Top Gun: Maverick Cast (2022)
Paramount Pictures | Action / Drama | 130 minutes | Directed by Joseph Kosinski
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) is a sequel to the 1986 action classic Top Gun, arriving 36 years later with Tom Cruise reprising his role as the legendary naval aviator Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Now a test pilot deliberately avoiding promotion, Maverick is ordered to train a new class of Top Gun graduates for a dangerous classified mission — among them the son of his late wingman Goose. Director Joseph Kosinski shot much of the film using real F/A-18 Super Hornets, giving the aviation sequences an unprecedented feeling of authenticity. The film became a global phenomenon, earning over $1.49 billion at the worldwide box office and winning the Academy Award for Best Sound.
The Top Gun: Maverick cast balances the returning star power of Tom Cruise with a carefully assembled ensemble of younger actors playing the elite Dagger Squad pilots. Tom Cruise, at the time 59 years old, underwent intensive real flight training to perform as much aviation work as possible himself — a commitment that defined the film's authenticity. Miles Teller was cast as Rooster after extensive searching for an actor who could hold his own against Cruise and convey the complex father-son undercurrent of the Maverick-Rooster relationship. Glen Powell, as the antagonistic Hangman, emerged from the film as one of Hollywood's brightest new stars. Jennifer Connelly brought warmth and credibility to Penny Benjamin, a character previously referenced but not seen in the original. And Val Kilmer's appearance as a visibly ailing Iceman — mirroring his real-life health struggles — gave the film an emotional depth that extended beyond the action spectacle.
Main Cast
Tom Cruise
Pete "Maverick" Mitchell
The legendary naval aviator who, decades after his Top Gun days, is called back to train a new generation for a mission only the very best pilots can survive; Maverick has avoided promotion to remain in the cockpit.
Miles Teller
Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw
Son of Maverick's late wingman Nick "Goose" Bradshaw; Rooster harbors deep resentment toward Maverick for interfering in his career, but must work through that tension to survive the mission.
Jennifer Connelly
Penny Benjamin
The owner of a bar near the Naval Air Station and Maverick's love interest; Penny is grounded, self-sufficient, and unimpressed by Maverick's legend, which makes their relationship feel earned rather than assumed.
Jon Hamm
Vice Admiral "Cyclone" Simpson
The commanding officer who oversees the Dagger Squad training program; Cyclone is skeptical of Maverick's unconventional methods and serves as the institutional authority Maverick perpetually chafes against.
Glen Powell
Lieutenant "Hangman" Seresin
The most gifted but most selfish pilot in the Dagger Squad; Hangman is a deliberate echo of the original Maverick's arrogance, and his arc across the film is one of the most satisfying character developments in the ensemble.
Lewis Pullman
Lieutenant "Bob" Floyd
Phoenix's quiet, unassuming radar intercept officer; Bob's seemingly mild demeanor masks technical brilliance, and he becomes an unexpected fan favorite through a series of understated comedic moments.
Ed Harris
Rear Admiral Chester "Hammer" Cain
A senior naval officer and adversary to Maverick; Harris brings his characteristic gravitas to a role that establishes early stakes by threatening Maverick's continued involvement in the program.
Val Kilmer
Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazansky
Maverick's former rival turned close friend; now the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Iceman is battling illness but uses what influence he has left to protect Maverick's place in the program.
Monica Barbaro
Lieutenant "Phoenix" Trace
One of the Dagger Squad's most capable pilots; Phoenix is professional, measured, and forms a close partnership with Bob as her RIO, providing a steady counterpoint to the squad's more volatile personalities.
Danny Ramirez
Lieutenant "Fanboy" Garcia
A Dagger Squad pilot whose enthusiasm and earnestness provide levity; Fanboy's role in the final mission sequence is critical to the film's most suspenseful moments.
Greg Tarzan Davis
Lieutenant "Coyote" Machado
A confident, skilled Dagger Squad pilot who is one of the more seasoned members of the group; Coyote brings composure to high-pressure situations within the squad.
Supporting & Recurring Cast
| Actor | Character | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Ellis | Lieutenant "Payback" McCoy | A Dagger Squad pilot who pairs with Fanboy; one of the physically imposing members of the group selected for the mission | Film |
| Jack Schumacher | Lieutenant "Slim" Lindsey | One of the Dagger Squad pilots who is ultimately not selected for the final mission; part of the competitive training environment | Film |
| Manny Jacinto | Lieutenant "Fritz" Felder | Another Dagger Squad candidate who faces elimination during Maverick's demanding training program | Film |
| Bashir Salahuddin | Warrant Officer Bernie "Hondo" Coleman | Maverick's trusted crew chief and long-standing support; provides continuity with the broader franchise universe | Film |
| Charles Parnell | Rear Admiral Solomon "Warlock" Bates | The senior naval officer who operates alongside Cyclone; part of the command structure overseeing the Dagger Squad mission | Film |
| Lyliana Wray | Amelia Benjamin | Penny's teenage daughter; her presence adds a domestic dimension to Maverick's relationship with Penny | Film |
| Jean Louisa Kelly | Sarah Bradshaw | Rooster's mother and Goose's widow; seen in a brief flashback that reinforces the emotional stakes of Rooster and Maverick's complicated bond | Film (flashback) |
Creators & Production
Joseph Kosinski
Director — worked with Tom Cruise on Oblivion (2013) and brought a disciplined visual approach to the aviation sequences; Kosinski insisted on real in-cockpit camera work rather than digital simulation.
Tom Cruise
Producer and star — Cruise was the creative engine behind the sequel, insisting on practical aviation, extended training for all actors, and a theatrical release rather than streaming.
Jerry Bruckheimer
Producer — the veteran producer who produced the original Top Gun in 1986 returned to oversee the sequel, providing continuity of vision across the 36-year gap between films.
Christopher McQuarrie
Screenwriter — contributed heavily to the script alongside Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer; McQuarrie's action-writing expertise helped tighten the mission structure and character dynamics.
Harold Faltermeyer
Composer — returned to score the sequel alongside Hans Zimmer and Lady Gaga collaborator Lorne Balfe; Faltermeyer's iconic synth theme from the original was preserved and updated.
Claudio Miranda
Cinematographer — developed custom camera rigs to mount inside F/A-18 cockpits; Miranda won an Academy Award for Life of Pi and brought that same technical ingenuity to the cockpit photography.
About the Top Gun: Maverick Cast
Assembling the cast of Top Gun: Maverick required solving an unusual problem: how to find young actors who could convincingly portray elite Navy pilots while also undergoing genuine flight training. The production required all of the primary Dagger Squad actors — Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis, and Jack Schumacher — to undergo three months of flight training in real T-6 Texan II aircraft before cameras rolled. Several actors reported suffering through severe airsickness during training before their bodies adapted. The goal was to capture authentic physiological reactions to G-forces that no amount of acting could replicate, and the result gave the film's cockpit sequences a visceral credibility that distinguished them from even the best digitally produced aviation films.
The casting of Miles Teller as Rooster was particularly significant because the role required an actor who could embody a kind of legacy grief — the weight of being the son of a beloved character who died in the original film — without becoming maudlin. Teller's ability to project simmering resentment beneath a professional surface made the Maverick-Rooster scenes the film's emotional core. Glen Powell, cast as the abrasive Hangman, was a late addition to the film — reportedly the original script had a different configuration — but his chemistry with the ensemble proved so strong that his role was expanded during production. Val Kilmer's participation in the film was secured through a genuine creative conversation about how to honor Kilmer's health situation, resulting in one of the most moving scenes in either film.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Top Gun: Maverick?
Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and Miles Teller as Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw. The film also features Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer, Monica Barbaro, Danny Ramirez, and Greg Tarzan Davis.
Who plays Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick?
Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw is played by Miles Teller. Rooster is the son of Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, Maverick's late wingman from the original Top Gun (1986), and the father-son dynamic between Rooster and Maverick is central to the film's emotional story.
Who directed Top Gun: Maverick?
Top Gun: Maverick was directed by Joseph Kosinski, who had previously worked with Tom Cruise on Oblivion (2013). Kosinski oversaw the film's extensive practical aviation photography, which involved mounting cameras on real F/A-18 Super Hornets.
When was Top Gun: Maverick released?
Top Gun: Maverick was released on May 27, 2022 by Paramount Pictures after being delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise's career, earning over $1.49 billion worldwide.
Does Val Kilmer appear in Top Gun: Maverick?
Yes, Val Kilmer reprises his role as Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in a brief but emotionally powerful scene. Kilmer had been diagnosed with throat cancer in real life, and the scene — in which Iceman and Maverick reconnect for the last time — was written to reflect Kilmer's own health journey. Kilmer passed away in April 2025.
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