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Tom Cruise has been a part of several high-profile movies and projects with iconic characters that have made him popular today. The 1986 action flick Top Gun has always been at the top of the list. The first movie has become a pop culture fixture and amassed $357.3 million worldwide. More than thirty years later, the internet went into a frenzy when the sequel was announced. Tom Cruise reprised his role as LT Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell for the movie with a slate of fresh faces as he takes on a near-impossible mission to accomplish with his navy pilots.
Alongside Tom Cruise, many actors have joined the iconic film series to make it a success with a more daring yet emotional plotline that has resonated with the audiences. While Cruise is the most notable actor, let’s look at the other Maverick stars who are also a part of the series and their massive net worths cashed from other projects.
Lewis Pullman ($1 million)
A mysteriously straightforward character, Lewis Pullman’s Bob is an unassuming character who eventually finds his strength. Pullman is one of the new faces introduced in the Top Gun series and is also a new face in Hollywood. Son of actor Bill Pullman, Lewis has found his strength in working in mysterious yet action-thriller films. The 29-year-old Pullman was seen working in notable movies such as Bad Times At El Royale, Outer Range, and Catch 22, having amassed a $1 million fortune.
Glen Powell ($1 million)
Glen Powell initially auditioned for Miles Teller’s character Hangman. However, he lost the role to Miles. While Powell was reluctant to take on the role as it was similar to Kilmer’s character in the 1986 film, Cruise convinced him to join the project, and they developed it to better suit his Hangman. According to the New York Times, Powell is known to play a myriad of roles and was seen in projects such as Set It Up, Scream Queens, and Hidden Figures.
Monica Barbaro ($1 million)
As the Top Gun military did not allow women to fly combat until 1993, the 1986 movie did not star any female pilot characters. Monica Barbaro’s role of Phoenix reflects the new roles that women have taken over in the regiment, and real-life female Navy pilots handled her filmed scenes. Called Phoenix in the movie as she arose from the ashes, Barbaro has garnered a $1 million net worth from her roles in Chicago Justice, Good Cop, and UnREAL.
Jay Ellis ($3 million)
Jay Ellis’ father, who was a mechanic in the Air Force back in 1986, took the young actor to watch the first movie. The young boy was so enraptured by the film that he wanted to become a part of it. While Ellis became an actor, thirty years later, he starred in Top Gun: Maverick. As mentioned by Esquire, the actor wanted to represent Black navy pilots the right way as the first movie only had one character. He came to prominence in 2013 in the BET series The Game and has starred in various television shows and films, including Escape Room and Insecure.
Jon Hamm ($45 million)
As the role of Admiral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson, Jon Hamm plays a more restrained role in Maverick compared to the other younger actors. The action-heavy movie saw Hamm playing a supporting role who is the Commander of the Naval Forces. Hamm became prominent after playing the lead role of Don Draper in the hit series Mad Men earning an Emmy for his role. He has also starred in movies such as Baby Driver, Tag, and Shrek.
Miles Teller ($10 million)
Miles Teller has had a relatively shorter career in Hollywood; however, the actor has taken on roles in independent and blockbuster movies to diversify his career. In Maverick, he portrayed the role of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of Nick "Goose" Bradshaw from the original Top Gun movie. Teller became one of the most talked-about celebrities after the movie's release. He is also known for his stunning portrayals in Whiplash, War Dogs, and Fantastic Beasts, as noted by Cheat Sheet.
Val Kilmer ($25 million)
Kilmer reprised his role from the 1986 movie for a short cameo in the 2022 sequel. As the actor has lost his voice due to chemotherapy and tracheostomy, his character was brought back using AI software. Kilmer first found fame appearing in comedy movies and later starred in action and drama movies, including putting on the cape to become the dark knight in Batman Forever.
Jennifer Connelly ($50 million)
Playing romantic interest opposite Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly plays a bartender named Penny Benjamin, who captures the heart of LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. A new character in the series, Connelly was excited to become a part of the series. As reported by Britannica, Connelly is an Academy Award-winning actress for her role in A Beautiful Mind. She has also starred in other critically acclaimed movies such as Pollock, Blood Diamond, and Noah.
Top Gun: Maverick was released in theatres on May 27, 2022, worldwide and has broken the barriers of the record held by its predecessor. It has become the highest-grossing movie of 2022 and continues to soar. Within a month, the film has grossed over $900 million and has its eyes set on entering the $1 billion club.
Sources: New York Times, Esquire, Cheat Sheet, Britannica
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