It's been more than three decades since Top Gun was released in theaters, and now, in 2021, we're finally going to get a sequel.
Tom Cruise will return as "Maverick," while Val Kilmer will reprise his role as "Iceman" in Top Gun: Maverick, set for release in November.
As it turns out, Tom Cruise had a lot to do with Kilmer's inclusion in the film.
The 1986 film starred Cruise as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and Kilmer as Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazansky", a pair of rival fighter pilots.
While a sequel without both stars might seem unthinkable, producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that Cruise absolutely insisted that Kilmer be included.
"[Cruise] said, 'We have to have Val, we have to have him back,'" Bruckheimer said in an interview with People. "We all wanted [Kilmer], but Tom was really adamant that if he's going to make another Top Gun, Val had to be in it."
Bruckheimer was effusive in his praise for Kilmer, saying, "He's such a fine actor, and he's such a good individual. We had such a good time on the first one and wanted to bring some of the gang back together again."
His inclusion might seem like a foregone conclusion, but Kilmer's speaking voice has been permanently damaged after a tracheostomy to treat throat cancer.
Thanks to some movie magic, though, AI will fill in the gaps to recreate Kilmer's speaking voice.
"It was a really emotional experience for all of us," Bruckheimer said of getting the gang back together again. "It was a long time getting here, but we did."
Kilmer's son Jack told People that his dad was excited to be back.
"They honor the legacy of Iceman, and he [Kilmer] was so stoked by it," Jack Kilmer explained.
We won't know for sure until it's released, but we know that its star-studded cast includes Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Ed Harris in addition to Cruise and Kilmer.
Kenny Loggins has also confirmed that his iconic song "Danger Zone" will once again be used in the sequel, which feels completely appropriate.
Let us know about your memories from the first Top Gun as well as your thoughts on this story.
Is Top Gun: Maverick a must-see film for you, or would you rather wait for the reviews?
