Fans are eagerly awaiting Tom Cruise kicking the tires and lighting the fires in the long-awaited
sequel "Top Gun: Maverick," but what does his "Top Gun" co-star think about the follow-up?
Did she and Cruise get along?
Keep watching to find out.
Cruise is indisputably one of Hollywood's biggest stars, and, at times, a polarizing
figure due to his personal life.
His performance as daredevil Navy aviator Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 1986's "Top Gun"
is what shot him to the top of the pack.
In "Top Gun: Maverick," Cruise is poised to return to the Naval Fighter Weapons School
as an instructor who will train the latest crop of hotshot pilots.
Kelly McGillis, who played Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood in the original film, revealed to
Entertainment Tonight in 2019 that she wasn't asked to reprise her role in the "Top Gun"
sequel.
"Just want to manage expectations."
Instead, Cruise's character has a new lady in his life, Penny Benjamin, played by Jennifer
Connelly.
According to CinemaBlend, Benjamin owns a bar near the famous flight school, and is
a pilot of a different kind.
"I'm a sailor, I used to race boats, in the film.
I can give you that."
Due to some high-profile off-screen hijinks and a long association with the controversial
Church of Scientology, Tom Cruise has earned a bit of a mixed public reputation.
With that in mind, you might expect that his on-set behavior matches his eccentric tabloid
headlines.
But when it comes to Cruise, McGillis has only nice things to say about her former on-screen
love interest and what he was like on the set of the 1986 film, confirming our long-held
belief that Cruise might be a little more down-to-Earth than his reputation suggests.
In a 2013 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kelly McGillis recalled that, except for Tom
Cruise and Val Kilmer, the "Top Gun" cast stayed at the same hotel during the shoot
and had a lot of time to bond.
She told the outlet,
"[Tom Cruise was] incredibly respectful, polite, and very honest.
[...] There was definitely a big ensemble group camaraderie."
Similarly, she had nothing but good things to say about the actor in a 2013 interview
with Yahoo! Movies, saying,
"I think Tom is terrific.
He's the sweetest guy.
He is very genuine and sincere and respectful.
And I just loved working with Tom.
I think he is wonderful."
Although the upcoming sequel has thrust McGillis back into the spotlight, the actress doesn't
appear much interested in fame these days.
In 2019, McGillis told ET,
"To me, my relationships to other people became far more important than my relationship to
fame."
McGillis also admitted that she hasn't kept in touch with her former co-stars, and at
the time, she hadn't seen the trailer for "Top Gun: Maverick" and appeared somewhat
ambivalent about watching the finished product.
Notably, Jennifer Connelly appears to share her predecessor's high opinion of Cruise,
particularly when it comes to his professionalism and unparalleled work ethic on set.
Connelly told CinemaBlend in 2020,
"I've never seen anyone work harder, be more committed to his work.
Every moment is an opportunity to do all that he can do to deliver the best thing that he
can possibly deliver."
In addition to enjoying her time working alongside Tom Cruise, McGillis told Yahoo! Movies that
the entire "Top Gun" cast was close.
She recalled that, after shooting, they would throw parties and play sports to unwind.
McGillis went on to say that it was like being at a summer camp where everyone worked together
and played together afterward.
In 2019, she told ET that movies create unique relationships because they bring people so
close for brief moments in their lives, saying,
"I think I've spoken to a couple of people occasionally, but the truth is, movies are
very odd work situations because you have a lot of people who come together from all
different parts of the world."
Despite her positive memories of being on set and her appreciation for the life-changing
role, McGillis has been honest about why she wasn't brought back for a sequel.
Back in 2013, she speculated that she wouldn't be invited back because of her age and appearance.
She told the Los Angeles Times,
"You hear women of my age talk about this all the time.
I think this industry is not particularly kind to women who are over 50.
I am not into the coloring of my hair, doing the Botox and getting a facelift."
While she isn't involved with the upcoming sequel, McGill told ET that she's happy for
Connelly to have the part.
"Top Gun: Maverick" hits theaters on May 27th.
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more Looper videos about your favorite stuff are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.