As everyone knows, Tom Cruise leads an action-packed life akin to that of a movie star. The actor enjoys a good thrill, and he performs almost all of his own stunts. And it was his dedication that led him to accept one of his most prominent roles, Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, in the 1986 action flick Top Gun.
So, in the case of this Paramount Pictures film, the actor had an unusual demand that ultimately saved the film from disaster. Well, after a less-than-ideal experience working with director Ridley Scott on the movie Legend, Cruise was understandably cautious about committing to a new project.
When producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer approached him with the script for Top Gun, Cruise liked it but felt that it “needed some work”.
Instead of immediately signing on to the project, Cruise made a bold offer to the producers: he wanted to work on the script with them before making a final decision.
Top Gun: Convincing Tom Cruise to Star in The Flick Was Not Easy
Tom Cruise is known for his dedication to creating blockbuster flicks that are bound to be enjoyed by as many people as possible on the biggest screen. One of his most memorable experiences was definitely his work on Top Gun, a project he was initially apprehensive about.
After a disappointing collaboration with Ridley Scott on the 1985 epic dark fantasy adventure film Legend, Cruise was hesitant to jump into another project without ensuring its success (via Rolling Stone). That’s when producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer stepped in with the idea for Top Gun.
For those who are unaware, Legend received negative reviews from critics in addition to being a commercial failure, making only $23.5 million on a $25 million budget.
Initially unsure about Top Gun’s script, Cruise made a demand to Simpson and Bruckheimer—he wanted to work on it with them before committing to the project. In the interview with Rolling Stone, the actor, 61, recalled:
I liked it but it needed a lot of work. I was worried. I said, ‘After two months, if I don’t want to do it, the script’s gonna be in good enough shape, and you’ll have more of a sense of what you want to do. And there are other actors.’ I think they were kind of taken aback at first, [but] after coming off Legend, I just wanted to make sure that everything was gonna go the way we talked about it.
This level of involvement and dedication to ensuring the film’s success impressed the producers, and they agreed to Cruise’s terms. The actor worked tirelessly with Simpson and Bruckheimer to perfect the script and develop his character. They would meet and work for “five or six hours”, discussing and acting out scenes to bring the story to life.
Simpson stated:
He [Tom Cruise] was terrific. Tom would show up at my house, grab a beer, and we’d work five or six hours on the script. Sometimes we’d act scenes out…We had a lot of fun.
Eventually, all of the effort paid off, as Top Gun became an enormous worldwide hit, earning $357 million on a $15 million production budget and catapulting Cruise to new heights in his career (Box Office Mojo). His dedication to making films that connect with audiences and provide high-quality entertainment is admirable.
The Actor Who Missed Out on Maverick’s Iconic Role
While Tom Cruise’s breakthrough performance came in the 1983 film Risky Business, his reputation as a Hollywood action star was cemented three years later with the release of Top Gun. Although he will always be linked to Tony Scott’s 1986 film, the former was not the original pick to portray Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell.
Indeed, the character might have been performed by a different actor if events had turned out differently.
Matthew Modine was the first to be offered Maverick’s role. New York Magazine claimed that Modine, who rose to fame with her roles in Birdy and Mrs. Soffel, “famously turned down the Tom Cruise role in ‘Top Gun’ because he did not agree with the film’s politics.” This decision opened the door for Cruise to step into the role and make it his own.
Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Sean Penn, and Michael J. Fox were among the other actors who were given consideration for Maverick’s role (via Screen Rant). Each of these actors could’ve brought their unique talents to the table, but ultimately it was Cruise who soared to new heights with his performance.
The ensemble cast also featured Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, and Tom Skerritt.