‘Top Gun 2’ Release Date, News & Update: New Cast Members, Really 80s Names

As a sequel to the film that came out in the 80s, it was inevitable that some of the influences from that era would also be found in “Top Gun 2.” Officially titled “Top Gun 2: Maverick,” this movie is going to feature the return of Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. It will also see the appearance of his late co-pilot’s son who will be played by Miles Teller, along with newly added cast members, Jon Hamm and Ed Harris.

The ensemble for “Top Gun 2” is looking quite bright, with so many huge stars set to take part in this sequel of a movie. Jon Hamm was recently announced to have joined the cast, with the “Mad Men” star’s role being something of a mystery, USA Today reports. The same goes for the “Westworld” actor, Ed Harris, who has not revealed anything about his character.

As for the rest of the “Top Gun 2” cast, The Hollywood Reporter features a breakdown list of the characters that are going to be in the movie. One of the most interesting aspects of the ensemble is just how reminiscent of the 80s their names are; specifically, their call signs.

Tom Cruise’s character will be Maverick while Val Kilmer, who will also be making his return to the franchise will be Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. In “Top Gun 2,” some of the call signs include Viking, Phoenix, Lardo, and Cyclone.

With Tom Cruise finally done with promoting “Mission Impossible: Fallout,” the star can finally get back to pushing “Top Gun 2” to high gear. This should make its July 2019 release a date that fans will likely remember for a long time. The themes should see a few changes compared to the 80s original, as well.