According to reports, the sequel to Top Gun might not have come to fruition without Val Kilmer’s participation.
Top Gun: Maverick, released in 2022, garnered critical acclaim even though it arrived nearly four decades after the original 1986 hit.
The film became one of the highest grossing releases of the year.
Tom Cruise returned as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, and Kilmer, who sadly passed away at age 65 on April 1, was eager to join the project as well.
Kilmer first gained fame in Top Gun portraying Maverick’s initial adversary, Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, a role that established his career in Hollywood.
Given this iconic status, he was enthusiastic about reprising his role as Iceman in the sequel. However, his vocal impairment posed a potential challenge.
Kilmer’s voice was affected due to a tracheostomy he underwent following a throat cancer diagnosis in 2014.
Nevertheless, both Kilmer and Cruise were determined not to let this obstacle hinder his return as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick.
READ MORE:
VAL KILMER’S HEARTBREAKING FINAL INSTAGRAM POSTS
In his memoir, Kilmer expressed: “Tom was Maverick, but Maverick’s nemesis was Iceman. The two went together like salt and pepper.
“It didn’t matter that the producers didn’t contact me. As The Temptations sang in the heyday of Motown soul, ‘Ain’t too proud to beg.’”
Production did not need to reach out, as Cruise had already taken initiative.
Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced Top Gun: Maverick alongside Cruise, shared insights.
“[Cruise] said, ‘We have to have Val, we have to have him back. We have to have him in the film,'” Bruckheimer told People in 2021.
“He was the driving force. We all wanted him, but Tom was really adamant that if he’s going to make another Top Gun, Val had to be in it.”
Bruckheimer praised Kilmer, saying: “He’s such a fine actor, and he’s such a good individual. We had such a good time on the first one and wanted to bring some of the gang back together again.”
Advancements in technology enabled Kilmer’s return as Iceman. The British AI company Sonantic employed recordings from his acting career to digitally recreate his voice.
“I’m grateful to the entire team at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a way I’ve never imagined possible,” Kilmer said after the creation of various voice models for him.
He further stated: “As human beings, the ability to communicate is the core of our existence and the effects from throat cancer have made it difficult for others to understand me.
“The chance to tell my story, in a voice that feels authentic and familiar, is an incredibly special gift.”