Maverick Improves An Original Movie Joke So Much in "Top Gun"

Top Gun: Maverick improved Maverick's story by turning a forgotten throwaway line from the first Top Gun into a significant sequel subplot.

[{"selector":"#anim-2cc556fe-b751-455d-810c-e15f6d456d20 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-a25a30d0-cb04-4364-9dcc-506e9ffde2f7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.4210854715202004e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] A side joke from the first Top Gun refers to an unseen admiral's daughter, which turns out to be a pivotal—and unexpectedly romantic—character in Top Gun: Maverick.

[{"selector":"#anim-0a97496e-6980-46ba-b359-e00b229a899f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.4732143796841655%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Although the tone of the first Top Gun and the delayed sequel Top Gun: Maverick was similar, the way that each film portrayed Tom Cruise's roguish antihero Maverick couldn't have been more dissimilar.

[{"selector":"#anim-8e292f9d-7769-4994-8093-46e31abd1b83 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Maverick is an aging has-been who is haunted by regret (despite still having his flying skills) in Top Gun: Maverick as opposed to the original Top Gun,

where he is a feckless, reckless rebel whose flying prowess isn't enough to keep him out of trouble with the Navy's top brass.

[{"selector":"#anim-141c0f61-ec9a-45b8-8bbd-dab08bd59186 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-728edebd-5112-4e34-9ed0-e1ab0698b901 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.4210854715202004e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Top Gun: Maverick ended with the antihero happier and more content than he had ever been in the decades between the first film and its sequel, even though Top Gun 3 may take Maverick's story in a darker direction.

Maverick's peace, though, wasn't easy to obtain. The main character of Top Gun:

[{"selector":"#anim-ec2a7748-e89e-493e-94d3-7c7892385f80 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-3b3dcc5e-703f-4ab4-a687-d3c0c064204c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

CHECK OUT TRENDING STORIES