Val Kilmer is coming back to reprise his role as Iceman in the ‘Top Gun’ sequel. The follow-up to the 1986 classic is called ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and sees Tom Cruise also return in one of his most iconic roles.
The news comes just one week after Cruise dropped a first photo from the set of the movie and announced that the film had entered production.
Kilmer has been expressing interest in participating in the sequel since May 2017 when it was announced.
In the original film, his character ‘Iceman’ was a rival to Cruise’s Maverick until the pair become friends after earning each other's respect.
It was a far more compelling love story than Maverick and Charlie’s, frankly.
The Wrap first announced the news. Kilmer was reportedly spotted in the San Diego hotel headquarters where ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is underway.
While the sequel will see Maverick act as mentor to a new generation of U.S. Navy fighter pilots, no details about Iceman’s role in the movie, or how far the role extends, have been revealed just yet.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is being helmed by Joseph Kosinski, who previously directed Cruise in Oblivion. It is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer for Jerry Bruckheimer Films and David Ellison for Skydance. The script is by Eric Warren Singer, Peter Craig and Justin Marks.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is set to hit theaters July 12, 2019.
