Top Gun follows Peter "Maverick" Mitchell (played by Tom Cruise) once he's been tested over the course of his long career in the Navy and is now in a position to the torch of knowledge on to the newest recruits.
Though Top Gun: Maverick introduces several new characters, such as Vice iral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson (Jon Hamm, Snowpiercer) was actually mentioned by Goose in Maverick's predecessor.
Screen Rant spoke to Connelly about how she views the long history between Penny and Maverick, which original Top Gun scenes stand out most to her, and whether she's ready to return for another film.
Screen Rant: Congrats on this movie; it is awesome. We were screaming during the screening last night.
Jennifer Connelly: That's how my family and I were when we saw it. It's so fun.
Did you see it with an audience?
Jennifer Connelly: No, but we made a lot of noise.
How do you describe who Penny is, and what her relationship with Maverick was prior to the movie?
Jennifer Connelly: Penny Benjamin is mentioned in the original Top Gun, so they have a long history. I think that they've been in and out of each other's lives at different points over the years. You can get a sense of their relationship from the way she handles that.
Clearly, there's something that was unresolved from maybe the last time they saw each other. She handles that with so much humor and playfulness, and I think it reveals a lot about her. I think she's someone who's just moving towards happiness. She's just a positive, optimistic character. She's independent; she runs her own business. She's pretty cool.
I love her, and she doesn't take any crap from him. She doesn't put up with his games; she plays them back. I love when she leaves the door open - all of that. She’s iconic.
Jennifer Connelly: I'm glad you feel that way. I love her too. I think that she clearly adores Maverick, and there's a reason why they keep coming back together. But if it's gonna happen, it's gonna be on her . She's gonna look out for herself.
What does it mean to you to be a part of Top Gun?
Jennifer Connelly: It was so much fun. Just the experience of making it was so much fun, and it's really exciting. People, I think, are really ready to see another installment of Top Gun. And they seem to be really loving it, the people who have seen it.
Have you come up with a callsign for Penny?
Jennifer Connelly: I haven't come up with the callsign for Penny. I feel like someone needs to come up with one for her.
I love the music in both Top Gun movies. It's kind of synonymous with the movie. If you went into a bar and there's a jukebox, what are you putting on? What's your go to song?
Jennifer Connelly: Oh, my gosh. I don't know. The first thing I'm thinking of is Stevie Wonder, "Sir Duke." That's the happiest; such a happy song. That's the first thing I'm thinking; it's a great album: Songs in the Key of Life.
If you could insert yourself into any of the scenes in the OG Top Gun, which one would it be and why?
Jennifer Connelly: Not the volleyball scene. Can I do it by omission?
How about we'll leave it there: not that one.
I love that in this one, there's an homage to that. They even take it up a notch, because they're wet jeans, which is incredible.
Jennifer Connelly: It's amazing. It was really fun watching them film that.
Would you be game for another Top Gun?
Jennifer Connelly: Already? You've got to enjoy this one first.
Of course, I'm game. If they want me, for sure, I'll be there. I was so thrilled when Joe Kosinski called me - he directed the movie, and I'd worked with him before on a movie called Only The Brave. I was excited to work with him because I adore him; he's a great director.
And then he said, "It's about Top Gun. I'll send you the script." That minute, I was like, "Yes, I'm in. I mean, yes, send me the script. But yes, okay!" It was really a joy to be part of this.
More Top Gun: Maverick Interviews
After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.
- Cast & Crew At Global Premiere
- Tom Cruise
- Miles Teller
- Jon Hamm
- Jennifer Connelly
- Charles Parnell & Bashir Salahuddin
- Jay Ellis, Monica Barbaro & Lewis Pullman
- Greg Tarzan Davis, Danny Ramirez & Glen Powell
- Director Joseph Kosinski
Top Gun: Maverick is currently out in theaters.
