Production for “Top Gun 2” is kicking into action. Tom Cruise will once again reprise his role as the hot-shot pilot, Maverick. Val Kilmer will also reprise his character Iceman, but Paramount Pictures is looking for another new male lead.
The highly coveted role is for the son of Maverick’s wingman and best pal, Goose. 3 famous Hollywood actors have been shortlisted as frontrunners. They are Nicholas Hoult, Glen Powell and Miles Teller.
For those that don’t know, Goose was killed in an accident in “Top Gun”. His young son is all grown up now. Word on the street has it that Dylan O’Brien and Austin Butler were previously in the running during the early stages. But for the 2nd instalment, it’s now down to Hoult, Powell, and Teller.
Critics suggest that Teller might have a slight advantage; having only starred in director Joseph Kosinski’s “Only the Brave”. Kosinski will be reuniting with Cruise after he directed sci-fi drama “Oblivion”.
Having said that, Powell might be a better choice for the role since he has an undeniable charisma that evokes a vibe that made Goose so memorable. You may know him from the recently-released Netflix rom-com “Set It Up” or Fox’s TV series “Scream Queens”. He also played astronaut John Glenn in “Hidden Figures”.
Don’t count Hoult out though. The Brit recently wrapped filming the lead role in the J.R.R. Tolkein biopic “Tolkein” and reprises his role as Beast in X-Men’s “Dark Phoenix”.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Collider.
