Top Gun: Maverick has come out with just two trailers over the last year and a half, but that has been enough to get us all pumped. There’s Tom Cruise. There are high-flying fighter jets. Do we need anything more to get pumped?
For the fans who’ve watched the first film, there are quite a few Easter eggs, callbacks, and references. If you haven’t, don’t worry, I’m here to fill you in. This is the Top Gun 2: Maverick trailer breakdown.
The Top Gun: Maverick trailer showcases intense fighter jet action with callbacks to characters such as Iceman and Goose. We also see new members such as Rooster, Hangman, Phoenix, Cyclone, and more.
Val Kilmer as Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky
In the first Top Gun film, Val Kilmer’s Iceman was one of the central characters in the movie and was also the nemesis of Tom Cruise’s Maverick. However, the two patch up by the end of the film, and Maverick proves that he’s a great wingman.
In the Top Gun 2 trailer, we see Iceman’s picture in a frame, and a voice mentions how he recommended Maverick for the role of a trainer. Considering that Val Kilmer has been enlisted as a cast member on IMDb, we might be seeing more from him in the movie.
New Pilots and Characters
We see a younger bunch deemed the “best of the best” pilots. In this lot, three noteworthy pilots are Glenn Powell as Hangman, Monica Barbaro as Phoenix, and, most importantly, Miles Teller as Rooster.
Besides this, Jon Hamm is part of the ensemble cast as Cyclone. In the first scene of the trailer, we see that he’s a decorated officer, and it is his voice we hear at the beginning. He mentions how Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell wasn’t his first choice, but that Iceman had recommended him.
This shows how the senior officers are still critical of Maverick’s attitude, just like in the first Top Gun. However, the man has created a reputation that precedes him. I’ll discuss this in detail in a later section.
Besides these, we also have Jennifer Connelly, who’s presumably playing Maverick’s love interest. While there was Kelly McGills played that part in the previous film, she’s not returning, and we’ll be seeing Connelly in her place.
Blast from the Past—Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw
Miles Teller’s Rooster is Goose’s son. For those of you who don’t remember, Goose was a fighter pilot who flew with Maverick as his wingman. However, in an unfortunate series of events, Goose loses his life, and Maverick, in some ways, blames himself for it.
As it turns out, even after over 30 years, he has unresolved issues about Goose’s death. Maverick comes face to face with Rooster, who also blames him and tells him that, unlike his father, he wouldn’t make the mistake of trusting Maverick.
The tension between them almost ends up in a brawl, but other pilots stop them. Their dynamic would make up a crucial part of the movie’s narrative and add the drama required for such a film.
A Flying Mission Like No Other
Glenn Powell’s Hangman in a shot tells how the team would be heading into a battle that no one has ever faced before, not even Maverick. This is perhaps a hint at how the stakes will be much higher this time around.
In fact, the mission could test Maverick’s abilities, and see if he still has it in him to be that unconventional leader that the team needs. In one frame, we see multiple missiles being fired, and in another, there are more in the sky. So, perhaps it is indeed more dangerous than what we have seen before.
A Character’s Death
We also see a plane getting hit and catching fire, Tom Cruise standing over a coffin, and an ongoing funeral. So, it is evident that a character dies in the movie. In fact, Tom Cruise’s words, “You think up there; you’re dead!” also tease this.
However, we don’t know which character is dying. Could it be Phoenix, Hangman, or Rooster, or would it be someone else altogether? I guess we have to wait and find out.
Moments of Nostalgia and Callbacks to Top Gun
In a montage, we see the pilots partying in a bar, playing volleyball on the beach, and Tom Cruise riding the bike along the coast with Connelly behind him. All these shots will give you instant nostalgia if you’ve watched the first film. The vibe, the setting, and the frames are the same.
These are some of the critical moments, Easter eggs, and callbacks from the trailer. However, one thing that perhaps stands apart is the fighter jets’ action. It looks edgier, grander, and more dangerous than what we’ve ever seen.
Top Gun: Maverick releases in your nearest theatres on May 27. Don’t forget to watch, because it will be one hell of a ride.
About Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick is a Paramount film (and sequel) starring Tom Cruise who reprises his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell from the 1986 Top Gun. It is directed by Joseph Kosinski, with a screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie and a story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks.
Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer are part of the cast.
The film sees Maverick’s return to the US Navy pilots as he trains a new squad of aviators, preparing them for a dangerous mission. Upon release, the movie was a massive success and became the highest grossing film of Tom Cruise so far.
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