"Top Gun: Maverick" Brings Tom Cruise Back as a Pilot After 36 Years

jmpblodgett
Jun 10, 2022
9 min read

1986 began a movie franchise that has lasted over the past 36 years, and it's safe to say fans are happy to finally have a sequel to the coveted film.

The duo film franchise "Top Gun" centers around Pete "Maverick" Mitchell played by Tom Cruise. Cruise has become a very well known actor over the last few decades with his many iconic roles. Some of those roles include: "Top Gun" (1986, 2022), "The Color of Money" (1986), "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), "Mission Impossible" (1996, 2000, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023, and 2024), "Risky Business" (1983) "The Outsider" (1983), and "Rain Man" (1988). Over the years his movies have gathered over $4 billion in North America and over $10.1 billion worldwide.

Cruise has been married to actresses Mimi Rogers (1987-1990), Nicole Kidman (1990-2001), and Katie Holmes (2006-2012). He has three children, two of whom were adopted during his marriage to Kidman and the other of whom is a biological daughter he had with Holmes. Rogers later married Chris Ciaffa (2003) to which the pair had two children. Kidman married Keith Urban (2006) and had two children with Urban. Finally, Holmes never remarried, and only had a child with Cruise.

Cruise is dyslexic which is a known fact about him, and briefly took a Catholic Church scholarship later attending the St. Francis Seminary school in Cincinnati, Ohio; where he aspired to become a Franciscan priest. However, Cruise was expelled from the seminary for drinking and becoming interested in acting.

In total, he attended 15 schools in 14 years. In his senior year of high school, he played football for the varsity team as a linebacker, but was cut from the squad after getting caught drinking beer before a game. He went on to star in the school's production of Guys and Dolls. In 1980, he graduated from Glen Ridge High School in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

Some of the other original cast members include Val Kilmer (Tom "Iceman" Kazansky). Kilmer became a well known name in 1986 with "Top Gun", but could no longer act in 2014 after losing his voice due to throat cancer.

Another original cast member is Kelly McGillis (Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood). In the original film Charlie was an astrophysicist and a civilian instructor at the academy who fell in love with Maverick, but didn't return for the sequel film. There are two reasons that explain why Charlie isn't in the sequel. According to director Joseph Kosinski, they wanted "Top Gun: Maverick" to look forward instead of backward, so they were meticulous in deciding which legacy characters would be back in the new blockbuster. Ultimately, instead of re-pairing Maverick with Charlie, the decision was made to properly reintroduce Penny Benjamin from "Top Gun", instead. However, Charlie actress Kelly McGillis believes that there's a different explanation for not being called back for Top Gun: Maverick: her age and looks. "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," she said in a 2019 interview. But McGillis harbors no ill-will toward Connelly, saying she's "so glad she got that opportunity."

Another original character is LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards). He appears in the sequel through flashback scenes. Bradshaw became a very well known actor going on to act in the first eight seasons of "ER" as Dr. Mark Greene. He also played Mars Harper in "Designated Survivor" just to name a few.

Hilariously, there is no such thing as subtext in the late Tony Scott's fighter-pilot saga film. The rogue protagonist is named Maverick. The guy who's cool under pressure is named Iceman (Val Kilmer). The goofy sidekick is Goose (Anthony Edwards). The boss who chews people out for violating protocol is Stinger (James Tolkan).

The first film begins with Goose, (lieutenant) Maverick, Merlin, and Cougar in the sky going after two enemy fighter planes known as MiG-28's. Mav then flips his plane upside-down and gives the enemy the middle finger. Maverick heads back to the boat with his jet, but Cougar begins panicking on his aircraft, as his plane Is losing fuel. Maverick touches down on the air craft but lifts his plane up to go and help cougar. Cougar retires his wings after Maverick saves his life so that he can go be with his wife and kid.

Cougar was number one and Maverick (Ghost Rider)/Goose were number two. Upon turning in his wings, Mav/Cougar become the #1 team making them the ones to be sent to top gun. This leads to the coveted scene of Maverick on his mottercycle ridding alongside a plane.

The first pilot to win the top gun trophy and the instructor at Top Gun is Mike Mitcalf/Viper. He promises to teach the cadets to fly the F-4 2.

We are then introduced to Iceman, and Slider at a bar. Thats when the group of navy pilots sing "You've lost that loving feeling" to a girl he is interested in. That girl went by Charlotte Blackberry (Charlie).

Maverick and Goose then go up against Jester in a simulation. "Do some of that Pilot Sh*t." became a very popular quote. Maverick and Goose win. The fans then find out that Maverick is Duke Mitchell's kid, and Goose notes that everytime they are in the sky "its like you're flying against a ghost."

The boys then have a friendly game of beach volleyball. Maverick then goes on a date with Charlie. Its then revealed that Mavericks dad disappeared while flying an F-4 on November 4th in 1965.

Maverick and Charlie get in a fight when she reviews his flying against the MiG - 28, which causes maverick to drive off and Charlie to follow him and reveal that she has fallen for him. The pair then hook up.

"I feel the need... The need for speed" also became a very popular quote of the film. Another tatical practice mission begins and Maverick/Goose make the decision to leave the route and go after Viper instead of protecting Jester's plane. Maverick losses.

Goose, his son, and Maverick sing Great Balls of Fire" at a dinner. The name Penny Benjamin is briefly mentioned twice during the film which becomes inportant during the sequel.

The viewers then see another practice mission. Maverick gets inpatient while Iceman is attempting to take out a boogie and in the process Maverick and Goose's engine goes out in a flat spin, the pair try to eject from the aircraft, but in the process Goose snaps his neck on the top of the aircraft, dying on impact. Maverick blames himself which plays a huge part in the sequel film. The boarder of inquiry found lieutenant Mitchell not guilty of what happened to Goose.

Mavericks first mission back wasn't a success, and they returned to base, which leads to Maverick's decision of leaving Top Gun.

Later in the movie Maverick return's to Top Gun and graduates with his class. During graduation, Iceman recieves the TopGun trophy. Also during the graduation a few of the classmates get sent to an emergency mission.

Slidder and Iceman as team one. Hollywood and Wolfman as team two. Maverick and Merlin as the back up.

The mission begins and what started out with two enemy boogies turns into five, and the two teams get ambushed which deploys Maverick. Holleywood gets hit and him and Wolfman eject from the aircraft. Maverick initially backs out while in the sky, but then joins the fight and saves Iceman's life.

Ice gets hit twice, and Maverick saves him and his aircraft by directing him how to fly out of the enemy's line of vision. The boys return back to base and the rivalry between Ice and Mav is put to rest at last with them both agreeing to be each other's wingmen anytime.

The film ends with Maverick and Charlie together.

Top Gun: Maverick is full of familiar faces from the original 1986 movie: Tom Cruise (Maverick) and Val Kilmer(IceMan) and some flashbacks of footage from the first film.

But the crop of new recruits also has some recognizable names in its ranks. The new class is led by "Rooster" (Whiplash breakout Miles Teller) and "Hangman" (Hidden Figures' Glen Powell).

Then there's "Phoenix" (The Good Cop alum Monica Barbaro), "Payback" (Insecure's Jay Ellis), and "Fanboy" (The Falcon, The Winter Soldier and On My Block's Danny Ramirez).

You may also recognize Bob as the guy who played Rhett Abbott on Outer Range or Major Major on Catch-22 — or you might watch and think, "he reminds me of someone...." That may be because he's played by Lewis Pullman, the eldest son of actor Bill Pullman (who played a fighter pilot in Independence Day).

Furthermore, Jennifer Connelly returns as Penny Benjamin. Connelly is a household name and a very well known actress with films made from 1984-2022.

Miles Teller also appears in the Top Gun sequeal as Bradley "Goose" Bradshaw. Teller has created quite the career for himself at the age of 35 with films including: "Fantastic Four 1 & 2," "Footloose(2011)," "The Divergent Series" "The Spectacular Now," "War Dogs," and "Whiplash." Miles even choose his call sign in the Top Gun Film.

Another popular character in the sequel is that of Glen Powell's "Hangman." Hangman replicates the same atitude of Iceman in the original film. Powell's career has also made quite a name for itself with roles in tv and movies including: "NCIS," "Hidden Figures," "Ride Along 1 & 2," "The Dark Knight Rises," and "Scream Queens."

Ed Harris also plays Rear Admiral. Harris isa critically acclaimed actor who has acted in very well known roles; "National Treassure Series," "Apollo 13," "The Truman Show," "Pollock," and "The Hours."

Now, after 36 years, Top Gun is back. There are 6 new pilots in the film and it takes place in Fallen, Nevada where TopGun is located. The sequel film broke major records gaining $151 million in the box office on Memorial Day Opening Weekend, and earning Tom Cruise his biggest movie launch in his career.

The Paramount film, which was delayed multiple times due to the coronavirus pandemic, now holds the record for the second-best Memorial Day opening of all time behind Johnny Depp’s "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End," which earned $153 million when it was released in 2007. The film did not debut in either China or Russia, but at its debut in the Cannes festival the film recieved a 5 minute standing ovation.

Cruise’s films have all opened to less than $60 million up until this point.

The sequel film picks up with the iconic song "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins, and clips from planes dispatching from a naval ship in the middle of the ocean. Fans are then taken to Maverick at a Navy base in the Mojave Desert, California.

Mav is seen with an aircraft where his current position is as a plane tester/lieutenant still in the Navy. He is currently working with a team to achieve Mach 9, but the program gets shut down. Moments before the program manager/ Rear Admiral (played by Ed Harris) gets to the site, Mav takes one more flight and hits Mac 10. Mav's arrogance catches up with him and he pushes his plane to Mach 10.4 leading him to crash his plane and be confronted by the rear admiral.

During his conversation with the admiral, it is revealed that Iceman made a call and that Mav is needed back at Top Gun.

When Mav arrives he meets with two men (Played by Jon Hamm/ Charles Parnell) where he is briefed on the mission and that he will be an instructor for the top 10 Top Gun Pilots.

The main pilots are:

- Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (played by Miles Teller)

- Hangman (played by Glen Powell)

- Phoenix (played by Monica Barbaro)

- Bob (played by Lewis Pullman)

- Fanboy (played by Danny Ramirez)

- Payback (played by Jay Ellis)

and four other pilots that aren't named in the film. Viewers then find out that Mav pulled Rooster's application to the Navy for four years because his mother never wanted him to be a pilot. The resentment that Rooster has towards Maverick begins to dwindle when Maverick completes a seemingly impossible flight in 2 minutes and 15 seconds, making him the lead of the mission, and gaining respect from the other pilots. May chooses Rooster to be his wingman during the mission and as they were leaving enemy territory, Maverick is shot down by a boogie saving Rooster's life.

The camander orders all of the pilots to return back to base, and leave Mav behind in efforts to save their lives, but Rooster opts to go after Mav. Ultimately Rooster saves Maverick and ejects from his plane leaving Maverick and Rooster in enemy territory. The only option to escape is to steal an enemy plane.

During the return flight home, Rooster and Maverick get attacked by two more boogies, but they end up succeeding in their battle and making it back to base after Hangman joins the fight saving their lives.

The movie ends with Maverick and his love interest, Penny Benjamin (played by Jennifer Connelly) together. Viewers also meet Penny's kid, Amelia (played by Lyliana Wray).

Anthony Edwards, who played Goose in the freshman film revealed that the sequel succeeded in honoring his character - "Mission accomplished.’ They did it. They really did though. It’s a lot of work that went into that. It had the feel, it had the tone, it had what people wanted...It’s the biggest movie that I’m in that I never had to show up for a day of work, so it was fun."

As of June 9th the film hit $600 million in the box office worldwide.