Top Gun: Maverick is a smash hit with critics and viewers alike, but its opening sequence was almost very different. The long-awaited sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun was finally released on May 27, 2022 after many delays in both its development and release, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Already making more than $300 million worldwide, Top Gun 2 has broken box office records, and its profits and audiences continue to grow.
The film brings Cruise’s Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell back into the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, better known as Top Gun. There, he must confront the past and train a fresh group of young fighter pilots, including the son of his deceased best friend Goose, played by Miles Teller. Top Gun: Maverick reunites Cruise with Val Kilmer, reprising his role as Iceman, who is now an admiral and commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Top Gun 2 also stars Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Jon Hamm, and Glen Powell. The opening of Maverick pays homage to the original film as an almost direct mirroring of the 1986 movie’s opening montage, with footage set on the deck of an aircraft carrier as several planes launch from it.
However, the opening sequence of Top Gun 2 almost came together very differently. Speaking to Variety, editor Eddie Hamilton revealed that the opening was changed from the original concept. Hamilton explained that the original first shots of Maverick would see Cruise’s titular character looking out to sea, speaking to his late best friend. Read his full comments below:
“At that point, we used to leave the deck activity and go underneath the deck. That was when we would see Maverick stood looking out to sea. He would say, ‘Talk to me, Goose.’ In a way, that was us kind of catching up with the beginning of the third act … But it felt like too much of a downer, and we ultimately decided that it was slightly confusing, because people were like, ‘Wait, is this as a flashback? What is it?’ … So we got rid of that and we faded to black beautifully on that nice aerial shot of the aircraft carrier. Then we take a moment and fade up on Mav.”
Ultimately, the filmmakers made this change to stay true to Maverick’s character. The sequel needed to first establish that Cruise’s hero is still a rebel, going against the wishes of his boss (Harris). Moving Maverick’s “Talk to me, Goose” line to a later, more introspective scene allowed both the character’s rebellion and sentimentality to shine through. What’s more, the Top Gun 2 production team clearly wanted to show the audience that the sequel was deeply connected to the original film, and the final opening sequence perfectly honors the late Tony Scott, Top Gun’s original director.
It seems that Maverick’s opening scene change paid off, as audiences and critics have widely praised the film. The mixture of homage, and exploring new character development, technological advancements, and military changes that happened in the 36 years since the original film have helped to craft a new story while staying true to the spirit of Top Gun. This immense nostalgia is no doubt a draw, and Top Gun: Maverick’s opening scene perfectly transports audiences right back to 1986.