‘Top Gun: Maverick’: Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis weren’t asked to return, director confirms

Zack Sharf SPOILER ALERT: Do not read unless you have watched “Top Gun: Maverick,” in theaters now. “Top Gun” fans knew ahead of time that Val Kilmer would be reprising his role of Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the sequel, but the specifics of the actor’s return were a question mark considering Kilmer lost the ability to speak after undergoing throat cancer treatment in 2014.

Top Gun: Maverick has brought in a huge box office haul on its opening weekend.The sequel to 1986’s Top Gun, which sees Tom Cruise return as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, has already taken $248million (£196million) worldwide since its release on Friday (May 27).Of those takings, $151million (£119million) were in the US, with the film screening at a record-breaking 4,732 cinemas, the most for any film on its first weekend.This makes Maverick the highest-grossing opening for a non-superhero film since the COVID-19 pandemic began, as well as the first Cruise film to go over the $100million (£79million) mark on opening weekend.It sits behind last year’s Spider-Man: No Way Home ($206million/£162million), Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness ($148million/£116million) and The Batman ($106million/£83million).While Cruise returns for the blockbuster, original stars Kelly McGillis (Charlie Blackwood) and Meg Ryan (Carole Bradshaw) are both absent from the film.Explaining the decision not to include the characters, director Joseph Kosinski told Insider: “Those weren’t stories that we were throwing around.“I didn’t want every storyline to always be looking backwards.

Forget breaking the sound barrier: Tom Cruise just flew past a major career milestone.

Some fans might be sad to see that Kelly McGillis, who played Charlie in the original Top Gun movie, is not in the sequel.

"Top Gun" is back. After a two-year delay, "Top Gun: Maverick" is hitting theaters across the world Friday.The release of the action movie figures to be a big moment for box office recovery during the coronavirus pandemic. The film’s star, Tom Cruise, is expected to have his biggest career opening, with a four-day gross of at least $92 million, per official tracking.

Cruise is known for doing most of his own stunts. For this film he does them all zipping through the clouds and pulling up to eight Gs — a measure of gravitational force experienced through acceleration — which is comparable to 600 pounds pressing against your body. “So just to put it in perspective, it’s a level of power that most people never get to experience,” LaRosa said.The “Top Gun” star owns his own P-51 Mustang (a World War II fighter jet) which LaRosa said the actor flies “like it’s an extension of himself.” Cruise came onto the set with a love for and understanding of aviation, LaRosa said, and really wanted to inspire that passion in his new co-stars, including Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro and Glen Powell.

Top Gun is launching some branded clothing in time for the sequel's release. With Top Gun: Maverick now taking flight, the iconic fashions worn by Tom Cruise have inspired some tees that will spruce up any wardrobe. Unisex options and customisable sizes are available on Lost Universe for the Top Gun logo Navy T-shirt, which is on sale for £15 or a two-for £25 limited time offer if you need a few new fashion options.

Jon Hamm remembers the excitement of the first day on set of "Top Gun: Maverick" with Tom Cruise.  In an interview with TODAY, Hamm, 51, spoke about working with the film’s star in the newly released movie. "I’ll never forget my first day on set, there’s Tom Cruise, and he says 'Hey,' comes up, gives me a big hug and says, 'It’s so good to have you here,’" Hamm shared during the interview. Jonn Hamm remembers his first day on set of "Top Gun: Maverick" with Tom Cruise.

Alexa, play “Take My Breath Away.” While the nostalgia is overwhelming for Top Gun fans in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, not everything is the same for the title character 30 years after the original film.

Val Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, is reflecting on her experience witnessing her father lay down scenes on the set of "Top Gun: Maverick." The 30-year-old actress recalled being present when Kilmer, 62, made his anticipated cameo in the upcoming Tom Cruise flick as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, the arch-nemesis of Cruise’s Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. According to the New York Post, both stars appear together in a scene, reuniting the pair in which Iceman and Maverick Mitchell come face-to-face and each deliver heartwarming performances that marked a culmination for the film franchise.

Top Gun: Maverick is undeniably more inclusive than the original film and cast member Jay Ellis said it was refreshing to see others who ‘looked like me’ working alongside him on the blockbuster.  Tom Cruise is crashing back onto the big screen this summer with the long-awaited sequel to 1986’s classic action adventure finally arriving in cinemas this Wednesday.  It sees him reprise his iconic role as Navy aviator Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, who is drawn back to the titular fighter tactic school to train up a new set of graduates for a special assignment.

Carol Vorderman didn't follow her fellow guests at the Top Gun premiere on Thursday night as she ditched the usual glitzy gowns for a khaki green flight suit in homage to the film.

British royalty meets Hollywood royalty! Prince William and Duchess Kate walked the red carpet alongside Tom Cruise at the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick.

There are plenty of reasons to dislike Tom Cruise if you’re allergic to the idea of the relentless alpha male. Scientology seems like a non-starter for one, the ubermensch American exceptionalism thing feels like it borders on the intolerance for anyone not giving 110% during every breakfast, and while his commitment to filmmaking seems nonpareil, his reputation for the rigorous demands he places on crew members can seem cold-hearted (see the way he lost faith with the director of “The Mummy” and impatiently tried to take over, or how he recently just fired Twenty One Pilots from the soundtrack of his new movie for just recent examples).