Tom Cruise insists on Val Kilmer returning to play Iceman in Top Gun 2

"Top Gun: Maverick" producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that Tom Cruise insisted on Val Kilmer returning to play Iceman in the sequel. Bruckheimer said that Tom Cruise was the main pusher for Val Kilmer to continue playing Iceman in the "Top Gun" sequel.

Val Kilmer

Now, after 35 years, fans can finally see Tom Cruise's Maverick and Val Kilmer's Iceman reunite on the big screen when Top Gun 2 is released on November 19.

Bruckheimer said: "He (Tom Cruise) said we have to have Val Kilmer, we have to have him back. We have to have him in this movie. So Tom Cruise was the main driving force. We all wanted Val Kilmer, but Tom was really stubborn. If he wanted to make another Top Gun, Val Kilmer had to be in it."

Bruckheimer revealed that Val Kilmer is a very good actor and a good person, and it was very touching to see Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reunited on the set.

Val Kilmer's son Jack Kilmer told the media that his father was very "excited" to return to the role and thanked "Top Gun 2" for remembering the legacy of the Iceman character.

In fact, when Top Gun 2 was announced in 2017, Val Kilmer expressed his interest in reprising his role as Iceman on Instagram, saying at the time, "I'm ready, Tom, the passion is still there." Then more than a year later, it was reported that Val Kilmer would actually return.