Top Gun: Encyclopedia II - Top Gun - Casting

Top Gun - Casting

From the early stages during the production of the Top Gun script, it was always known that Tom Cruise was the most wanted actor to play Maverick. As Cruise did originally turn down both Bruckheimer and Simpson, yet worked with the pair to develop the material, both producers knew that Tom needed more persuading to sign on to the project. Cruise who was hot property after releasing All the Right Moves was taken for a joy ride with the "Blue Angels", and after that flight Cruise ran to the nearest pay phone to sign up for Top Gun.

At the time of casting, Val Kilmer had the same agent as Tom Cruise, so Kilmer had heard about the project some time ago. Kilmer went to a casting in New York City, where he apparently left rather uninterested. Director Tony Scott, however, ran after Kilmer, stood in front of the elevator and said: "You gotta do it!". Kilmer was just what Scott was searching for, with the right charisma and charm that would contrast well with Cruise. Inspirations which gave Scott a clear vision for what he was searching for within characters came from none other than Bruce Webber, a gay photographer who came to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. It was one of his photographs which actually pictured three men with uncanny resemblance to Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, and Rick Rossovich, who would later be cast as 'Slider' to partner Kilmer in the skies.

Kelly McGillis, riding off the success of "Witness", was cast as Cruise's love interest. McGillis possessed a quality which showed maturity, yet beauty, at the same time, which was exactly what Bruckheimer and Simpson were looking for. She could be glamorous yet not look out of place in a Top Gun classroom. Meg Ryan who was originally second choice for her role, was also cast alongside Anthony Edwards who was cast as 'Goose'.

The cast became notorious in the San Diego area; it seemed as though the whole of Hollywood had hit town at once. Reports indicate that the young cast were having parties almost every night. The Bahia Hotel, where the majority of the cast was staying, became a central location for partying during shooting. Val Kilmer was fined for running a red light, while the rest of his co-workers where drinking in the back of the vehicle, and reports indicate that Kilmer and Rick Rossovich were escorted off an aircraft carrier during the last days of shooting for having too much of a good time.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Casting", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki