Top Gun: Maverick may have just broken records, but it almost never existed…
Only a quick glance at the box office numbers is needed to see that the sequel to the 1986 blockbuster is a massive success. After premiering at ComicCon on April 28th, Top Gun: Maverick hit cinemas a month later and has so far earned more than $282 million worldwide.
Not only does the impressive figure make it the seventh highest-grossing film of the year, but the opening weekend gross of $160.5 million set the record for Memorial Day weekend, as well as being Tom Cruise’s highest opening of all time.
However, it seems that the action star wasn’t initially on board with reprising his role as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
“I basically had 30 minutes to pitch this film, which I didn’t realise when we were flying over; but when I got there, I found that Tom really didn’t want to make another Top Gun,” revealed director, Joseph Kosinski.
The pair had previously worked together on 2013’s Oblivion, and so Kosinski knew how to go about convincing the Mission: Impossible actor…
“[I] knew to start with character and emotion,” the director said. “I just pitched this idea of Bradley Bradshaw growing up to become a naval aviator, and him and Maverick having this fractured relationship that had never been repaired.”
Top notch work, Joe.
