At some point, without even realizing it, I no longer had the need. I no longer had the need for speed. It pains me to say that, but age comes for us all. It’s only natural that the older you get the more you slow down. Well, at least you do if you are a normal human being. Those problems do not apply to Tom Cruise. And not only is he still an action star, he prefers to do his own insane stunts whenever possible. And his continued insistence on defying Father Time is on full display in the new trailer for Top Gun: Maverick, where the only thing that has changed for the rebellious fighter pilot in over three decades are the other faces around him.
From the film’s official synopsis:
“After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: ‘Rooster,’ the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka ‘Goose.’Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.”
This is the second trailer for the film, following up the first look released by Paramount at this past summer’s San Diego Comic-Con. Both promos show that the long-awaited sequel to the iconic 1986 film will still primarily focus on Cruise’s Maverick. It initially seemed possible he would be playing a supporting character after Miles Teller joined the cast as the son of Anthony Edwards’ Goose, whose death I will literally never get over. With Maverick now a much older pilot, it seemed possible this movie could end up focusing on Teller’s character more. We still expect him to play a major role—and the film’s title could still end up referring to both Rooster and Maverick—but this very much looks like Cruise’s movie.
It also looks like it will have plenty of homages and Easter eggs to the original. There’s another beach volleyball game on tap, as well as a group singalong at a bar. We’re getting another flyby too. The film also features the same amazing score as the first. And, as the original movie taught us, a fighter pilot must also ride a motorcycle. That’s, like, a law or something.
The one thing we didn’t see though was Val Kilmer’s Iceman, who we know is returning to his iconic role. That’s one thing the film has held back though, which we fully encourage them to do until the movie hits theaters. Let us experience the Iceman cometh again for the first time when we are in the theater.
Because the ageless Tom Cruise and this trailer has renewed my need. But not just for speed. I have a need for over-the-top speeches and showdowns between old rivals.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy), the film also stars Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Manny Jacinto, and Ed Harris. Top Gun: Maverick flies into theaters Memorial Day weekend 2022 (maybe).
Featured Image: Paramount Pictures
Originally published on December 16, 2019 and updated on April 9, 2021.
