was in the overall landscape of the plot. 

Jennifer Connelly says her character has a 'tender relationship' with Maverick

Variety brings up how audiences don't see a ton of romantic, sexy scenes with Tom Cruise at this stage in his career. "Top Gun: Maverick" is an exception as he shares a steamy moment with Jennifer Connelly in his latest flick, and she spoke at length about what that scene means in the grander scheme of the film's plot. It serves a purpose, and as the actress goes on to say, "We focused on the intimacy of how they fit into each other's lives. I think those characters have a really tender relationship, the way she understands him."

She then turns her attention to what transpires after the steaminess, namely how the two characters have a moment where they stay in bed talking to one another. "Clearly, they have some unresolved business between them, and she navigates that with humor and playfulness," she explains. "I feel like she's someone who is positive and is moving toward happiness."

"Top Gun: Maverick" signals the first time the two icons have shared the screen together. It was a long time coming, but it sounds as if they instantly had the chemistry to make their connection click. Audiences will be able to see it for themselves when the movie debuts in theaters on May 27.

By clicking Sign In, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Sign In Up with your social account

We won't post to any of your accounts

Your password must include:

• Min 8 characters
• Min 1 lowercase character
• Min 1 uppercase character
• Min 1 number

Everything Kelly McGillis Has Said About ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ Jennifer Connelly as Tom Cruise’s New Love Interest

Alexa, play “Take My Breath Away.” While the nostalgia is overwhelming for Top Gun fans in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick , not everything is the same for the title character 30 years after the original film.

In the second film, Tom Cruise ’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell returns to train younger Top Gun graduates — including his late best friend Goose’s son, Rooster ( Miles Teller ) — for a special mission. Played by Anthony Edwards in 1986, Goose and wife Carole Bradshaw ( Meg Ryan ) appear in flashbacks in the 2022 movie.

Ryan wasn’t the only actor who wasn’t asked back for Top Gun: Maverick, however. Kelly McGillis — Maverick’s love interest, Charlie, in Top Gun — isn’t part of the second movie. Instead, the pilot reconnects with Penny Benjamin ( Jennifer Connelly ), who is referenced — but not seen — as the admiral’s daughter with a past with Maverick in the original film.

“[Goose] told me all about the time you went ballistic with Penny Benjamin,” Carole said to Goose, Maverick and Charlie in the 1986 movie.

While McGillis implied to Entertainment Tonight in 2019 (when production on Top Gun: Maverick was underway) that aging is why she wasn’t asked back, director Joseph Kosinski told Insider that McGillis and Ryan aren’t part of the sequel because of how their characters would impact the new stories.

“Those weren’t stories that we were throwing around. I didn’t want every story line to always be looking backwards. It was important to introduce some new characters,” Kosinski said in May 2022. “Penny Benjamin, a character we have heard mentioned but never seen before, that was an amazing opportunity to bring Jennifer Connelly’s character into this film.”

You have successfully subscribed.

Subscribe to newsletters

By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly

Deal of the Day

Check our latest news in Google News

Check our latest news in Apple News

Connelly, for her part, gushed about the “exceptional” Cruise in an interview with Variety ahead of Top Gun: Maverick’s May 27, 2022 release.

“Spending time with him, you understand how someone has been such a movie star for so many years. It was clear to me what the franchise means to him, so I felt beholden to him, [producer] Jerry Bruckheimer and the audiences who love the film so much,” Connelly said. “We focused on the intimacy of how they fit into each other’s lives. I think those characters have a really tender relationship, the way she understands him. They share a moment in bed chatting, and it tells as much about their relationship as the scene that is the preamble to that. Clearly, they have some unresolved business between them, and she navigates that with humor and playfulness. I feel like she’s someone who is positive and is moving toward happiness.”

Scroll through for more from McGillis on how she feels about being excluded from Top Gun: Maverick:

Credit: Shutterstock (3)

Everything Kelly McGillis Has Said About 'Top Gun: Maverick,' Jennifer Connelly as Tom Cruise's New Love Interest

Alexa, play “Take My Breath Away.” While the nostalgia is overwhelming for Top Gun fans in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick , not everything is the same for the title character 30 years after the original film. In the second film, Tom Cruise ’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell returns to train younger Top Gun graduates — including his late best friend Goose’s son, Rooster ( Miles Teller ) — for a special mission. Played by Anthony Edwards in 1986, Goose and wife Carole Bradshaw ( Meg Ryan ) appear in flashbacks in the 2022 movie. Ryan wasn’t the only actor who wasn’t asked back for Top Gun: Maverick, however. Kelly McGillis — Maverick’s love interest, Charlie, in Top Gun — isn’t part of the second movie. Instead, the pilot reconnects with Penny Benjamin ( Jennifer Connelly ), who is referenced — but not seen — as the admiral's daughter with a past with Maverick in the original film. “[Goose] told me all about the time you went ballistic with Penny Benjamin,” Carole said to Goose, Maverick and Charlie in the 1986 movie. While McGillis implied to Entertainment Tonight in 2019 (when production on Top Gun: Maverick was underway) that aging is why she wasn’t asked back, director Joseph Kosinski told Insider that McGillis and Ryan aren’t part of the sequel because of how their characters would impact the new stories. [sendtonews type="float" key="it7rpNVhFW-3117344-14453"] “Those weren’t stories that we were throwing around. I didn’t want every story line to always be looking backwards. It was important to introduce some new characters,” Kosinski said in May 2022. “Penny Benjamin, a character we have heard mentioned but never seen before, that was an amazing opportunity to bring Jennifer Connelly’s character into this film.” Connelly, for her part, gushed about the “exceptional” Cruise in an interview with Variety ahead of Top Gun: Maverick’s May 27, 2022 release. “Spending time with him, you understand how someone has been such a movie star for so many years. It was clear to me what the franchise means to him, so I felt beholden to him, [producer] Jerry Bruckheimer and the audiences who love the film so much,” Connelly said. “We focused on the intimacy of how they fit into each other’s lives. I think those characters have a really tender relationship, the way she understands him. They share a moment in bed chatting, and it tells as much about their relationship as the scene that is the preamble to that. Clearly, they have some unresolved business between them, and she navigates that with humor and playfulness. I feel like she’s someone who is positive and is moving toward happiness.” Scroll through for more from McGillis on how she feels about being excluded from Top Gun: Maverick:

Credit: Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Why Wasn’t Kelly McGillis Asked to Return for 'Top Gun: Maverick'?

“I’m old, and I’m fat, and I look age-appropriate for what my age is,” McGillis told Entertainment Tonight in 2019. “And that is not what that whole scene is about. To me, I’d much rather feel absolutely in my skin and who I am at my age as opposed to placing a value on all that other stuff.”

Credit: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Does Kelly McGillis in Touch With the ‘Top Gun’ Cast?

"Movies are odd things. I don't really keep in touch with anybody," the actress told ET in 2019, noting she hadn’t watched the trailer at that point. "I think I've spoken to a couple of people occasionally, but the truth is, movies are very odd work situations because you have a lot of people who come together from all different parts of the world."

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

How Does Kelly McGillis Feel About Jennifer Connelly Taking Over?

"I'm glad for her," McGillis said of Connelly.

Credit: Stephen Vaughan/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Where Is Kelly McGillis Now?

The actress most recently appeared on screen in the 2018 TV movie Maternal Secrets , telling ET that she made the choice to step back from Hollywood.

"I think just my priorities in life changed," she said. "It wasn't like a major decision that I made to leave, it was just that other things became more important. I love acting, I love what I do, I love doing theater, but I don't know. To me, my relationships to other people became far more important than my relationship to fame."

In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies

For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!

In this article

Jennifer Connelly

Kelly mcgillis.

More Stories

‘Top Gun: Maverick’: Details Behind Tom Cruise’s New Onscreen Romance With Jennifer Connelly

Up next travis kelce jokingly says he 'doesn't know' how taylor swift romance started.

• APR 10,2024

Travis Kelce Jokingly Says He 'Doesn't Know' How Taylor Swift Romance Started

Why Sandra Oh Won’t Reprise ‘Grey’s Anatomy’s Cristina Yang ‘Anytime Soon’ (Exclusive)

'Married at First Sight': Kevin Frazier Calls Out Contestants Trying to 'Outsmart' Show (Exclusive)

Anya Taylor-Joy on Connecting With Charlize Theron About 'Furiosa' & Keeping Her Wedding a Secret

'Yellowstone': Kevin Costner Would Love to Return for Season 5 Part 2 (Exclusive)

How Robert Downey Jr. Feels Since Nabbing First Oscar Win (Exclusive)

'Joker: Folie à Deux' Trailer No. 1

Patrick Swayze's Widow Lisa Niemi Says He Visited Her in a Dream to Bless Her Second Marriage

Louis Tomlinson Explains Why Harry Styles Romance Rumors 'Irritate' Him

Zendaya Defends Wearing 'Controversial' Giant Hat on 2014 Red Carpet

Gwen Stefani Shuts Down Blake Shelton Divorce Rumors

'90 Day Fiancé': Natalie Says She's the Problem in Her Relationships and Mike Reveals He's Moved On

JoJo Siwa Dropped $50K on New Teeth

'Y&R's Eric Braeden Gives Health Update After Cancer Treatment (Exclusive)

Tom Cruise Still Gifts Kirsten Dunst Famous Cake, 30 Years After ‘Interview With the Vampire’

Missy Elliott and Ciara React to ‘1, 2 Step’ Turning 20 Ahead of New Tour! (Exclusive)

Carnie Wilson Opens Up About Weight-Loss Journey and New Cooking Show (Exclusive)

Morgan Wallen Appears Calm While Handcuffed for Rooftop Incident

Alec Baldwin Accused of Being ‘Inattentive’ During Firearms Training Prior to ‘Rust’ Set Shooting

Sylvester Stallone Accused of Verbal Harassment on ‘Tulsa King’ Set

‘90 Day Fiancé’: Jamal and Luisa Reveal They Hooked Up a ‘Couple Times’

• APR 8, 2024

Jelly Roll Reacts to Sweeping CMT Music Awards for Second Year in a Row (Exclusive)

Kirsten Dunst Reacts to 'Civil War' Co-Star Cailee Spaeny Making a Heartwarming Reveal (Exclusive)

• APR 7, 2024

Kelsea Ballerini Talks Potential Chase Stokes Music Collab and CMT Awards Performance (Exclusive)

‘Yellowstone’: Lainey Wilson Would be 'Shocked' if She Didn’t Return for Season 5 (Exclusive)

Mark Estes Reacts to Potentially Having Kids With Kristin Cavallari (Exclusive)

• APR 4, 2024

Jojo Siwa's 'Karma': Behind the Scenes of New Music Video (Exclusive)

Keith Urban on Becoming 'The Voice's Mega Mentor and Guitar Teacher to Nicole Kidman (Exclusive)

‘John Tucker Must Die’ Star Jesse Metcalfe Gives Sequel Update (Exclusive)

Sara Evans on Reconciling After Divorce, New Music Challenges and Launching a Podcast (Exclusive)

• MAR 28, 2024

ET Vault Unlocked: Kevin Costner | Behind-the-Scenes Secrets From His Award-Winning Films

‘The Bachelorette’s Jenn Tran Shares Partner Must-Haves and Deal Breakers as She Kicks Off Filming

How Lisa Vanderpump Handpicked 'Vanderpump Villa' Staff and How the Drama Compares to 'VPR'

• MAR 25, 2024

‘90 Day Fiancé’: Emily Reacts to Being in Cameroon for the First Time

• MAR 22, 2024

Kate Middleton Cancer Diagnosis: Doctor Breaks Down Treatment

'Mary & George': Nicholas Galitzine Reacts to Being Cast in 'Hot Royal' Roles (Exclusive)

• MAR 20, 2024

'Road House's Lukas Gage Reflects on ‘Intense’ Year (Exclusive)

Arturo Castro Shares ‘Tron: Ares’ Update (Exclusive)

How Laura Dern Convinced Carol Burnett to Join ‘Palm Royale’ (Exclusive)

• MAR 18, 2024

'90 Day Fiancé': Sophie Opens Up About Not Living With Rob and Exploring Her Bisexuality (Exclusive)

Kelly McGillis Says She's 'Old,' 'Fat' And OK Being Left Out Of 'Top Gun' Sequel

General Assignment Reporter, HuffPost

Kelly McGillis , who played Tom Cruise’s love interest in the original “Top Gun” movie, said she was not asked to return for the upcoming “Top Gun: Maverick” sequel.

And she didn’t mince words explaining why she thinks that is.

Asked by “Entertainment Tonight” recently if the makers of the “Top Gun” sequel offered her a part, McGillis, 62, replied, “Oh my god no. They did not, nor do I think they would ever. 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.”

McGillis played Tom Cruise’s love interest, astrophysicist and training school instructor Charlie Blackwood in the 1986 original about cocky Navy fighter pilots. Jennifer Connelly has been cast as the new movie’s love interest of Maverick, played by Cruise, 57. “Top Gun: Maverick” also brings back Val Kilmer, 59, as Maverick’s rival Iceman.

McGillis didn’t appear to feel slighted by the snub.

“I’d much rather feel absolutely secure in my skin and who and what I am at my age, as opposed to placing a value on all that other stuff,” McGillis told “ET.”

McGillis said she’s not feeling the need for speed to go watch “Top Gun: Maverick,” scheduled to open in 2020.

“I’m not racing to the theater, and I’m not racing away from the theater to see it,” she said.

HuffPost has reached out to a Paramount rep for comment.

Support HuffPost

Our 2024 coverage needs you, your loyalty means the world to us.

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.

Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Dear HuffPost Reader

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

Popular in the Community

From our partner, more in entertainment.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Monica Barbaro Survived Top Gun: Maverick Thanks to Ballet and a ‘High Pain Tolerance’ 

By Emily Tannenbaum

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

When Monica Barbaro first learned she’d booked a role in Top Gun: Maverick , a pipe burst in her family home. “All hell was breaking loose,” Barbaro tells me over Zoom from Toronto, where she’s filming an upcoming Netflix spy series. “I was like, ‘Mom, I got the part and she’s not a love interest, she’s a pilot!’ We were both tearing up and she’s like, ‘I need to call the plumber.’”

Four years after receiving that call and almost three since filming wrapped in June 2019, the highly anticipated sequel to Tom Cruise ’s 1986 classic is finally here, introducing a new group of elite naval aviators. Among the adrenaline junkies vying for a spot on a dangerous mission led by Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) is the franchise’s first female fighter pilot, Lieutenant Natasha “Phoenix” Trace.

While Barbaro’s costars include major Hollywood players like Glen Powell , Miles Teller , and Jay Ellis , the lesser-known actor had a secret advantage going into hours of grueling flight and water survival training . Now 31 years old, the San Francisco native graduated from NYU’s BFA dance program in 2010 before moving back to California to pursue a career in acting. Little did she know, years of ballet would provide the tools and “high pain tolerance” needed to remain conscious while performing aerial maneuvers in actual F-18 fighter jets.

“There was a funny moment where a couple of the guys were saying they hated going upside down, and I was like, ‘I’ve been going upside down forever,’” Barbaro says with a laugh. “I would do handstands before flights…. It helped me control some of the weird feelings of blood rushing to spaces you don’t usually want it to.” For this reason, Barbaro is one of the few actors on set who did not throw up while filming her intense flight sequences.

She may not have arrived on the set of Top Gun with a stacked IMDB profile, but that’s about to change. Aside from starring alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the aforementioned spy thriller, Barbaro is signed on for another TV series and two more films in various stages of filming and post-production. In Glamour’s latest installment of New Here , Monica Barbaro opens up about the inspiration behind her Top Gun character, breaking the rules on set, and what it’s like having a Barbie designed in your image.

Glamour : How did this role come about for you?

An email came in with a project called Island Plaza, and my reps were immediately like, “This is the Top Gun sequel.” I had to do a self-tape first because I was not a heavy hitter. They were like, ‘I guess she can self-tape.’ [ Laughs. ] I gave it everything. Then I got called back and got to meet director Joe Kosinski. He wanted to double-check that I wasn’t afraid of flying because we would be flying jets in this movie. And then he’s like, “Can you swim?” I was like, “Yeah.” He was like, “You’re a comfortable swimmer?” I was like, “Yeah.” You know, lying.

I had to put a flight suit on for a camera test, and that was pretty funny. I recently heard that Robert Pattinson took a selfie in the Batman suit, just in case he didn’t get it. I fully did that too. Then I auditioned again and got it.

One of the most refreshing things about Phoenix is that despite being the only woman in the group of fighter pilots, she didn’t get placed into a love interest role and was never forced to go out of her way to prove herself to her teammates or fight for respect. How did that compare to your own experience on set with such a male-dominated cast?

Phoenix was modeled after a lot of amazing women that I got to meet and that I got to fly with in this movie. They are awesome, and when they were speaking, people would listen. I know, it’s not always been like that for women in aviation. I’m sure there’ve been times when they were disrespected, which was represented somewhat by Hangman’s (Powell’s) personality. But they’re badass fighter pilots and they held their own.

By Stephanie McNeal

By Danielle Sinay

By Abby Gardner

As for filming, there was a lot of art imitating life. Tom Cruise developed this intense training program, and we all became really bonded because we realized that nobody really understood what we were going through. It wasn’t like anything any other actor had ever experienced.

How many hours of training did you go through?

Well, we did somewhere around 40 hours of flight training and a fair amount of ground school for flying. Everyone did a ton of swim training in case you have to eject over water. It’s not just swimming; you get pushed off this high-rise and have to fall in the pool and unstrap your parachute. There’s one drill where the wind is pulling the parachute and pulling you across the water. I did extra swimming because I was really nervous about that.

Is that fun or terrifying?

A little bit of both. I’ve come to realize I’m not an adrenaline junkie, but it was really fun. You just feel so purposeful training for those things and doing those things. I think we all had to overcome some big fears at different times.

If you had an on-set superlative, what would it be?

Everyone loves to talk about the fact that I didn’t throw up. So, least likely to throw up would be cool.

Who threw up?

A lot of people. Honestly, my hat goes off to them because the idea of throwing up regularly and then continuing this job is just insane to me. I mean, this movie was intense on the ground , let alone in the air. On top of that, they had to throw up and recover and keep filming. Jay Ellis and I were basically the ones who didn’t.

How does it feel to have your own official Barbie doll ?

It’s the only thing I refuse to be humble about. It’s insane. It allows me a little bit of separation in that it’s Phoenix. My name is nowhere on that box, so it’s about the cool character that I got to play and I can be unabashedly proud of it. If there were a Monica Barbaro Barbie, I think I would just panic. My friends did a whole photo shoot in Central Park with me. I haven’t posted any of the pictures yet.

The great thing about the whole situation is that Paramount and Mattel really included me in the conversation. I did get to say, “Let’s do a little less makeup.” She started out with a totally different skin tone than me—she was a lot lighter than me—and had a different figure. They very quickly molded her to more of the way I look. Which I thought was really cool. She’s sitting on my shelf at home.

Instagram content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Speaking of Barbies and makeup, are there any products you discovered on set that you can’t live without?

My makeup artist on Top Gun used the Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua foundation. It’s this incredible foundation that just evens out your skin tone without completely covering all your freckles and things. She used it on the guys in this movie too.

What did you buy with your first big acting check?

I am trying to locate it right now, which is freaking me out. I really wanted this Elsa Peretti Tiffany necklace, which is on a very, very thin gold chain with just a little diamond. My grandma used to have jewelry that my grandpa would buy her at different times, and she would remember exactly where they were or why he bought it, and I thought, “I’m gonna buy myself jewelry when I book work.” That was the first thing when I booked UnReal years ago and then I immediately panicked that I spent way too much money on this thing. I love it and I usually wear it all the time. I took it off, it got tangled, and now I have to find it but I’m not even at home so I can’t go looking for it right now.

What’s the greatest lesson you learned on the set of Top Gun ?

I think one of the greatest lessons I learned was I really am capable of so much more than I ever thought I was. The fun lesson I learned from the cast is to be more of an ask-for-forgiveness person, instead of being an ask-for-permission person. In this industry, there’s a lot of fun to be had. I think I was toeing the line and protecting the rules in a way that I don’t really need to.

What’s a rule the cast decided to break?

Taking a lot of behind-the-scenes photos. We were definitely told not to a thousand times, and then we were told to delete them because we weren’t supposed to have them. And I was like, I’m not going to delete them. Now we’re all just waiting for when can we post our behind-the-scenes stuff and not have to ask.

You can see Top Gun: Maverick in theaters now. Emily Tannenbaum is an entertainment editor, critic, and screenwriter living in Los Angeles . 

By Caitlin Brody

By Jenny Singer

By Jessica Radloff

By Ana Escalante

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Full cast & crew.

Directed by 

Writing credits  , cast (in credits order) verified as complete  , produced by , music by , cinematography by , editing by , casting by , production design by , art direction by , set decoration by , costume design by , makeup department , production management , second unit director or assistant director , art department , sound department , special effects by , visual effects by , stunts , camera and electrical department , animation department , casting department , costume and wardrobe department , editorial department , location management , music department , script and continuity department , transportation department , additional crew , thanks .

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

Contribute to This Page

• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos
• User Reviews
• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Credit card rates
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Business credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Checking accounts
• Online checking accounts
• High-yield savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car insurance
• Home buying
• Options pit
• Investment ideas
• Research reports
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Is Tom Cruise ‘Undatable’? His ‘List of Conditions’ for a Girlfriend Revealed!

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Tom Cruise has lost that lovin’ feeling. In late February, news broke that the Top Gun: Maverick star, 61, had called it quits with Russian socialite girlfriend Elsina Khayrova — and an insider exclusively tells In Touch that the 36-year-old’s ex-husband, Dmitry Tsvetkov, may be to blame. The talkative diamond trader gave an interview detailing how he spent over $14 million on clothes and handbags for Elsina during their 11-year marriage, warning Tom to “keep his eyes and wallet wide open.”

That may have been enough for the action star to hit the eject button, says the insider. “ Tom has a list of conditions for his romantic partners . One of them is they can’t have chatty friends or relatives who might go to the media.” As for the other requirements: “They have to be open to joining his faith, marriage is a must, and, apparently, there’s a height issue, so his partner’s heels can’t be too high !” Tom’s terms may be the reason he’s got so many failed romances under his belt. “At this point, he could be undatable.”

Recommended Stories

Microsoft's windows 11 beta testers may start seeing ads in the start menu.

Microsoft is exploring the idea of putting ads in your Windows 11 Start menu.

NBA playoff picture: Nuggets' stunning loss to Spurs opens up No. 1 seed to Timberwolves, Thunder

The Nuggets suddenly need some help if they want the No. 1 seed.

Coyotes players reportedly told team is moving from Arizona to Utah

The Coyotes have been struggling for years to find a new arena.

Shohei Ohtani keeps on playing baseball, homers in first AB after Ippei Mizuhara arrest

Ohtani tied Hideki Matsui for the most MLB homers ever hit by a Japanese player.

'Damsel' is slashing its way into Netflix's most-watched films ever list. Fans love it, but will there be a sequel?

Netflix film "Damsel" starring Millie Bobby Brown has held the streamer's top spot for multiple weeks.

Meta is stuffing its AI chatbot into your Instagram DMs

Meta's chatbot in Instagram isn't doing anything Instagram-specific, however. It's the same bot available in all other Meta apps.

Bryson DeChambeau and his 3D-printed irons are topping the Masters leaderboard

Once again, Bryson DeChambeau is taking an unconventional route to the top of a leaderboard.

UFC 300: Why every fight matters, from Alex Pereira-Jamahal Hill main event to the card's incredible opener

Here's your quick primer for one of the best top-to-bottom cards in UFC history.

The 27 best Walmart deals to shop this week — save up to 80% on gardening essentials, beauty faves, tech and more

Some major deals on board: a three-piece patio set for just $160, a bestselling upright vacuum for $100 off and an entire eight-piece pots-and-pans set for a whopping $160 off.

Nike's new Team USA Olympic track uniform for women slammed as sexist by athletes: 'A costume born of patriarchal forces'

Nike shared a sneak peek of its track and field uniforms for the 2024 Paris Olympics and women athletes were less than impressed by one of the designs.

'It broke my heart': Lewis Hamilton reveals regret at turning down Top Gun sequel role

F ormula One superstar Lewis Hamilton has revealed he turned down the chance to star in Top Gun : Maverick and is still kicking himself for it.

The British driver, 39, and Top Gun star Tom Cruise , 61, became friends after the actor invited him to visit the set of his 2014 film Edge of Tomorrow.

They remained in contact after that, with the Hollywood A-Lister sending Hamilton encouraging messages during races.

Hamilton eventually asked Cruise to cast him in a hypothetical sequel to 1986’s Top Gun, years before it was finally greenlit.

Recalling the tale to GQ magazine , he said: “Firstly, I hadn’t even had, like, an acting lesson,” he told the magazine. “And I don’t want to be the one that lets this movie down. And then secondly, I just really didn’t have the time to dedicate to it. I remember having to tell Joe and Tom — and it broke my heart. And then I regretted it, naturally, when they show me the movie and it’s: It could’ve been me! Oh, God, I’m still….’

“I said, ‘Dude, if you ever do Top Gun 2, I will even be a janitor,’” Hamilton recalled telling Cruise at the time. “’Just let me be in it.'”

Once the sequel started pre-production, the F1 favourite said the Mission: Impossible star remembered his request and put Hamilton in contact with director Joseph Kosinski, who ended up offering him a role as one of the film’s pilots.

However, due to his busy schedule, including the 2018 title race, as well as his lack of acting experience, Hamilton said he ultimately passed on the opportunity.

He immediately regretted the decision once he saw the 2022 action film starring Cruise, Miles Teller and Glen Powell.

Considering Top Gun 3 is now said to be in the works, perhaps Hamilton will have a chance to rectify his error.

Register now for one of the Evening Standard’s newsletters. From a daily news briefing to Homes & Property insights, plus lifestyle, going out, offers and more. For the best stories in your inbox, click here .

Screen Rant

Top gun 2 actress explains why she left tom cruise movie.

Thomasin McKenzie, who was originally cast in Top Gun 2, said she dropped out of the Tom Cruise-led film to act in the serial killer drama Lost Girls.

Thomasin McKenzie, who was originally cast in  Top Gun: Maverick , explains why she left the highly anticipated Tom Cruise project. The highest-grossing film of 1986 and a cultural touchstone, Top Gun  stars Tom Cruise as Maverick, a reckless but charming U.S. Navy pilot who attends the highly competitive TOPGUN flight program.  Despite  Top Gun earning mixed reviews upon release , Cruise's performance and director Tony Scott's mounting of the aerial stunts were responsible for turning the film into a global phenomenon, even boosting real-life interest in naval recruitment in the process.

Talks of a sequel had been swirling since at least 2010, and after nearly a decade of development, cameras finally started rolling on Top Gun: Maverick in May 2018 with Cruise returning in the title role. The sequel appears to be following the first film's strategy of casting the biggest stars of the time, with Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, and Jennifer Connelly all rounding out the Top Gun: Maverick  cast . McKenzie, who at the time was known largely for her critically acclaimed breakout performance in  Leave No Trace , was cast as the daughter of Connelly's character, but was unfortunately forced to exit the film.

Related:  How The Vietnam War Led To Top Gun

McKenzie opened up to Collider  about the difficult decision to drop out of what is sure to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2022. She explained that she had the choice between Top Gun: Maverick  and the Netflix drama  Lost Girls , about the real-life Long Island serial killer who targeted young female sex workers. Her instincts led her to choose Lost Girls  due to the story it was telling and how it was a female-led production. Read McKenzie's quotes on departing  Top Gun 2  below:

I think I really listen to my team because they’ve been in the industry for a lot longer than I have and so they have a lot more experience than I do. Also it just comes down to instincts. I was very lucky to have the option to do something else. I did Lost Girls instead. I was so honored to have been considered to be a part of Top Gun. That’s bloody amazing! It’s really, really cool. But I think Lost Girls was a story that I was really interested in telling that was a female director, basically the entire cast was female so I really wanted to be a part of that.

Since that decision over three years ago, McKenzie has become one of the most promising young actresses of her generation, racking up praise and working with one high-profile auteur after the other. She starred in Taika Waititi's World War II comedy-drama  Jojo Rabbit , which itself garnered six Oscar nominations and landed her nominations among several critics associations. Her 2021 release calendar has been her busiest yet, with lead roles in the year's two biggest horror films, M. Night Shyamalan's  Old  and Edgar Wright's  Last Night in Soho .

Whether or not Top Gun: Maverick  would've earned McKenzie the same kind of praise is a question that can never be answered, but there's no doubt it would've launched her to even greater stardom. Paramount remains extra careful in its attempt to recreate the original film's global financial success, having delayed  Top Gun 2 a whopping five times from its original July 2019 release. McKenzie's interests clearly align more with sophisticated storytelling than blockbuster potential, though audiences will just have to wait and see if those two qualities intersect in  Top Gun: Maverick   when it finally hopefully releases on May 27, 2022.

Next:  Hot Shots: Why Top Gun’s Best Parody Was So Successful

Source: Collider

Key Release Dates

Top gun: maverick.

Coachella 2024 Livestream Link - Watch All of Weekend One's Friday Acts Here!

Jenna Dewan & Channing Tatum Battle Over 'Magic Mike' Earnings Amid Divorce Proceedings

Emma Stone & Husband Dave McCary In Talks for New Movie, She'll Star & He'll Direct

'Below Deck Down Under' Season 3 Cast Revealed - 3 Stars Exit, 1 Star Confirmed to Return & 3 Stars Could Potentially Return

Kirsten Dunst Still Gets Tom Cruise's Famous Christmas Cake 30 Years After 'Interview with the Vampire'

Kirsten Dunst is one of the lucky celebs to get Tom Cruie ‘s famous Christmas cake!

If you didn’t know, the 61-year-old Top Gun actor sends his famous friends a white chocolate coconut bundt cake made by Doan’s Bakery every Christmas season.

In a new interview, Kirsten , 41, reveled that she still gets the “Tom Cruise cake” 30 years after they shared the screen in 1994′s Interview with the Vampire .

Keep reading to find out more… “Still getting that cake,” Kirsten shared with Entertainment Tonight .

Kirsten also revealed that her house gets two cakes from Tom every year because he also send a cake to her husband Jesse Plemons , who co-starred with Tom in 2017′s American Made .

“Jesse gets the cakes so we double up on our cakes,” Kirsten added.

While Tom sends his famous friends the cake every year, we learned that one celeb has been removed from the list and no longer gets the cake .

JJ: Latest Posts

• Glen Powell to Headline Edgar Wright's...
• Usher Reveals That His First Celebrity...
• Shakira Announces Upcoming Tour During...
• Barry Keoghan Supports Girlfriend...
• The Richest 'Mike & Molly' Stars,...
• JoJo Siwa Responds to Claims Her New...
• The Richest 'Community' Cast Member...
• Muna's Naomi McPherson Set to Make...
• Pete Davidson Dating History - Full...
• Emma Roberts, Alessandra Ambrosio,...
• Dianna Agron Holds Hands With...
• 'Shark Tank' Stars' Net Worth...
• Glen Powell & Adria Arjona Attend...
• Ryan Gosling Reveals Why He Initially...

Just Jared Jr.

• Meg Donnelly Talks 'Zombies' Future,...
• Sabrina Carpenter Reveals Why...
• Ariana Greenblatt Honored With Rising...
• 'Zombies 4' Star Freya Skye Debuts...
• Tanner Buchanan Teases Final Season of...
• Bradley Riches Gets Engaged,...
• 'HSMTMTS' Stars Support Olivia Rodrigo...
• © 2005-2024 Just Jared, Inc. ||
• Accessibility
• Privacy Policy
• Manage Cookies
• Return to Mobile

Tom Cruise Had A 4-Word Response When He Saw The Story For Top Gun 3. So, What's Next?

Short but effective!

Top Gun : Maverick was a monster success in 2022. The Tom Cruise-led blockbuster did record breaking numbers at the box office, and the action film even landed a Best Picture nomination that year. It was a hit with audiences as well, and everyone seemed to love the sequel to the 1986 Tony Scott film. Plans for a Top Gun 3 seemed inevitable, and recent reports suggest that Paramount is moving forward officially with a Top Gun threequel . Producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently opened up about the film, revealing Cruise’s reaction to hearing the story idea for the film. 

The legendary film producer recently spoke to ScreenRant about the studio’s plans for Top Gun 3 , and how development on the film is progressing. The good news is that plans seem to be actively in motion, with Maverick director Joe Kosinski attached to direct again. As for Cruise’s response to hearing about the story plans for Top Gun 3 , according to Bruckheimer, he said:

I really like that.

This is admittedly a very short response, and not much to go off of. But when it comes to making a Top Gun film, Cruise’s approval is everything. It took over 30 years to get Top Gun: Maverick off the ground because the Jerry Maguire star didn’t want to proceed until the script was just right. Cruise is also a major producer on the Top Gun films, so his opinion is incredibly important for the future of the franchise. Getting him to sign off on at least the story pitch is a really great sign for a script to finally be put together. Even with this good news, it still may be a while before we see Top Gun 3 on the big screen. Bruckheimer said of the film: 

It will be Tom Cruise [leading the cast]. Tom is amazing. We spent time with him. We have a story. Joe Kosinski had a wonderful story idea for it, and [Tom] said, ‘I really like that,’ so we’re developing it. But you never know when it’s going to get made because Tom is so busy. He’s doing ‘Mission: Impossible’ right now, he’s got a picture after it. Hopefully, we’ll get a screenplay that he loves, and we’ll be back in the air again.

Bruckheimer is right to say that Mission: Impossible is a massive commitment for Cruise, especially in the most recent years. Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part 1 faced a number of delays due to a complex COVID production. Additionally, Mission: Impossible 8 had to stop filming due to the 2023 Actors and Writers strikes. As a result M:I 8 has also been delayed to 2025 . In general, the Mission films are complicated productions with their complex action sequences, and logistics involved. With such an undertaking, Cruise pursuing a Top Gun 3 in tandem with M:I responsibilities feels almost, well, mission impossible .

However, this is great news regardless. With the main team behind Maverick back to work on Top Gun 3 , and a strong Cruise-approved story in the works, Paramount seems to have all the tools for another hit on their hands. Glen Powell has expressed interest in returning to Top Gun when duty calls, and it seems like the other cast members are down for another high-flying adventure . Even if fans do have to wait for Cruise’s schedule to clear up, if Top Gun: Maverick was any indication, Top Gun 3 will be well worth the wait. 

While fans wait for Top Gun 3 to eventually hit the big screen, they can revisit Tom Cruise ’s adrenaline pumping performances in 1986’s Top Gun and 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick , which are both now streaming for Paramount+ subscribers . For more information on other films heading to streaming and cinemas in the future, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule . 

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Writer, podcaster, CinemaBlend contributor, film and television nerd, enthusiastic person. Hoping to bring undying passion for storytelling to CinemaBlend.

Even Before The Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 News, Blumhouse Started Teasing Another Beloved Character From The Games

Paramount 2024 CinemaCon Panel Live Blog

Travis Kelce's Viral Siblings Day TikTok For Jason Kelce Had Fans Calling Them 'The World's Favorite Brothers,' And I Couldn't Agree More

Most Popular

By Mike Reyes April 11, 2024

By Dirk Libbey April 11, 2024

By Heidi Venable April 11, 2024

By Adam Holmes April 11, 2024

By Mack Rawden April 11, 2024

By Corey Chichizola April 11, 2024

By Erik Swann April 11, 2024

By Sarah El-Mahmoud April 11, 2024

By Jessica Rawden April 11, 2024

By Eric Eisenberg April 11, 2024

By Laura Hurley April 11, 2024

• 2 Even Before The Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 News, Blumhouse Started Teasing Another Beloved Character From The Games
• 3 Fans Are Talking About Bridgerton's Season 3 Trailer, But No One Is As Thrilled For One Colin And Penelope Change As I Am
• 4 Paramount 2024 CinemaCon Panel Live Blog
• 5 Blake Lively Calls Ryan Reynolds ‘Dreamy’ While Hyping Up His New Movie

MORE SECTIONS

• Dear Deidre
• Visual Stories

MORE FROM THE SUN

• Newsletters
• Deliver my newspaper
• Sun Vouchers
• The Sun Digital Newspaper

Lewis Hamilton reveals why he turned down Top Gun 2 role – despite BEGGING Tom Cruise for a part in movie

• Beth Allcock , Freelance Showbiz Reporter
• Published : 15:48, 9 Apr 2024
• Updated : 15:48, 9 Apr 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

LEWIS Hamilton has revealed the real reason he snubbed a role in top Gun 2 - despite initially begging Tom Cruise for a movie cameo.

The Formula One ace - who will switch to Ferrari for the 2025/2026 season - admitted missing out on Top Gun: Maverick "broke my heart."

The Brit racing sensation, 39, confessed how conflicting schedules on and off-track proved an insurmountable issue.

Lewis told GQ Magazine how he approached Tom Cruise for a role in the sequel and explained: "'I said, “Dude, if you ever do Top Gun 2, I will even be a janitor. Just let me be in it."

Yet doubts - and his race day commitments - crept in and he added: "Firstly, I hadn’t even had, like, an acting lesson.

If you ever do Top Gun 2, I will even be a janitor. Just let me be in it Lewis Hamilton F1 ace

"And I don’t want to be the one that lets this movie down.

read more tom cruise

Tom Cruise runs through London covered in blood as MI8 filming shuts down city

Cruise uses helicopters to fly cast & crew over closed motorway for MI:8

"And then secondly, I just really didn’t have the time to dedicate to it. I remember having to tell Joe [director Joseph Kosinski] and Tom — and it broke my heart.

WHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES?

Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.

Here, SunSport's F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell in the Silver Arrows.

Oscar Piastri - McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes' reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.

Daniel Ricciardo - The experienced driver's future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull's B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.

Kimi Antonelli - You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Mick Schumacher - Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you'd at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he'd still be driving in F1.

Alex Albon - A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton.

"Then I regretted it, naturally, when they show me the movie and it’s: 'It could’ve been me!'"

The movie follow-up came 36 years after Tom first donned his aviators as test pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the original.

The second flick was released on May 25, 2022, after being heavily delayed due to the Covid  pandemic.

Most read in Celebrity

Ramsay's £13m pub taken over by squatters with gang threatening legal action

Inside Victoria Beckham's posh 50th birthday bash with surprisingly 'casual' theme

Lucy Beaumont felt like a ‘jealous wife’ before split with Jon Richardson

Moment Lucy Beaumont joked about divorce from Jon Richardson 1yr before split

The movie is set in the modern day as the pilots contend with drone warfare and fighter jets.

Tom's Maverick returned as an instructor who had to contend with a cocky female pilot called Penny Benjamin.

It also featured the grown up son of Goose (Riot FKA Wrigley) who clashed with Maverick.

Speaking to Access Hollywood  prior to the release, Tom said: “Aviators are back, the need for speed. We’re going to have big, fast machines."

He added: “It’s going to be a competition film, like the first one…but a progression for Maverick."

• Lewis Hamilton