The Story Behind Val Kilmer’s Improv Moment With Tom Cruise On The Set Of Top Gun That Led To Genuine Laughter Among The Cast

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Top Gun was a massive success in the 1980s for multiple reasons. Back then, the movie captured everyone’s hearts, and even today, audiences are eagerly anticipating a sequel. A significant factor that contributed to the film’s popularity is Val Kilmer’s standout portrayal of Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. Lately, fans have been reminiscing about Kilmer’s iconic movie scenes after his recent passing. Interestingly, one of his most memorable lines from the aviator movie was not originally scripted, making it even more amusing to those on set.

A popular post circulating on Instagram discusses a tale from the set of Top Gun, focusing on a well-known scene. It seems that Iceman’s line, “that’s bullsh*t,” during Maverick’s story about meeting an adversary jet up close, was actually an improvisation by Kilmer. Remarkably, the responses from everyone in the scene were so spot-on that the moment was kept in the final cut, as ScreenUnlocked highlights on Instagram.

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If the initial statement was an improvised line, then the subsequent one likely was too. In the movie, Anthony Edwards’ character Goose swears by the truth of it and boasts about how brilliant the move was. Despite his lack of conviction, this exchange is what makes it amusing.

Finding accurate information about details from a movie made almost 40 years ago can be challenging, making it hard to pinpoint the origin of certain facts. However, the claim that some lines in the film Top Gun were improvised during shooting has been told so many times that it’s generally accepted as truth by now. Given that the script was reportedly not finalized when filming started, there’s good reason to believe this improvisation is indeed accurate.

In a remarkable turn of events, Val Kilmer’s portrayal of Iceman in the original Top Gun became so legendary that he was virtually essential to reprise his role in the sequel, apart from Tom Cruise. Consequently, Top Gun: Maverick features a short scene where Iceman and Maverick meet again. Remarkably, this scene was shot despite Kilmer’s persistent health challenges and near-inability to speak at the time. This poignant on-screen moment turned out to be Kilmer’s final performance in cinema. Interestingly enough, Kilmer also played a crucial role in a significant scene from the movie as well.

After Val Kilmer’s passing, numerous fans and friends have expressed heartfelt tributes to honor the talented actor. Tom Cruise, his former co-star, also paid his respects following the sad news. Social media has been flooded with people sharing their favorite roles played by Kilmer. Among these memorable performances, Iceman is one of the most celebrated characters, though Kilmer had many such iconic roles.

Reflecting on the iconic moment Kilmer improvised that singular word, it’s clear he was an extraordinary actor. I can’t help but wonder what more he could have brought to the roles he played in different movies if circumstances had been different.

It appears quite probable that there will be a Top Gun 3. Given the storyline, it’s challenging to conceive that the movie won’t address Iceman’s demise in some way. The impact of his loss will undoubtedly resonate, but both the character and the actor who brought him to life will certainly not fade away.

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2025-04-09 03:09