Tom Cruise greets the performance of Val Kilmer in Top Gun

“It was as if time had stopped,” says Tom Cruise about an overwhelming scene of Top Gun: Maverick marked by his iconic duo with Val Kilmer.

If the relationship of Maverick And Iceman was rather stormy on the screen, marked by a biting rivalry, she did not prevent Tom Cruise to proclaim his admiration for the deceased actor according to Entertainment Weekly. He thus pays tribute to Val kilmerhis shock partner in Top Gun.

“” “I was so grateful that he made the choice to play in this film”Said Tom Cruise, on the cover of the prestigious magazine Sight and sound. What was not done explains. He first had to convince the actor of Willow to participate in the project.

“” “We did everything to have it in the film. At the start, he just didn’t want to do it: ‘I don’t want to be a supporting role, I want to play in movies. ‘ I called his agent, and Tony Scott tracked him down and met Val in an elevator, and he said to him: ‘Please, Val, please.‘“”

The actor of Mission: Impossible So returns to his shooting experience with Val Kilmer in the cult action film of 1986 – signed Tony Scott – and its 2022 sequel – Top Gun: Maverick -, not dripping praise on his exceptional performance in the role of the Rival of Cruise on the screen.

The star of The Doors Finally was seduced to embody the villain who became a hero, Lieutenant Tom Iceman Kazansky. Despite the secondary character of his character, Val Kilmer has been able to make the most of his scenes proving once again that he was a “Excellent actor“And a”charismatic character”Describes Tom Cruise.

“” “What I like in his game and his way of interpreting it is that he knew exactly what tone to adopt”, He adds during the interview, evoking the famous scene of the locker rooms of the original film, where Iceberg creakes teeth against Maverick.“ “He had to play it, so we wanted them to become friends at the end. Do you see what I mean? And I remember these scenes as if it were yesterday, when I played with him. “

“” “When you play with someone and see it on fire, it’s exhilarating. I love it when the scene takes another turn. If you watch Top Gun, I think it only appears 10 minutes in the film. This is the impact of an artist like him. “

The American star continues on the legendary charm of Kilmer who, almost four decades later, – when the two partners found themselves for the rest of the film – is still so impactful. “” “It was incredible to be on the set of Top Gun: Maverickit looked like the time had stopped”, Makes up the Cruise confiding in his relationship with Kilmer.

“” “We laughed and it was happy. Then we started playing and, you see, he became Iceman. We see how, even without saying anything, he was Iceman. And we saw the dynamics between these friends. It was very special for me. “

In a flagship sequence of this suite, Maverick asked for advice from Iceman, a sign that his former rival has become a friend dear and climbed the ladder until becoming Admiral Kazansky, commander of the American fleet of the Pacific. Their conversation marks a real emotional turn, even though Iceman pronounces only one replica due to throat cancer which will end up costing her life. “” “He didn’t even need to speak“Recalls the actor.”This is what he is able to do. A gift he had and that he shared with all of us. “

Top Gun: Maverick will sign the last appearance of kilmer on the screen. After celebrating Iceman in his duet with Maverick, he had dissected this poignant scene from the film with Entertainment Weekly. “” “Return to work with Tom more than 30 years later, it was as if the weather stopped”Launched the actor when the film was released.“Being by his side makes you instantly better. That said, we missed a lot of catches because of our laughs. It was really fun and special. “

Val Kilmer died on April 1 at the age of 65. Two days later, Tom Cruise paid tribute to his deceased co-star in a minute of overwhelming silence at the Cinemacon in Las Vegas. “” “I would like to pay tribute to a dear friend, Val Kilmer”: These are the first words of the actor on the occasion of his presentation of Mission: Impossible – Last Judgment.

“” “I really can’t tell you how much I admired his work, how much I considered him a human being, and how grateful and honored when he joined the first top Gun then when he returned for Top Gun: Maverick. He brought us a lot through his performance. “

Val Kilmer and his friendship with Tom Cruise after Top Gun