Joseph Kosinski Shares That the Iceman Storyline in TOP GUN: MAVERICK Was Conceived By Val Kilmer

This summer’s blockbuster movie Top Gun: Maverick was a huge hit with fans and critics alike. It brought movie fans back to the theaters and showed us that we could get an incredible sequel to a beloved original movie 36 years later. One of the best parts of the film was the return of the character Iceman. Val Kilmer’s performance in the role was moving, heartbreaking, and nostalgic, and it turns out that the actor himself conceived of that storyline.

The film’s director, Joseph Kosinski, recently sat down with Deadline to chat about some of the best scenes in the movie, and he talked about Kilmer, explaining:

“I’ll never forget the shoot day with him and Tom. That scene with those two guys, two actors at their absolute best pulling off a scene like that, their first time together on camera since 1986. The friendship between the two, the mutual respect between the two of them as real people very much mirrors the characters. So, I think that’s why that scene lands so well. When we were putting the film together, we all wanted Val to be a part of it, but we just didn’t know what was possible. So, we had Val come in and said to him, ‘We’d love to have you in this film.’ It was his idea to make it feel as authentic as possible. Once he had that idea, it opened up that whole storyline and just allowed us to tell this story in a better way. I was blown away when he offered that up. The scene was intense and very emotional, but when the camera wasn’t running, hearing him and Tom talk about the hijinks of making the first film and how much fun they had and the tricks they were pulling on each other, and just the craziness of that time and that era, was really fun to listen in on. You really felt that connective tissue to the past.”

The scene really did feel like to old friends picking up where they left off, with the utmost admiration and love for one another. Their feelings shone through the scene, and it was incredible to watch. I’m so glad Kilmer returned for the film, and had the creative input he did.

Top Gun: Maverick is streaming now on Paramount+, and is available to rent or own.