It might have been something of a mission: impossible but 30-plus years later, Tom Cruise is still feeling the need for speed and resumes duty as naval pilot Captain Peter Mitchell, call sign Maverick. No need to read that again - 'captain' is right. As top brass notes in the newly-released first trailer of Top Gun: Maverick, he should have been a '2 star admiral' at the very least; instead, he has only risen in rank from lieutenant to captain. Very much still Maverick, then. Tom Cruise made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con in San Diego yesterday to release the trailer and let's just say it's going to give you 'goose'-bumps, pun intended with all due respect to Goose, Maverick's partner who died in the original film.
Goose's son, played by actor Miles Teller, appears in this new film but the trailer is Tom Cruise all the way. Not only has Maverick failed to rise through the ranks, he also refuses to retire, executing the kind of pyrotechnical loops and manoeuvres that gave him his name. At Comic-Con, Tom Cruise, 57, described Top Gun: Maverick as a "love letter to aviation" and said, "I really wanted to give you all an experience of what it is to be inside that aircraft," reported AFP.
You would be absolutely correct in assuming that some of the flying has been done by Tom Cruise himself, a licensed pilot and real life daredevil. This is, after all, the same man who climbed a Dubai skyscraper and hung off a plane in the Mission: Impossible films. At Comic-Con, the actor said that the aerial shots were "all real" and the filmmakers consulted US Navy officials for several sequences. The action is both old school and stunning - it's pretty much what Tom Cruise did in Top Gun in 1986, and really, would we want it any other way? And yes, the theme music has been retained.
"34 years you guys have been very patient with me, and I felt it was my responsibility to finally really deliver for you," Tom Cruise said during Thursday's event. You did, Tom. Without further ado, take a look at the trailer of Top Gun: Maverick:
Twitter is thrilled. Many tweets referred to songs from the iconic soundtrack of the original film - Danger Zone, You've Lost That Loving Feeling - to Tom Cruise's refusal to age and even to the bizarre fight challenge Justin Bieber threw out a while ago.
I think Tom Cruise might just be a real fighter pilot now... pic.twitter.com/iKbtWoHPaf
— Neil (@rejects) July 18, 2019
Tom Cruise: "I feel that loving feeling" pic.twitter.com/yHZGpJMRt0
— Aaron Couch (@AaronCouch) July 18, 2019
He leggit flew a jet(ITS NOT CG WEYHHH) ... Tom cruise is something else weyhh https://t.co/yg3VTyJk0k
— ThreadReview (@ThreadReview) July 19, 2019
I think I have a thing for Tom Cruise all over again...... This gives me goosebumps #ifeeltheneed https://t.co/9cREiPETaT
— Vicki Fisher (@Vix_83) July 19, 2019
Just seen the new trailer for top gun2 maverick. Wtf omg!!! Goose bumps at the ready. The jacket, the motorbike, the sunglasses and don't forget the music score. The flight footage looks amazing!!! I cannot wait. I'm going to watch the it again now. Tom Cruise legend end of!!!!
— Darren Smithers (@DarrenSmithers2) July 19, 2019
Tom Cruise in Top Gun (1986) and Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick (2020) convinced he's a vampire pic.twitter.com/8pCC4KMvM1
— (@connor_swif7) July 19, 2019
"Tom Cruise"
— WolfofDStreet (@abhswolf) July 19, 2019
This guy doesnt age.
Makes me realize how old I've gotten. Tom Cruise has aged better than me...
— Abhility (@spark_04) July 19, 2019
https://t.co/8rjpMUTFJL
Tom Cruise is 50-something-God-knows-what and his skin is better than my 23-year-old broke-ass skin.
— Kurnia (@bapaou) July 19, 2019
Tom Cruise would definitely kick Justin Bieber's ass. Just saw the first footage of "Top Gun: Maverick" #SDCC2019 pic.twitter.com/wjtCHyAgzj
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) July 18, 2019
Not too many of the original Top Gun cast members are returning for the sequel - Anthony Edwards' character, Goose, is dead of course; but Twitter is disappointed that Kelly McGillis, who played an instructor and Maverick's love interest, and Meg Ryan, who had a small role as Goose's wife - are no-shows. However, Iceman, played by Val Kilmer, is back.
Top Gun: Maverick directed by Joseph Kosinskim is slated for June 2020 release. The film also stars Jon Hamm, Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly.
