Tom Cruise is back to headline Tron: Legacy), Top Gun: Maverick is set 34 years after the 1986 fighter pilot action flick. The original Top Gun, which was directed by the late Tony Scott, is considered the quintessential Tom Cruise film of the 1980s and it defined his on-screen persona as a brash risk-taker who harbors deep-seated daddy issues. Top Gun's blockbuster success launched Cruise on his trajectory to become one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars, but the action film also featured a memorable ing cast.
Set at Top Gun, the Naval Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Miramar, the original film centered on Cruise's hero, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, and his best friend/Radar Intercept Officer, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, and fans will never forget Maverick's romance with his flight instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis), which was set to Berlin's chart-topping pop song "Take My Breath Away". Top Gun's calling card was its buff, young fighter pilots, but the film was also stocked with some of the finest character actors of the era, including Tom Skerritt as Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf, Michael Ironside as Lt. Commander Rick "Jester" Heatherly, and James Tolkan as Commander Tom "Stinger" Jardian. In addition, Meg Ryan charmed in her role as Goose's wife, Carole, a few years before her own movie career took off after starring in When Harry Met Sally.
However, very few of the original cast will be ing Tom Cruise for Top Gun: Maverick. Thus far, only Val Kilmer is confirmed to reprise his role as Iceman, who has risen up the ranks to Vice iral. Otherwise, Top Gun: Maverick introduces a new generation of fighter jocks (with unique The Good Place as Fritz, Danny Ramirez as Fanboy, and Jay Ellis as Payback. In addition, Ed Harris and Jon Hamm will appear as irals and Jennifer Connelly plays Maverick's new love interest. But as for why the majority of the original cast has been grounded, basically, there are two answers: they're mostly too old and they weren't asked to come back.
son Rooster. However, Rooster's mother Carole is slated to appear in Top Gun: Maverick but she'll be played by Jean Louisa Kelly, which means, like McGillis, Meg Ryan also may not have been asked back. As for Michael Ironside and James Tolkan, they've been replaced as irals and mentor figures in Top Gun: Maverick by Jon Hamm and Ed Harris, who are more bankable names to modern audiences.
Since 34 years have ed, it makes sense that most of Top Gun's original characters have retired from service while Jennifer Connelly is a believable on-screen romantic counterpart for the movie star. Ultimately, one of the weapons in Top Gun's arsenal is youth and sex appeal so it's logical that Top Gun: Maverick, which takes place in present-day, would be about the next generation competing to be the best of the best while the original cast enjoys retirement.
