Tom Cruise's long-awaited sequel to his 1986 classic, Top Gun, finally began production yesterday, and Top Gun: Maverick caused a stir online with its fantastic first image of the titular pilot walking towards his new jet. However, the picture also caused a stir between the Air Force and the Navy, as a friendly rivalry over the speed of their planes has popped up in the wake of the image's debut. Check out the Air Force's response to the Top Gun: Maverick image, below.
The Air Force wasn't an element of the first film in the 1980s, but it looks like we have an entirely new rivalry on our hands. Getting into the nitty-gritty details of the plane specs, the Air Force social account wants everyone to know that the F-15E Strike Eagle would arguably be a better option for someone like Maverick, who has a constant need for speed in his life.
Following that post, the Navy was not going to be outdone. Taking a cue from Slider (Rick Rossovich) in the original Top Gun, the Navy's Twitter account clapped back with one of the most classic lines from the late Tony Scott's 1986 film.
From there, the Air Force brought receipts to back up its claim of the F-15's speed. In fact, it even posted a link to the Smithsonian Channel's articles and videos laying out the specs of the plane. Check it out, below.
Of course, it's worth pointing out the fact that the first look at Top Gun: Maverick doesn't actually say anything about the superiority of the F/A-18 (that appears to be the plan he's walking towards in the image, though we will have to wait and see what he actually flies in the film) or the increased speed of the Navy's planes. Check out the original post, below.
It may seem like nothing to the layperson, but this shift from the F-14 Tomcat to the F/A-18 is a massive change for Top Gun: Maverick. The Navy doesn't use the F-14 anymore, but the original jet has become iconic in the annals of pop culture for its prominent role in the original Top Gun. The F/A-18 might take some getting used to for die-hard fans of the first film, but at least we can take solace knowing that Maverick won't be behind a desk operating a drone during this next Top Gun school year.
We still don't know much about the overall plot of Top Gun: Maverick, but what we do know seems incredibly interesting. The sequel will find Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise) decades after the death of Goose, and it may see the pilot come face to face with the son of his deceased navigator. Director Joseph Kosinski has remained relatively tight-lipped about the direction of the sequel, but he has confirmed that the film will represent a "rite of passage for Maverick" in the vein of the original. Ultimately we're just glad to see the Air Force getting in on the fun because Top Gun wouldn't be Top Gun without a rivalry B story.
Top Gun: Maverick will debut in theaters next summer on July 12, 2019! If you feel the need for speed, then mark the film's release date down on your moviegoing calendars and check out our 2018 movie premiere guide to stay up-to-date on what's coming to the big screen this year!
