Maverick to be a pale imitation of the young, healthy man who had first played Iceman in Top Gun decades ago. Cancer had ravaged his physical strength, stealing his ability to speak properly, and left him really weak.

Jerry Bruckheimer, a producer on the sequel, said in 2022 that Tom Cruise was the "driving force" behind getting Val Kilmer to return for the movie.

There have been quite a few tributes to Val Kilmer and his presence, and there are bound to be many more in the days to come. As the man who Batman Forever co-star Jim Carrey call