Warning, spoilers for Top Gun 2 follow: The long-awaited action sequel Top Gun: Maverick has many extremely emotional moments to offer. Joseph Kosinski’s blockbuster not only inspires with spectacular flight maneuvers, but also with many touching scenes about Tom Cruise’s aged main character.
In a heartbreaking key scene in Top Gun 2, Cruise reunites with his Navy friend Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Val Kilmer), having previously only been in touch via text. It is an extraordinary moment that dignified handling of Val Kilmer’s cancer works even stronger.
Top Gun 2 brings Val Kilmer’s cancer into the storyline
When Maverick visits Iceman’s home, we learn about the character’s cancer, which has left him unable to speak properly. In the film’s scene together, the two communicate primarily through Iceman’s text messages on a computer screen. Here is this scene much closer to realitythan many may know.
Check out Yves’ video review of Top Gun 2 here:
Top Gun Maverick: How To Make A Sequel! | Review
A 2020 New York Times interview detailed that the actor himself in 2014 diagnosed with throat cancer became. Now that he is considered cured by the treatment, it is no longer possible for him to speak properly.
So his Top Gun character’s cancer is a respectful way of dealing with the star’s real-life fate, while at the same time being a extremely emotional impact to win from the Maverick vs. Iceman clash.
At the end of the scene there is a brief moment where Kilmer’s character talks to Maverick. But there is not the real voice of the star listen. As Insider reports, Kilmer worked with London-based tech company Sonantic to synthesize the brief line of dialogue for Top Gun 2 from old recordings of his voice.
The complications of Val Kilmer’s Iceman return were never an issue for the leading man. As producer Jerry Bruckheimer explained, according to Insider, Cruise in particular was adamant that Kilmer is a must for part 2 must be. In the end, the performance produced what is probably the most emotional scene in the blockbuster.
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What do you think of the Top Gun 2 scene between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer?