Everything We Know About Iceman's Role In Top Gun: Maverick (2024)

Perhaps oneof the most excitingreturns forTop Gun: Maverickwill be Iceman's. Top Gun 2is the long-awaited sequel to 1986'sTop Gun, directed by Tony Scott and starring Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, and Kelly McGillis.Since its release in the summer of '86,Top Gun's notoriety in pop culture has only grown, becomes a quotable, oft-referenced film that is now as a definitive film in the '80s.

Kilmer played Top Gun recruit Iceman in the originaland he will be returning for the sequel in the same role.Top Gunwas only Kilmer's third feature-length film role (after 1984'sTop Secret! and 1985'sReal Genius), andIceman proved to be a breakoutrole for Kilmer.His subsequent career hasincluded playing Doc Holliday inTombstone,Chris Shiherlis in Michael Mann'sHeat, Batman inBatmanForever, and Jim Morrison inThe Doors.Kilmer's career has slowed in more recent years; he's popped up in comedy TV seriesThe Spoils of Babylon and Terrence Malick'sSong to Song, butTop Gun 2is arguably the first truly "big" movie he has done ina long time.

Related: Jennifer Connelly In Top Gun 2: Everything We Know About Her Role

With Val Kilmer poised for a serious comeback thanks to the rare opportunity of reprising the role that made him famous, here'severything we know about Iceman inTop Gun 2.

Val Kilmer Is One Of Two Returning Original Cast Members For Top Gun 2

It was announced in June 2018 that Kilmer would return forTop Gun 2. Reports confirmed Kilmer would indeed return asLieutenant Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. Kilmer's return means he is the only otheroriginalTop Guncast member to return for the sequel besides Tom Crusie as Maverick. There are no signs other past cast members - includingTom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, Tim Robbins, and Meg Ryan (in one of her earliest roles) - will return for the film.

Kilmer joins a stunningly stacked cast inTop Gun 2. Other confirmed cast members include Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Ed Harris, Lewis Pullman, Glen Powell, andThe Good Place'sManny Jacinto. So far, it's been confirmed that Connelly will be playing the female lead as Maverick's love interest and Teller will play Goose's son, Bradley Bradshaw.

MaverickWill Show Who Iceman Has Become Since Top Gun

Even without specifics about Iceman's character inTop Gun 2released to the public, his return indicates one of two key things. The first thing:Top Gun 2will have to show what happened to Iceman in the 30-plus years since theTop Gun. The first film played it vague on what kind of future awaited Iceman, so anything is possible when it comes to showing what he's up to in 2020.

Related:Top Gun Questions We've Waited Over 30 Years For A Sequel To Answer

With the film largely focused on Maverick, there is a little more wiggle roomto handle Iceman. Tom Kazansky was a man committed wholeheartedly to his career as a Navy pilot inTop Gun; he lived, ate, slept, and breathed the Top Gun program. It will be interesting to see ifTop Gun 2chooses to keep Iceman in the Navy or ifhe retired or moved into another role outside of the speed-needing program.

Top Gun 2will also have to deal with the Navy's evolution over the last three decades and how modern warfare has re-shaped the military branch'srole in U.S. affairs foreign and domestic. Iceman and Maverick were likely unprepared for how rapidly these shifts and evolutions will occur. Seeing if Iceman was able to adapt over the years, either staying in the Navy or feeling forced out, will also likely be dealt with.

Iceman's Relationship to Maverick Will Be Included in Top Gun 2

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Maverick vs. Iceman: Who Is Really The Better Top Gun Pilot?

Iceman's return forTop Gun 2means viewers won't just be treated to an update on his personal life - they'll also get a look at his friendship with Maverick. The pair started out inTop Gunas enemies competing for the same recognition from their superiors and opportunities for advancement. Iceman was positioned as the flawless flyer in control of his judgment and emotions in the sky while Maverick was skilled but flew with his heart.Both men were characterized as incredibly confident individuals to the point of it coming across as co*ckiness, something which helped to fuel their opposition before they eventually found comradery with each other. Bythe end ofTop Gun,Iceman and Maverickhad earned one another's mutual respect and it seemed like they had developed a friendship.

Top Gun: Maverickwill have to reveal whether or not these two remained close,went back to their antagonistic relationship, or have simply lost touch altogether. Iceman being the only returning character for this sequel film means he's really the one character we see who has known Maverick the longest. Iceman will likely be able to act as a confidant and close friend in the film - a nice benefit to having him back in the world ofTop Gun, regardless of how big his role may be.

Next: Everything We Know About Top Gun: Maverick