Actor Tom Cruise confirmed Tuesday that a sequel to the 1986 San Diego-based blockbuster movie “Top Gun” will begin filming in the next year.
Cruise, whose starring role as Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the original romantic drama helped launch his career, made the surprise announcement while being interviewed on an Australian morning show.
“It’s happening, it is definitely happening,” the 54-year-old heartthrob confirmed with a grin.
WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE: @TomCruise just confirmed that Top Gun 2 is happening! “I’m gonna start filming it probably in the next year”. #sun7 pic.twitter.com/X17xvxz4Q4
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) May 23, 2017
Early reports indicate Val Kilmer, who starred alongside Cruise as Iceman in “Top Gun,” will be onhand for the sequel.
The original movie centers around a military crew attending the Top Gun school at the former Naval Air Station in Miramar (now MCAS Miramar), and San Diegans still recall local film locations. In fact, the downtown San Diego restaurant Kansas City Barbeque, which opened in 1983 and was featured in “Top Gun,” celebrated the film’s 30th anniversary in 2016 with a week of screenings.
As Cruise made his announcement, Twitter went crazy.
I watched Top Gun 100’s of times. Made me want to be a pilot… that never happened. Perhaps Top Gun 2 will change that. #TopGun2 #Maverick pic.twitter.com/xAIFdePn7I
— Grant (@Builtough) May 24, 2017
There is simply no such thing as too much nostalgia for my generation. #TopGun2
— RichardDavidSmithIII (@RDS3attle) May 24, 2017
But what San Diego really wants to know is will “Top Gun 2” return to its hometown roots? So far, no confirmation on film locations.
–Staff
