Tom Cruise paid tribute to his “wingman” and friend Val Kilmer at CinemaCon on April 3. During the event, Cruise honored Kilmer’s work and expressed gratitude for his return to the character of Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick.
The reunion between Cruise and Kilmer was a highlight of the film, with Kilmer initially having no interest in playing the role of Iceman in 1986’s Top Gun. However, after meeting director Tony Scott and receiving encouragement from Cruise and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Kilmer eventually took on the part.
Kilmer returned to play Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick nearly two decades after his initial departure from the franchise. The film’s production team digitally altered and blended Kilmer’s real voice with another one for the reunion scene, allowing him to reprise his role without using prosthetics or voiceovers.
Cruise said he “rallied hard” for Kilmer’s return and that the character never truly left. Kilmer also expressed his pride in being a part of the film, saying it was like being reunited with a long-lost friend. The actors’ camaraderie on set, including producer Don Simpson and director Tony Scott, played a significant role in their bond.
Kilmer’s memoir I’m Your Huckleberry details his initial reluctance to take on the role of Iceman and his method actor approach to playing the character off-screen. Despite this, he developed a close relationship with Cruise and the rest of the cast, including Glen Powell, who played one of the young Navy pilots in the sequel.
The reunion between Cruise and Kilmer was met with an emotional response from both actors, with Kilmer sharing a still of the two on social media and writing “36 years later… I’m still your wingman” with a heart.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tom-cruise-says-during-cinemacon-tribute-he-was-honored-val-kilmer-returned-for-top-gun-maverick-how-their-movie-reunion-came-together-180322470.html