It's been 30 years since Tom Cruise became a worldwide phenomenon as hot shot fighter pilot Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in Tony Scott's Top Gun. The film has become iconic for its amazing soundtrack, legendary on-screen bromances, and stunning aerial photography - and that legacy definitely endures to this day. However, it seems that making the film wasn't just a walk in the park. Cruise recently opened up regarding the training to step into the role of Maverick, and given that it includes bouts of vomiting and choking, it sounds pretty damn intense.
During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tom Cruise talked about the insane preparation that went into the making of Top Gun. When he stepped into the passenger seat of a jet for his first flight, a test pilot by the name of 'Bozo' pushed the plane to its limit and caused Cruise to vomit almost immediately. Despite the movie star's repeated insistence that Bozo needed to slow down, the pilot kept at it and caused the actor to choke at every turn. In layman's terms, he unapologetically put the silver screen legend through hell. Said Cruise,
For our first flight in the morning, we were going really hard, moving around. We did 9.5 gs, very hard on my body. I had a vomit bag right here, so in between takes I leaned down to quickly empty my guts in the bag. The second I did that, he pulls up. My head was literally on the ground from the pressure. I was pressed on the floor, holding my vomit. I kept going 'Bozo! Bozo!' I was choking, and he just kept pulling up and up. Finally he released, and we were going straight ahead. I was like, 'Bozo, what's the matter with you, man? Didn't you see my head was on the floor?' He was like, 'Well I told you, they don't call me Bozo for nothing.'
It certainly sounds like it was a hellish experience, but given news that has floated around, it also seems like it might be one that Tom Cruise could revisit in the next few years. While the actor isn't really known for franchises outside of Mission: Impossible and Jack Reacher, Top Gun is the type of property that seems to demand a sequel, and fans have clamoring for a follow-up to the 1986 classic for a long time now. Although nothing is set in stone, Cruise has remained vocal and confident that he will don Maverick's iconic leather jacket and aviator glasses once again if the right story comes along for that character. Let's hope that the right idea does come along.
Check out the video below to watch Tom Cruise recount his sickening experiences with Bozo:
We still have no idea whether or not Top Gun will ever get the franchise treatment, however, if it does we have a feeling that Tom Cruise may choose to skip the training this time around -- at least if Bozo comes back to work on the film. Make sure to catch the star's latest work when Jack Reacher: Never Go Back hits theaters this Friday, October 21!
