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Tom Cruise played the role of Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell inTop Gunand later returned to the role as a Captain, 36 years later, inTop Gun: Maverick. The 1986 film was a blockbuster hit, amassing $357 million at the box office. However, the sequel surpassed its success, becoming the highest-grossing film in Tom Cruise’s career, grossing $1.496 billion at the box office.
In his return as a flight instructor in the sequel, Cruise’s character encounters the son of his deceased best friend and former radar intercept officer, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. The role of the son, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, was played by Miles Teller.
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Miles Teller Was Hesitant To Accept Tom Cruise’s Offer For TheTop GunRole
Tom Cruisewanted co-producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Paramount Pictures to castMiles Tellerin the role of the son ofAnthony Edwards’Top Guncharacter. Other actors considered for the role includedNicholas HoultandGlen Powell, the latter of whom was cast in another role. However, Miles Teller had reservations about taking on the role.
During an interview with Men’s Health, theWhiplashactor revealed that he was unsure whether he wanted to be a part of a project as big asTop Gun: Maverick. The first film in 1986 was one of the best promotional materials for the U.S. Navy. Teller, hailing from a military family, knew the importance of the film and doubted his involvement.The Spectacular Nowactor shared withMen’s Health:
“I don’t want this to come out the wrong way, but there was a part of me that didn’t know if I wanted to be a part of something that could bring that much attention and success to me. Everybody views success differently. For me, it didn’t necessarily mean being a part of the biggest movie.”
It appears that theWar Dogsactor’s aversion to big films stemmed from the poor reception of his Marvel project,Fantastic Four. The film, which failed to break even at the box office, was critically panned, and Teller’s Mister Fantastic role was his weakest performance to date.
Also Read:“I just kept saying no”: Tom Cruise Nearly Landed $168M Bruce Willis Movie For A Role That Was Also Sought By Brad Pitt
Two Factors Convinced Miles Teller And One Of Them Was Tom Cruise
Despite his initial hesitation, Miles Teller played the conflicted role of Bradley Bradshaw to perfection. The film was unanimously praised by critics, unlike the mixed reception for its prequel. However, there were two motivating factors that convinced theDivergentactor to accept the role. One was the persuasive nature of Tom Cruise, who even flew to Florida to get Teller to accept the role.
The second motivating factor was Teller’s family and friends who served in the military. After conversations with his Marine grandfather, his uncle who was deployed in Vietnam, and his childhood friend who serves overseas, Teller decided to take the role. He disclosed that he used the role to give a voice to American soldiers. TheTwo Night Standactor toldMen’s Health:
“You wanna give a voice to these guys. In the wars that we fight now, our military comes from very specific parts of the country and socioeconomic classes. We’re losing that connection between civilians and military and our veterans.”
Also Read:“Yeah, yeah, funny – try writing with the pen”: Tom Cruise’s Co-Star Was Stunned After Making Fun Of His Giant Pen That He Later Called ‘Angel Wing’
The Oscar-nominated film turned out to be a worthy choice for Miles Teller as it became his career’s most successful movie. BothTop GunandTop Gun: Maverickare now available for streaming on Paramount+.
Source:Men’s Health
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3021
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
