is tom cruise a qualified pilot

Is Tom Cruise a real pilot? All about his flying dream

• by Chege Karomo
•  – on May 26, 2022
•  in People

Tom Cruise returns for the second installment of  Top Gun , which promises to be an improvement on the first one. However, before the film’s premiere, Cruise teamed up with television host and actor James Corden to promote the movie. In 2018, Tom took James skydiving; in 2022, Tom strapped him into a plane piloted by the  Mission Impossible  star. 

“I’m gonna go up in a 75-year-old plane with someone who isn’t a pilot? Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,”  Corden protested . 

If it were another actor, it’d be difficult to believe that they were a pilot. However, given Tom Cruise’s penchant for performing his own stunts, it’s pretty easy to fathom Cruise having a pilot’s license. 

Tom Cruise has held a pilot’s license since 1994

Tom Cruise qualified as a pilot in 1994, nearly three decades ago. Cruise reportedly owns several planes, including a luxury Gulfstream jet and his beloved P-51 Mustang, a WWII fighter that’ll appear in  Top Gun . 

“The P-51 Mustang you see in the movie is actually my plane, so I got to pilot in those sequences,” Cruise told  Hello magazine . “I also got to be in the jet fighter a lot more this time, which was thrilling. It was something I had been working up to.”

Cruise told the outlet that  Top Gun  allowed him to fulfill two dreams: flying and acting. “All I ever wanted to be was a pilot or an actor, so Top Gun was a huge moment in so many respects, including my passion for aviation,” Cruise said. “I got to actually fly in an F-14 jet which was a dream come true, and play a character I loved in Maverick.”

Tom told the PA News Service that he advocated for realism in the new  Top Gun , translating to as little computer trickery as possible. For Cruise, a man with a decades-old flying license, flying would be easy, but the rest of the cast needed intense training. 

For three months, the actors developed skills crafted by Cruise and learned how to film while inside the aircraft. However, few can match Tom Cruise, as Miles Teller admitted that he never got used to the feeling:

“We trained for this for a long time, Tom had us in a flight programme for several months before we ever started filming. But it was never something you really ever got, like, super comfortable with, at least for me. It was something that every time I went up, it really tested me and I felt like I wanted to puke pretty much every time.”

Cruise didn’t get to fly the F-18 Super Hornet in  Top Gun

Cruise may be an experienced pilot, but the military doesn’t hand the keys to one of their most prized assets to anyone with a flying license. 

The military hasn’t given a reason why it didn’t offer Cruise the F-18 Super Hornet, but we think money has a lot to do with it. The jet costs $70 million, nearly half of the film’s $152 budget. Few insurers would accept to insure potential damage of such an aircraft. 

Furthermore, despite having a pilot’s license, Cruise may not have the requisite skill to fly an F-18 safely – placing one in his hands would put lives at risk. The crew and cast filmed using real F-18 jets driven by trained Navy pilots. 

Read Next: Is The Darkstar a real plane? Its real-life inspirations explained

RELATED ARTICLES

What is claudia doumit’s ethnicity the actor’s middle eastern roots, where is maia campbell now her battle with drug abuse and bipolar disorder, what is daniel daggers’ ethnicity the real estate mogul’s jewish roots, what is lolo wood’s ethnicity the model’s african american roots.

× Do you know these Musicians from their Movies?

How Many Different Licenses Does Tom Cruise Have

How Many Different Licenses Does Tom Cruise Have? Exploring the Multi-Talented Actor’s Hidden Skills

Tom Cruise is undoubtedly one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, known for his incredible acting talent and his daredevil stunts in action-packed movies. However, there is more to this iconic actor than meets the eye. While many articles focus on his net worth or filmography, let’s take a unique deep dive into Tom Cruise’s lesser-known side by exploring the various licenses he holds. From piloting aircraft to performing his own stunts, here are nine interesting facts about the different licenses Tom Cruise possesses.

1. Private Pilot License:

Tom Cruise is a certified pilot and has held a private pilot license since the early 1990s. He is known for his love of aviation and owns several aircraft, including a Gulfstream IV and a P-51 Mustang.

2. Helicopter License:

In addition to piloting airplanes, Cruise also holds a helicopter license. This allows him to fly helicopters, further showcasing his passion for aviation and adventure.

3. Commercial Pilot License:

Surprisingly, Tom Cruise has gone beyond his private pilot and helicopter licenses and obtained a commercial pilot license. This license permits him to fly aircraft for commercial purposes, should he ever desire to do so.

4. Motorcycle License:

Not only is Cruise skilled in the air, but he is also a licensed motorcycle rider. He has been spotted riding motorcycles both on and off-screen, demonstrating his proficiency in navigating these two-wheeled vehicles.

5. Jet Ski License:

Cruise’s love for high-speed thrills extends to the water as well. He holds a jet ski license, enabling him to ride these exhilarating watercrafts with ease.

6. Skydiving License:

Known for performing daring stunts in his movies, it comes as no surprise that Cruise holds a skydiving license. He is trained in both solo and tandem jumps, allowing him to execute these adrenaline-pumping feats on his own or with a partner.

7. Scuba Diving License:

Exploring the depths of the ocean is yet another passion of Tom Cruise. With a scuba diving license, he can embark on underwater adventures and witness the beauty of marine life up close.

8. Racing License:

Cruise’s need for speed extends beyond motorcycles. He also possesses a racing license, which allows him to participate in motorsport events if he wishes to showcase his driving skills on the track.

9. Weapons License:

Though not surprising considering his action-packed films, Tom Cruise holds a weapons license. This license permits him to handle firearms for various purposes, including training for movie roles that involve the use of weapons.

Now that we’ve explored some fascinating facts about Tom Cruise’s licenses, let’s address some common questions that often arise regarding his diverse skill set.

1. How did Tom Cruise become interested in aviation?

Cruise’s passion for aviation began during his childhood. He often went to the airport to watch planes take off and land, sparking his interest in flying.

2. Has Tom Cruise ever used his pilot license for a movie role?

Yes, he has. In the 2012 film “Jack Reacher,” Cruise flew the helicopter during a thrilling chase scene.

3. How many hours has Tom Cruise logged as a pilot?

While the exact number is unknown, it is reported that Cruise has logged thousands of hours as a pilot.

4. Has Tom Cruise ever raced professionally?

No, Cruise has not competed professionally in motorsports. His racing license is primarily for personal enjoyment and potential participation in amateur events.

5. Has Cruise ever used his weapons license outside of movie sets?

There is no public record of Cruise using his weapons license outside of his movie roles. It is presumed that his training is primarily for on-screen performance purposes.

6. How often does Cruise skydive?

While there is no fixed frequency, Cruise has been known to skydive occasionally, often during breaks from filming.

7. Are there any other licenses or skills that Cruise possesses?

Apart from the licenses mentioned, Cruise is also trained in various martial arts, including karate and aikido.

8. Does Cruise have a captain’s license for operating large vessels?

No, there is no evidence to suggest that Cruise holds a captain’s license for operating large ships or vessels.

9. How does Cruise find time to maintain his licenses while working on films?

Cruise is known for his dedication and intense work ethic. He likely manages his time efficiently to ensure he can pursue his passions alongside his acting commitments.

10. Has Cruise ever used his licenses for humanitarian or philanthropic purposes?

While his licenses may not directly relate to his humanitarian work, Cruise has been actively involved in charitable efforts, particularly through his support of the Church of Scientology’s initiatives.

11. Is Cruise planning to pursue any other licenses in the future?

As his career progresses, it wouldn’t be surprising if Cruise adds more licenses to his repertoire. However, his future intentions remain unknown.

12. Has Cruise ever had any accidents or mishaps while using his licenses?

There have been no reported accidents or mishaps involving Cruise while using any of his licenses. He maintains a high level of professionalism and safety in his pursuits.

13. Are there any films in which Cruise performed his own stunts using his licenses?

While Cruise has performed numerous daring stunts throughout his career, there is no specific information regarding stunts that directly utilized his licenses.

14. Does Cruise’s love for aviation influence his film choices?

Cruise’s passion for aviation may indirectly influence his film choices, as he has starred in movies that involve aviation or aerial sequences, such as “Top Gun” and “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.”

15. Does Cruise plan to pass on his passion for aviation to his children?

Cruise’s children, Isabella and Connor, have shown some interest in flying, but there is no public information regarding their pursuit of licenses.

16. How long did it take Cruise to obtain his various licenses?

The duration of time it took for Cruise to obtain each license varies, as it depends on the specific requirements and training involved for each certification.

17. Does Cruise ever combine his licenses, such as piloting an aircraft while skydiving?

While it might be an exhilarating thought, there is no evidence to suggest that Cruise has combined his licenses in such a manner.

In summary, Tom Cruise’s licenses go far beyond his acting prowess. With his private pilot, helicopter, commercial pilot, motorcycle, jet ski, skydiving, scuba diving, racing, and weapons licenses, he showcases a diverse range of skills and interests. From the skies to the open road and even underwater, Cruise’s licenses reflect his relentless pursuit of adventure and passion for pushing boundaries both on and off-screen.

Related Posts

Young and the restless spoilers july 18 2022, what is sound share on lg tv, what is the order of the fifty shades movies, general hospital spoilers celebrity dirty laundry 2021, if you remove the kind protagonist’s mask spoilers, what channel is peacock tv on directv, who is the actress in the downy unstopables commercial 2022, bold and beautiful spoilers does ridge go back to brooke, the heroine wants me as her sister-in-law novel spoilers, why was betty hutton estranged from her daughters, gh spoilers for the next 2 weeks, jet-setting celebs: exploring the lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous, after school lessons for unripe apples spoilers, does mario die in the little girl who lives down the lane, house of the dragon spoilers episode 9, the girl with the make-believe husband spoiler, where was bocelli family christmas filmed, where was sister swap a hometown holiday filmed, days of our lives spoilers hope and rafe, married at first sight spoilers who stays married season 4.

Simple Flying

What planes does tom cruise own.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Sustainability: How Is United Airlines Upcycling Its Expired Life Jackets?

Why passengers dread getting ssss on a boarding pass, why is united airlines' airbus a350 order so important.

• Tom Cruise is a licensed pilot with qualifications as a multi-engine instrument-rated pilot and helicopter flying skills.
• Cruise owns a collection of airplanes, including a vintage P-51 Mustang fighter from World War II and a Gulfstream IV G4 jet.
• There may be additional aircraft in Cruise's fleet, such as a HondaJet and a Bombardier Challenger 300 jet, according to a travel expert.

It wasn't just a show for 'Top Gun.' Tom Cruise is one of the few actors who genuinely love aviation. He has been a licensed pilot since 1994 and is able to fly several types of aircraft. However, it doesn't stop with a license. The famous Hollywood actor also has a collection of airplanes varying from vintage fighters to business jets.

What kind of license does Cruise have?

In various discussions, Tom Cruise has revealed that his affinity for aviation was crucial to his initial attraction to the original 'Top Gun.' He shared that he holds qualifications as a multi-engine instrument-rated pilot and has continued to enhance his skill set throughout his life. Notably, he acquired helicopter flying skills for the remarkable stunts seen in the 2018 film 'Mission Impossible: Fallout.'

Plane collection

North American P-51 Mustang fighter

During a segment on The Late Late Show, Cruise took host James Corden for a ride in his own vintage P-51 Mustang fighter plane. Tom Cruise acquired this World War II fighter in 2001, which was initially built in 1946.

The P-51 Mustang was an American long-range fighter bomber that served alongside other conflicts during World War II and the Korean War. It was developed by North American Aviation and was retired in 1984. Nevertheless, even today, the fighter is utilized for air racing by civilian pilots. After being donated to an Illinois museum, the plane underwent restoration in 1997.

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

Making his recent performance in ' Top Gun: Maverick ,' Tom Cruise takes to the skies in the P-51 Mustang fighter. What adds intrigue to this is the revelation that he wasn't just portraying the pilot on screen – he was actually at the controls of his very own P-51 Mustang fighter.

Gulfstream IV G4 jet

With an estimated price tag of $20 million, this jet boasts the capability to accommodate as many as 19 passengers. Notably, it reportedly comes furnished with luxuries, including a jacuzzi and a dedicated movie-screening room, according to Business Insider.

The Gulfstream IV G4 is a long-range executive jet designed and built by Gulfstream , a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, United States, from 1985 until 2018. Its production spanned from 1985 to 2018, resulting in over 900 G4 units taking to the skies. This jet can cover distances of up to 7,100 kilometers and achieve a top speed of 850 kilometers per hour.

Is there more?

Whether the actor has more aircraft in its fleet has been under speculation as it was never officially confirmed. But according to a Business Insider report, in addition to the vintage fighter jet and the Gulfstream IV G4, Jack Sweeney, who is famous for reporting the travel habits of numerous celebrities, including Elon Musk, said he has been able to identify Cruise's HondaJet and a Bombardier Challenger 300 jet.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

Sources: Business Insider , South China Morning Post

• North America

Is Tom Cruise actually a pilot?

• June 30, 2024

Did Tom Cruise actually fly in Top Gun?

Is angelina jolie a licensed pilot, why didn't top gun: maverick use f-22, why is there no f-35 in top gun: maverick, tom cruise is an amazing pilot and that is his p-51 mustang but just how good is he.

Did they actually fly an F-14 in Top Gun: Maverick?

What country banned top gun: maverick, does tom cruise own a fighter jet, why didn't they use fifth gen fighters in top gun: maverick, what is the 5th gen fighter in top gun: maverick, is brad pitt a pilot, is tim mcgraw a pilot, what singer is also a pilot, who was the real pilot in top gun, is mach 10 possible, what licenses does tom cruise have, why can t iceman talk top gun: maverick, why is f-22 not used in top gun, did they fly a real f-14 in maverick, what is tom cruise's net worth in 2024, how much is tom cruise p51 mustang worth, how fast is ten mach, why is maverick banned in china, will there be a top gun 3.

Movie Bureau | copyright © 2019-2022 all rights reserved

• MOVIE SEARCH ENGINE
• MOVIE LISTS

Fri 30 Aug 2024

2024 newspaper of the year

@ Contact us

Your newsletters

Can Tom Cruise fly fighter jets? When he got his pilot’s licence and how much of Top Gun he’s flying for real

Tom cruise is famous for his commitment to realism, and frequently performs his own stunts.

The much anticipated Top Gun: Maverick i s about to hit the big screen, and critics are already raving about the quality of the flight scenes.

Tom Cruise is famous for his commitment to realism, frequently performs his own stunts, and even broke his ankle while filming Mission Impossible in London in 2018.

But does the daredevil do his own flying? Here’s everything you need to know.

What can we expect from the new Top Gun ?

Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is back and is still feeling the need for speed. His bosses have him in their line of fire, but he remains the best navy test pilot around and commands respect from his flying colleagues.

There is a seemingly impossible mission to blow up an Iranian uranium enrichment plant and Maverick is dispatched to train up an elite team of graduates for the task.

Expect some breathtaking aerobatic displays which, judging by the critics and not entirely surprisingly, outstrip those of the original.

Geoffrey Macnab, writing in i , said “the aerial photography is every bit as spectacular as you would expect”.

The sequel, he adds, “defies cynicism and confirms Tom Cruise’s status as Hollywood’s ‘mission leader’ when it comes to blockbusters ”.

Deadline Hollywood praised the film saying it “tops the original in every way imaginable” adding it is “an example of Hollywood filmmaking at its zenith”.

The original Top Gun was released on 16 May, 1986 and went on to become one of the most famous films of the 80s.

In 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, deeming it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Is the flying real?

Cruise is well known for doing his own stunts, and he has built that reputation through decades of action films such as the Mission Impossible and Jack Reacher movies.

“People had asked for a sequel for decades,” Cruise told the PA News service. “And the thing I said to the studio from the beginning was: ‘If I’m ever going to entertain this, we’re shooting everything practically. I’m in that F/A-18, period.”

The cast of Maverick underwent serious training in how to cope in the air, meaning the footage you see is in fact real, not CGI.

The course was developed by Cruise, lated three months, and included tuition in underwater evacuation, aerial aviation and flight itself.

They were also prepared for the dynamic pressures of G-force.

They started in single-engined planes, moved on to a Czech-designed jet trainer called the Aero L-39 Albatros, and then the F-18 Super Hornet.

Miles Teller, who plays ‘Rooster’ the son of ‘Goose’ from the original film, explained: “We trained for this for a long time, Tom had us in a flight programme for several months before we ever started filming.

“But it was never something you really ever got, like, super comfortable with, at least for me. It was something that every time I went up, it really tested me and I felt like I wanted to puke pretty much every time.”

The team also learned to operate cameras and about cinematography as they were essentially filming themselves up there.

But were they actually in control of the aircraft?

Despite this training the Navy did insist on having trained officers at the controls of the F-18 Super Hornet, which is worth £56m.

Glen Roberts, the chief of the Pentagon’s entertainment media office, said a regulation bars non-military personnel from controlling a Defence Department asset other than small arms in training scenarios.

Instead, the actors rode behind F/A-18 pilots, and external shots are of trained Navy pilots.

Cruise, who has been a licensed pilot since 1994, did fly a P-51 propeller-driven fighter plane and a few helicopters for the movie.

The planes aircraft carriers and military bases are also real locations.

Who else stars in the Top Gun: Maverick ?

The cast includes:

• Tom Cruise as Captain Peter “Maverick” Mitchell, a test pilot
• Miles Teller as Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw
• Jennifer Connelly as Penelope “Penny” Benjamin
• Val Kilmer as Lieutenant Tom “Iceman” Kazansky
• Jon Hamm as Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson
• Ed Harris Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain

It was directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and long-time Cruise collaborator, Christopher McQuarrie.

Top Gun: Maverick is dedicated to the director of the original Top Gun , Tony Scott, who died in 2012.

Lady Gaga has co-written Hold My Hand , the lead song for the sequel’s soundtrack’s.

Those who remember the original Top Gun will recall its big hit song was Berlin’s You Take My Breath Away . It won an Oscar for Best Original Song.

When is Top Gun: Maverick released?

It is set for release in UK cinemas on 27 May.

Most Read By Subscribers

Inside the Flight Training Program Tom Cruise Personally Designed for the Stars of Top Gun: Maverick

Welcome to what his costars call the "Tom Cruise School of Being a Badass.” Hope you brought a barf bag.

In case you've missed the past four decades of his celebrity, the one thing you need to know about Tom Cruise is that he is intense . He's intensely nice . He's intensely dedicated to Covid safety . And he's intense when it comes to doing his own stunts. Like when he famously climbed Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol , or when he hung on to the outside of an airplane as it took off not once, not twice, but through eight takes for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation . As a practical FX purist in a CGI world, Cruise seems dedicated to singlehandedly preserving verisimilitude in action movies.

That's why Cruise personally developed a rigorous months-long flight training program, which Danny Ramirez dubbed “the Tom Cruise School of Being a Badass” for the cast of Top Gun: Maverick . He wanted to ensure that he and his costars would be able to actually fly their own F-18 jets through the sky to capture the movie's—what's the word?— intense flying sequences. So those scenes where the aviators all look like they're being pummeled to the edge of unconsciousness by G-forces? That's because they are. The movie's crew dabbed the actors' make-up, ensured they knew where the cameras over their cockpits were placed—and then they let 'em fly.

So Men's Health asked Paramount Pictures to give us a crash course in what the movie's cast had to endure for the most intense pre-production film prep ever. Here's what they provided:

The Overview

Top Gun: Maverick’s new aviators had to complete a comprehensive and demanding five-month flight training program devised, coordinated and overseen by Cruise himself, receiving approximately 34 to 36 hours of cumulative flight training each, and personalized nightly feedback from him on their progress. As per his instruction, Cruise’s students worked their way up from Cessna 172 Skyhawks, to Extra 300s, to the L-39 Albatross, to – finally – the F/A-18 Super Hornets.

The Syllabus

The ASTC (Aviation Survival Training Curriculum) that Tom Cruise and all the new aviators on Top Gun: Maverick had to complete to qualify for the extensive flying sequences included classrooms on topics including: Acceleration/G-Forces, Altitude Physiology, Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device Training, Aeromedical Aspects of Ejection, and Aviation Life Support Systems, before proceeding to Ejection Seat Trainer and Virtual Parachute Descent/ Parachute Landing Fall/ Lateral Drift Training.

Water Training

The course then moved to an outdoor pool, for more physically demanding training, such as survival stroke, survival gear inflation and underwater problem-solving. Methods included being rotated underwater in an ejection seat and being dragged across the pool attached to a parachute, from which students had to disentangle themselves.

Enduring G-Forces

When shooting the flying sequences, the actors often had to sustain up to eight Gs (potentially up to around 1,600 pounds of pressure on the body) and had to wear G-suits designed to prevent blackouts and G-LOC (a G-induced loss of consciousness).

Five real Navy bases were used as shooting locations in Top Gun: Maverick : Naval Air Station North in San Diego, Naval Air Station Lemoore in the Mojave Desert, the highly secretive Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California’s Central Coast, Naval Air Station Fallon (the current home of the TOPGUN program, although North Island is depicted as ‘Fightertown USA’ in the film) in Nevada, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington State.

Entertainment

A Full Recap of 'The Rings of Power' Season 1

‘Only Murders in the Building’ Goes Meta in S4

DK Metcalf Says He’s a 'Fat-ass at Heart’

How Josh Rivera Got Into the Mind of a Killer

The 32 Best and Most Anticipated New Shows of 2024

'Alien: Romulus' Made a Former Athlete Horrifying

‘Industry’ Is Back and Better Than Ever

Michael Keaton Shares His 'Batgirl' Reaction

‘Homicide’ Is Streaming for the First Time Ever

How Sci-Fi Fans Can Watch 'Alien: Romulus'

How ‘Alien: Romulus’ Connects to the Alien Series

Fans Are Worried About 'Reacher' Future

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Tom Cruise flexes his aviation skills by casually landing helicopter in London

Share this with

Tom Cruise is normally in the thick of the action on the silver screen, but he seems to never be far away from it in his real life either.

The Top Gun actor, 61, was spotted landing his helicopter in London this weekend as he made a trip to Battersea.

With a beaming smile on his face, the Mission: Impossible icon expertly landed his chopper and was captured laughing and joking with the crew beside him.

Wearing a black puffer coat and woolly scarf, the movie icon wrapped up for his trip to the chilly capital.

Interestingly, Tom also sported a nose clip, which is a device normally used to combat snoring.

Exiting his helicopter, the star was in high spirits, flashing a grin and waving to cameras on the tarmac before snapping a few pics himself on his mobile phone .

It’ll come as no surprise that Tom – who is forever performing daring stunts in his films – is a licensed pilot, hence his confidence behind the helicopter controls.

Not only that, but Tom has qualifications as a multi-engine instrument-rated pilot and pro helicopter flying skills, having previously revealed that his affinity for aviation was what initially attracted him to Top Gun.

He’s continued to work on bettering his skill set throughout his life, notably acquiring helicopter flying skills for the remarkable stunts in 2018’s Mission Impossible: Fallout.

Of course, Tom has his own collection of planes.

Previously, while filming a segment for The Late Late Show, Tom took James Corden for a ride in his own vintage P-51 Mustang fighter plane.

He acquired the World War II fighter – built in 1946 – in 2001.

That’s not all, as he also owns a Gulfstream IV G4 jet, which has an estimated price tag of $20million (£15.7m).

This one’s more luxurious, as it can accommodate for 19 passengers and even comes furnished with a jacuzzi and a movie-screening room (yes, really).

We wonder if the latter will be used for any romantic getaways in the future, given how Tom is said to be loved up.

Tom is reportedly currently  romancing Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova,  36, with dating rumours first surfacing after eyewitnesses spotted them getting cosy on the dancefloor at a Mayfair party in December.

Since then, they’ve been spotted spending more time together, with Tom even whisking Elsina away to the capital for a festive date night at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

The Hollywood star and his new flame were reportedly ‘inseparable’ on their outings, with sources saying it was ‘clear’ they were a couple.

Elsina, who is a British citizen and former Miss Europe contestant, was previously married to Russian tycoon Dmitry Tsvetkov but they split in the summer.

The couple owned numerous homes together, including a £22million mansion on the Wentworth estate in Surrey and £18million London houses.

In the divorce, their properties in Dubai and Cyprus as well as cars, artwork, and other items of value were divided between them.

Meanwhile, Tom’s relationship history famously includes his marriage to Katie Holmes.

They divorced over 15 years ago and share a 17-year-old daughter named Suri, who lives full-time with her mum and is believed to be estranged from Tom.

Tom is thought to have kept dating casual since then, having been briefly linked to his  Mission: Impossible co-star Hayley Atwell.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Lil Nas X supported by Church of Satan after being accused of ‘mocking Jesus’

MORE : Only Fools and Horses star diagnosed with cancer hit with ‘devastating’ fine

Get us in your feed

Currently Trending:

Look out for the Linx

Send us your school’s details.

Advertisement

September 10, 2015

10 celebrities you probably didn’t know have pilot licences

A Rolls-Royce and a Beverly Hills mansion have always been a celebrity must have, but there is now a growing trend in the ownership of private jets. From catwalk supermodel to professional golfer, here is a list of ten celebrities you didn’t know could be flying a private plane overhead right now.

Morgan Freeman

Actor Morgan Freeman’s became a mechanic in the US Air Force in his late teens before considering training as a fighter pilot. However acting won out over flying, resulting in Freeman not finally achieving his private pilot licence until he’d reached the ripe old age of 65. He owns a Cessna Citation 501 jet, a Cessna 414 twin and an SJ30 private jet, and is qualified to fly all three.

Top Gun’s very own ‘Maverick’, actor Tom Cruise, has held a pilot licence since 1994. Inspired by the experiences of filming Top Gun, (many of the scenes were filmed in the backseat of a mid air F-14A Tomcat), aviation advocate Cruise is now the proud owner of five private jets, including a Gulfstream IV with a maximum range of 7,820km and a cruising speed of Mach 0.80.

John Travolta

Actor and disco king John Travolta is not only famous for his dance moves but for his ability to fly too. Fascinated by aviation since childhood, Travolta spent the majority of his earnings on flying lessons at the beginning of his acting career and achieved his pilots licence aged only 22. Now a well established face in Hollywood, he flies a luxurious ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138B he named Jet Clipper Johnny after his children.

Angelina Jolie

Maleficant actress Angelina Jolie has held a private pilot license since 2004 after reportedly promising her son Maddox she would learn to fly. Jolie is an instrument rated pilot who flies a Cirrus SR22.

Richard Hammond

TV presenter and journalist Richard Hammond passed his helicopter licence in March 2012. He now owns a second-hand £150,000 Robinson R44 which he keeps at his home in rural Herefordshire and uses to occasionally fly to work.

Gisele Bundchen

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen began her flying lessons in a Robinson R44 helicopter at Shoreline Aviation whilst heavily pregnant with son Benjamin. However this did not stop her from obtaining her helicopter licence in 2009 and Gisele now aspires to work for the UN’s Environmental Programme in the hope of finding a sustainable way to fly.

Harrison Ford

Best known for piloting the Millennium Falcon in the Star Wars films as ‘Han Solo’, American actor Harrison Ford bit the bullet and achieved his real life pilot licence at the age of 53, learning to do so in a Cessna 182. Heavily influenced by his role in aviation film Six Days, Seven Nights, Ford’s interest in flying combined with his ever increasing fortune, enabled him to buy a Cessna citation twin jet as seen in this video .

Phil Mickelson

US professional golfer Phil Mickelson, has followed in his father’s footsteps (a retired commercial pilot), in obtaining his very own pilot licence. Mickelson now flies his own $40 million Gulfstream V jet to tournaments across the globe.

Carol Vorderman

Former Countdown star Carol Vorderman passed her private pilot licence at Staverton airport Gloucester in 2013 and now owns a Diamond DA42 she has named Mildred. Vorderman aspires to eventually fly around the world solo but in the meantime she is an ambassador for the RAF Cadets in London.

Sir David Jason

Only Fools and Horses actor and comedian Sir David Jason qualified as a helicopter pilot in May 2005. Also an enthusiastic glider pilot at the London Gliding Club, Jason helped launched the RAF air cadet’s new flight simulator at the RAF base in Syerston last year.

Did you enjoy this article? Then you might like:

10 outstanding women from aviation history

Flying aces of World War 2

10 of the best aerobatic pilots

Image(s) provided by:

Getty Images

by Pilot Magazine

You may also like...

August 25, 2024

Gloucestershire airport issues ATC staffing update

by Charlotte Bailey

August 22, 2024

Project CALEUS delivers NHS lab specimens by drone for first time

New GPS jamming test facility for MoD Boscombe Down

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Glen powell talks auditioning in a tuxedo, ‘top gun’ and tom cruise (in that order).

After not getting the part he had initially auditioned for in the high-flying sequel, the Austin native got a call from Cruise: "No movie star calls the guy that doesn’t get the role."

By Mia Galuppo

Mia Galuppo

Film Writer

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Send an Email
• Show additional share options
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Reddit
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on Whats App
• Print the Article
• Post a Comment

Glen Powell , who calls himself a “very patriotic guy,” was in a fetal position for much of the Fourth of July in 2018. The day before, he had gotten the call that he did not get the role he spent weeks auditioning for — and arguably a whole career pining after — in the Top Gun sequel, Maverick . “I understand how Hollywood works in terms of, ‘Hey, it’s not about you. There’s a lot of other people making a lot of decisions that have nothing to do with you or your performance.’ Blah. Blah. Blah.” Even knowing this, the 33-year-old actor explains, “This one I just took very personally and was just plain sad.” (Of course, Powell did end up in the film. More on this later.)

Related Stories

Glen powell is taking the 'twisters' missing kiss backlash "very personally", meredith hagner is avoiding cringe at all costs.

The Austin-raised Powell has clocked a decade and a half in filmmaking. In high school, he appeared in films from fellow Texans Robert Rodriguez and Richard Linklater. At 17, his mom drove him to Shreveport, Louisiana, to audition for Denzel Washington’s The Great Debaters . “I got a call from [Washington] right afterward saying, ‘Hey, I really want you for this bigger role, [but] some of the other producers don’t believe you can pull it off. So I’m going to invite you to the table read, and I just need you to come ready to play,’ ” recalls Powell. “I kind of misinterpreted that.” He showed up to the table read, which included Oprah Winfrey, thinking the best way to show he had “come ready to play” was by wearing a full tuxedo. He got the part.

While the formalwear may have been ill-advised, it is representative of Powell’s give-it-your-all approach to Hollywood. “This town’s pretty brutal when it’s not working out for you. You’ve got to just kind of last,” says the actor, who has been on a climb through each echelon of stardom, from guest-starring in a procedural arc ( NCIS ), to a Ryan Murphy series ( Scream Queens ), a studio sequel ( The Expendables 3 ), a populist awards film ( Hidden Figures ) and a Netflix rom-com ( Set It Up ).

Practiced patience has served him well the past two years as he waited for his biggest role to date in Top Gun: Maverick to reach theaters May 27 after three pandemic delays. Before his first audition, Powell traveled south to Coronado’s North Island military base to talk with naval aviators and “live in that world for a couple weeks.” He made it to the final three for the role of Rooster — the onscreen son of Goose, Maverick’s partner who died in the first film — up against Nicholas Hoult and Miles Teller. The role went to Teller, with Powell receiving that fateful July 2018 call that left him despondent. But a week later, he received another call, this time from Tom Cruise praising his audition. “No movie star calls the guy that doesn’t get the role,” says Powell. “Movie stars typically want the glory without the nitty-gritty of having to break people’s hearts.”

After some hesitation and more calls with Cruise, Powell accepted the part of Hangman, a foil turned friend not dissimilar to Val Kilmer’s Iceman in the 1986 original. “You could spend an entire career playing great roles in movies that leave no mark on people,” he says. “To be a part of great movies, to even just have a smaller part, is a much more worthy quest.”

This story first appeared in the May 25 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Blake lively’s brother-in-law bart johnson defends her following ‘it ends with us’ controversy, winona ryder became so famous at one point, it began to limit her opportunities: “there was baggage”, tim burton closes the door on ‘beetlejuice 3’, cites 36-year gap since first film: “i’ll be about 100”, kamala harris doc short from cnn’s bakari sellers to hit theaters just before election (exclusive), ‘kill the jockey’ review: a sportsman goes adrift in buenos aires in charming but slight picaresque, jt mollner pulls back the curtain on ‘strange darling’: i was never “trying to fool the audience”.

• The Inventory

Tom Cruise became an expert helicopter pilot just to film one stunt in “Mission: Impossible”

The swashbuckling Tom Cruise has one-upped himself yet again. The Hollywood actor learned how to fly a helicopter specifically so that he could risk his life filming a stunt in the upcoming  Mission: Impossible  sequel, a behind-the-scenes video for the film revealed.

Cruise, 55, earned his pilot’s license in 1994 and has since turned into one of Hollywood’s biggest flying enthusiasts—a hobby he has demonstrated on screen in films like American Made . The star, whose breakthrough role was as a pilot in 1986’s Top Gun , flies planes so often that the US environmental lobby nicknamed him “ Emissions Impossible .” Cruise owns a number of expensive private jets, one of which he was rumored to use to pick up groceries for his then wife, actress Katie Holmes. (Cruise has never publicly denied the rumor.)

But he didn’t have as much experience with helicopters—until  Mission: Impossible – Fallout  came along. The sixth installment in the popular action spy series required that Cruise not only learn how to fly a helicopter, but also become something of an expert helicopter pilot so that he could perform an extremely dangerous stunt on his own.

It’s unclear if the script necessitated that Cruise become a master pilot, or if the actor simply wanted to be one and then decided to use his new skills in the film. In this age of CGI technology and stunt doubles, we’re assuming the latter.

“Flying a helicopter takes a lot of skill,” said Marc Wolff, aerial coordinator for the film. “To put someone like Tom into a situation like this is almost impossible to imagine.” (The italicized emphasis is our own—you see what he did there?)

According to Randy Hepner, an aerial assistant on  Mission: Impossible – Fallout , Cruise accrued 2,000 flying hours in a very short period of time to get up to speed. Normally, pilots would need to train eight hours per day for at least three months just to become a novice pilot. But Cruise needed to be more than a novice pilot: He needed to perform a 360-degree downward spiral maneuver in mountainous terrain.

“Most pilots wouldn’t attempt this,” one stunt coordinator says in the video. “You make a mistake, somebody’s going to die from it,” another adds.

And that’s where the behind-the-scenes clip goes from absolutely incredible to distasteful. On Cruise’s last film,  American Made  (for which he performed his own plane stunts ), two stunt pilots  did  die in a plane crash, in the Colombian Andes outside Medellin, after production wrapped. The families of the two pilots are now suing the producers of the film , alleging that they ignored safety procedures and cut corners to save time and money.

Cruise was not directly involved in the accident, but the lawsuit blames him and director Doug Liman for pushing the limits on set and contributing to an unsafe environment in which an accident might occur. Tom Cruise involved in risky business? Never!

📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief

Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.

• Whats Cooking
• Relationships
• Art and Culture
• Beauty and Care
• Healthy Living
• Tips & Tricks
• Beauty & Care
• Celebrity Fashion
• Mutual Funds
• Science And Future
• Create on India
• Ayodhya Ram Mandir
• Oscars 2024
• Indiatimes Frontlines
• India On Plate
• Sustainability
• Give Up Plastic
• The Great Indian Brain Drain
• #DubaiLikeALocal

Tom Cruise Actually Flew In An F-14 Jet In Top Gun: Maverick, Says It Was A 'Dream Come True'

Tom cruise says he actually got to fly in an f-14 jet in top gun: maverick and it was a dream come true for the actor..

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise 's latest movie Top Gun - Marverick premiered at the prestigious 2022 Cannes Film Festival ahead of its release worldwide. The film has Tom Cruise reprising his role of Captain Pete Mitchell after over 30 years since he took our collective breath away in Tony Scott’s Top Gun. The film showcases Tom Cruise back into the cockpit and it seems the actor thoroughly enjoyed filming it.

The 59-year-old actor has finally opened up about how he felt playing the Navy pilot in the film, which is slated to release on May 27 worldwide. According to reports, Tom Cruise has expressed that landing the role of Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in ‘Top Gun’ was nothing less than “life-changing.”

“All I ever wanted to be was a pilot or an actor, so ‘Top Gun’ was a huge moment in so many respects, including my passion for aviation,” the Hollywood star was quoted as saying to HELLO magazine, as per media reports.

Gushing that it was a life-changing opportunity, the actor further revealed that this time he got to actually fly in an F-14 jet.

“I got to actually fly in an F-14 jet which was a dream come true, and play a character I loved in Maverick,” the three-time Oscar nominee said. In the latest installmemt of the blockbuster film series, Tom Cruise performed more plane stunts than ever in his life.

"The P-51 Mustang you see in the movie is actually my plane, so I got to pilot in those sequences,” Cruise said adding that he had also spent a lot more time in the jet fighter this time, which was thrilling. "It was something I had been working up to,” the Mission: Impossible actor added.

Tom Cruise Got Emotional At Cannes 2022

At Cannes, Tom Cruise got emotional and broke into tears as he got a 6-minute standing ovation along with a surprise at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. From Golden Globe to Oscars, Tom Cruise has won many awards in his acting career but he was speechless and teary eyed seeing the response his movie Top Gun: Maverick received during the screening of movies at Cannes 2022. Moreover, he was presented with the Palme d’Or which left him speechless as he reacted saying "wow".

It’s red steps time ! LE OTTO MONTAGNE by Felix VAN GROENINGEN, Charlotte VANDERMEERSCH #Cannes2022 #Competition https://t.co/zUtdy7QKQY — Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 18, 2022

(For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood , keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment , and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.)

Accept the updated Privacy & Cookie Policy

Tom Cruise says all he ever wanted to be was a pilot or an actor

'Top Gun' allowed him to combine both passions which he says was "life-changing"

Tom Cruise has revealed that before he became famous he wanted to be either a pilot or an actor.

• READ MORE: Top Gun: Maverick review: an engaging if brainless return to the danger zone

The Hollywood star is currently promoting his latest film,  Top Gun: Maverick , the sequel to Tony Scott’s 1986 action classic, in which he reprises his role as fighter pilot Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. He is also a producer on the blockbuster.

Speaking in a new interview, Cruise said he had always dreamt of being a pilot or an actor growing up, and when he was able to combine both careers in the original Top Gun , it was a “life-changing” moment for him.

“All I ever wanted to be was a pilot or an actor, so Top Gun  was a huge moment in so many respects, including my passion for aviation,” he told HELLO! magazine (via Contact Music ). “It was life-changing for me.”

He continued: “I got to actually fly in an F-14 jet which was a dream come true, and play a character I loved in Maverick.”

Cruise then went on to explain that for Top Gun: Maverick he got to do more plane stunts than ever before.

Recommended

“The P-51 Mustang you see in the movie is actually my plane, so I got to pilot in those sequences, he said. “I also got to be in the jet fighter a lot more this time, which was thrilling. It was something I had been working up to.”

Meanwhile, Twenty One Pilots singer Tyler Joseph has claimed that he was asked to write a song for the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack before Tom Cruise rescinded the offer .

“I was working with the music placement person for the new Top Gun on writing a new song for them and then I believe Tom Cruise just came in and just fired everyone,” Joseph told Californian radio station KROQ  [via MusicNews ].

According to Joseph, he hadn’t actually started work on the project when Cruise allegedly pulled the plug. He added that his input was likely affected by changes made to the film as a result of the COVID pandemic.

The soundtrack features original songs by Lady Gaga and OneRepublic , and a live version of Teller performing Jerry Lee Lewis’s ‘Great Balls of Fire’.

• Related Topics

You May Also Like

Supersonic setlist: what oasis need to play on their 2025 reunion tour, jaehyun – ‘j’ review: a tantalisingly sweet tease, ‘star wars outlaws’ review: a criminally good intergalactic experience, mj lenderman on resisting the hype: “there’s a danger in believing your own myth”, nieve ella just wants to have fun, more stories, jerry bruckheimer teases “terrific” follow-up to ‘top gun: maverick’, hannah waddingham says she has “no time” for tom cruise critics, ‘mission: impossible’ stars pom klementieff and vanessa kirby “stopped breathing” during tom cruise stunt, tom cruise reveals “weirdest” rumour he’s heard about himself, this is the most pirated movie of 2022, golden globes 2023 host jerrod carmichael aims scientology joke at tom cruise.

Is Tom Cruise A Pilot?

Following the release of the official trailer of the most anticipated aviation movie of the year, Top Gun: Maverick , the questions on everyone’s lips have been: Is Tom Cruise a pilot? Did he learn how to fly a jet just to bring the character, Captain Maverick , to life? We all know that the veteran actor and movie producer is capable of doing so many things only in his movies but is flying a jet something he can do off our TV screens? 

Yes, Tom Cruise is a pilot. You could book him to fly you around if he were not busy being someone else on set all the time. The actor enjoys flying, and thanks to his acting career, he has had the privilege of occasionally flying on set. Here’s what you need to know about his aviation skills. 

Getting A Private Pilot’s License

When you play pretend for a living, it’s possible to enjoy being a character and wish you could live like this character. Viewers fall in love with the different versions of Tom Cruise that have come across their screens. Well, Tom also thoroughly enjoyed his role in the original Top Gun Movie released in 1986 . The movie was a hit. It changed people’s perception of the military, as many Americans voluntarily enlisted in the army . For everyone nursing the idea of becoming an aviator, this movie was enough inspiration to chase that dream. 

The same can be said about the award-winning actor as he fell in love with aviation while filming this movie and sealed his passion for aviation by getting a private pilot’s license in 1994, Before the movie, Tom had no flying experience. It was reported that when he got in the cockpit of a real F-14, he could not survive the maneuvers by the flight pilot and quickly reached for a sick bag. 

However, the star felt less airsick as time went by. His nausea was quickly replaced with a love for flying and a desire to become a pilot . This spurred him to undergo training and get his pilot’s license in 1994 . Speaking to Wired, Tom admits that he is a multi-engine instrument rated commercial pilot. In his words, “ Yes, I can fly a plane .” 

How Tall Is Tom Cruise? Exact Height Revealed

What is tom cruise’s daily routine, where does tom cruise live.

Flying Maverick

The sequel to the first Top Gun movie , Top Gun: Maverick, is set to hit our screens on December 23, 2020 . The film has been delayed unavoidably, keeping fans sick with suspense. However, Tom Cruise, who is clearly excited about the movie, shares some lovely video clips to whet his fans’ appetite. What’s torturing is that we get to see a clip of Tom flying. He shared a video of himself flying on Twitter with the caption: Warning: Real flying. Real g-forces may make you puke. #TopGun

Warning: Real flying. Real g-forces. May make you puke. #TopGun pic.twitter.com/CRjROgOvwd — Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) December 18, 2019

The video shows an excited Tom Cruise flying, and some members of the crew talk about how the flying scenes were shot. This time, Tom’s alone in the cockpit, and he is killing it without feeling airsick. However, Tom Cruise does not fly all the fighter jets in the movie. Paramount Pictures stated that he will not be flying the F/A-18 fighter jets.

Tom Cruise Spreads The Flying Bug

Tom’s love for flying can be contagious. He has had a swell time combining two things he loves – acting and flying. That’s sheer luck as only a few people get to combine their hobby with their profession. Tom is so excited about flying, and he shares his excitement with his fans when he tweets: see you in the sky . 

See you in the sky. #TopGun pic.twitter.com/vdhTtXb0io — Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) December 16, 2019

Tom also encourages others to pursue this passion. His co-star, Glen Powell , shared that Tom Cruise paid for his flight school training school . The gift came in an iPad with lessons already downloaded. The star revealed this in an Instagram post of a video of him and his flight instructor. 

View this post on Instagram ✅Pilot’s License✅ Try not falling in love with aviation after living out every pilot’s dream while shooting @topgunmovie. Especially when you see the way @tomcruise flexes it. After wrapping a shooting day, Tom would rocket off into the sunset in his P-51 while I would limply shuffle into the cast van. The wings were just so much cooler than the wheels…and for Christmas, Tom bought me an iPad with my flight school downloaded and prepaid. And yesterday, after months of flying, studying, and testing…I’m the real deal. This is a video of me after my first solo flight. It’s a tradition in the aviation community for your instructor to tear away your shirt signifying that teacher’s finally “off your back.” My instructor @wallysaygers is just following ceremony, he doesn’t rip off my clothes after every flight. Thank you Walt for being my sky shepherd, thank you Shane for making my @corsair_aviation experience effortless, and thank you Tom for being my hype man every step of the way. If you’re looking for me, look ☝? A post shared by Glen Powell (@glenpowell) on Mar 10, 2020 at 4:50pm PDT

Tom is not just a pilot, he loves flying and shares this passion with everyone through his movies and personally.

• Celebrity Name List (A-Z)
• Privacy Policy

© 2020 Black Sands Media - All Rights Reserved

• Celebrity List
• LuxuryViewer

Tom Cruise Surprised One Of His Top Gun: Maverick Co-Stars With An Impromptu Flight And Aerobatic Maneuvers While Filming

Classic Maverick moves.

The upcoming legacy sequel Top Gun : Maverick has been receiving a lot of pre-release press for the aerial sequences captured by director Joseph Kosinski , as well as the intense boot camp leading man Tom Cruise put his co-stars through so that they could convincingly play Naval aviators who are worthy of the Top Gun label. Young guns like Miles Teller, Glen Powell and Monica Barbaro knew what they were signing up for when they took their parts in Top Gun: Maverick (including, it seems, training for the shirtless beach football scene ). Jennifer Connelly, however, got a little bit more than she bargained for while filming a scene for the sequel. 

In the original Top Gun film (which you can stream on certain platforms ), Pete “Maverick” Mitchell ( Tom Cruise ) has a torrid fling with his flight instructor, played by Kelly McGillis. There’s mention in the screenplay of a former love, Penny Benjamin, and we finally meet that character in the form of Jennifer Connelly in Top Gun: Maverick . But Penny owns a San Diego bar. She’s not flying planes. So during a scene that the actress filmed with Cruise, she didn’t expect to take off… until Cruise took over. As Connelly tells CinemaBlend:

I did not ask (to go up), but I did not say no! (laughs) I think it might have been Tom’s idea. He mentioned it to me when we were in the plane and shooting a scene where we were just supposed to be on the runway. You were never supposed to see us take off. And he asked me before if I’d been in a P51 before, to which I said, ‘No, Tom.’ And then he asked if I’d done any aerobatic flying before, to which I said, ‘No Tom, why? Should I be expecting to?’ And he said, ‘It’s just going to be very gentle. Some very gentle rolls. It’s going to be very beautiful.’ So that was how I found out we were going to be doing that aerobatic flying.

Normally, in circumstances such as this, I’d freak out. But Tom Cruise has been flying all sorts of aircraft his entire life. And when he isn’t flying them, he’s hanging on to the outsides of them!

Also, Jennifer Connelly ended up loving the experience, as she went on to tell CinemaBlend:

It was really amazing. And thank goodness it was with him as a pilot, for so many reasons. Because, what a life experience. But also, I have so much faith in him. He’s so skilled.

So much of that comes back to preparation, as well as dedication. It all shines through in Top Gun: Maverick , which has been receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, and recently got a five-minute standing ovation from the crowd at the Cannes Film Festival gathered for a premiere there. Cruise and Lady Gaga have been hyping up fans by gushing over her original song for the movie , and Cruise’s co-stars can’t say enough good things about working with the legendary A-lister. It’s all leading to an incredibly memorable time at the multiplexes, which you can start enjoying once Top Gun: Maverick arrives in theaters on May 27, 2022.

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Sean O’Connell is a journalist and CinemaBlend’s Managing Editor. Having been with the site since 2011, Sean interviewed myriad directors, actors and producers, and created ReelBlend, which he proudly cohosts with Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy. And he's the author of RELEASE THE SNYDER CUT, the Spider-Man history book WITH GREAT POWER, and an upcoming book about Bruce Willis.

As Law And Order: Organized Crime Promotes Dean Norris, His Comments About The Stabler Brothers Hit Even Harder Now

Channing Tatum’s Favorite Moment In Blink Twice Was Improvised By Zoë Kravitz, And It Harkens Back To Superbad

Jeff Goldblum Reacted To Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Casting, And It's As Gloriously Chaotic As You'd Expect

Most Popular

• 2 Tom Selleck’s Been Vocal About Not Wanting Blue Bloods To End. How Do Those Behind The Scenes Allegedly Feel About His Very Public Comments?
• 3 As Law And Order: Organized Crime Promotes Dean Norris, His Comments About The Stabler Brothers Hit Even Harder Now
• 4 Major Pirates Of The Caribbean Actor ‘Would Very Much Like To Come Back’ For The Reboot. Why It Might Be Hard
• 5 Great Performances By Actors Playing Famous People

Apparently even Tom Cruise, a certified pilot is not cool enough to fly an F-18 Fighter Jet. The superstar loves to do his own stunts and even flew a jet and some helicopters in Top Gun Maverick. But the US-Navy flat out denied him to pilot the Super Hornet.

You may also like

Boldly going where no actor has ever gone before – Tom Cruise, at 60, will shoot a scene for his upcoming movie in outer space.

Tom Cruise, when filming Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, had climbed on top of the 2,720 feet high Burj Khalifa and vandalized it by etching ‘Katie Holmes’ on the spire. The superstar had reached the top without using a safety harness, let alone a body double.

A Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise in the 1983 movie Risky Business set a new auction record by selling for $2 million

As a gift to Mission: Impossible crew members Tom Cruise sent his private jet on a 5,550 mile across the Atlantic to fly 300 cakes from his favorite bakery in LA to London.

Victoria Beckham’s new 2007 Bentley Continental GTC DUB

Tom Cruise flew his favorite cake by a private jet to Prince William and Kate Middleton

The Space race continues – This time Russian moviemakers are in a race to beat Tom Cruise to the International Space Station

Myth or reality: Has Bugatti really banned Tom Cruise from purchasing their multi-million dollar supercars?

Diamond studded barbie dolls, private jets, BMW’s and more – These are the gifts that Kylie Jenner, Tom Cruise, David Beckham, and the Kardashians casually buy for their kids

Screen Rant

Tom cruise's new movie role with oscar-winning director sounds like his best in 25 years.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Tom Cruise Played One Of The Best Movie Villains Of All Time 20 Years Ago & I’m Still Waiting For More

Jurassic world rebirth cast & character guide, horizon: an american saga's timeline is a fatal flaw for this major storyline.

• Tom Cruise may have his best role in 25 years, playing a character who tries to save humanity but ends up causing destruction.
• Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new movie presents Cruise in a twist on his hero stereotype, potentially leading to a standout performance.
• The role in Iñárritu's film could rival Cruise's acclaimed role in Magnolia, with potential for an Oscar nomination and a standout performance.

The first details about a new Tom Cruise movie have surfaced, and it just might give the actor his best role in 25 years. After spending much of his time in recent years making franchise installments and entertaining action movies, Cruise is finally on the cusp of breaking away from those practices and returning to working with auteur filmmakers. He was meant to team up with Quentin Tarantino in his now-canceled movie, but the actor also has a film in development with Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu ( Birdman and The Revenant ).

Development on Tom Cruise and Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new movie has been underway since early 2024, when the actor's casting was first reported. However, the plot and the type of role Cruise would play remained a mystery. It has now been revealed (via Deadline ) that the story follows "the most powerful man in the world" as he attempts to become "humanity's savior." The catch is that he's unleashed something that will destroy everything. There is no doubt that this is the role that Tom Cruise is meant to play, and it sounds like an auspicious opportunity for him to shine.

Tom Cruise has hardly played any antagonists in his illustrious career but his iconic villain role in Michael Mann's 2004 thriller makes me want more.

Tom Cruise's New Movie Role As Humanity's Savior Is Very Exciting

It's a twist on a common stereotype for cruise.

What makes Tom Cruise's role as humanity's savior in the new movie so exciting is how it builds on his career to this point and his most famous roles. Cruise has become a major star, in part, because of the often heroic roles that he plays. Whether its Ethan Hunt or Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, the actor typically plays heroes who are the key to saving the world or humanity in some case. Iñárritu's movie is poised to put Cruise back in that same stereotype, although the circumstances are very different.

Audiences should have no trouble buying him as the "savior" character, since that is what he is best known for at this point. Cruise has even positioned himself somewhat as Hollywood's savior thanks to his dedication to the theatrical experience before and after Top Gun: Maverick 's record performance. But, it sounds like Cruise's new movie role will essentially have him be the villain behind humanity's potential doom. This creates the potential for the movie to deconstruct Cruise's hero/savior complex , which could help him deliver one of his best performances ever.

This Can Be Tom Cruise's Best Role Since Magnolia

It was his last oscar-nominated performance.

The potential that exists for Tom Cruise's new role and the type of performance he could give under Iñárritu's direction could easily make it his best role since Magnolia . Paul Thomas Anderson's 1999 movie was critically acclaimed and even brought a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for Cruise . While he's worked on several notable projects since then, none have brought him the same level of awards recognition. Iñárritu's movies tend to get its performers Oscar nominations, if not wins, so Cruise could be next if the performance is everything imagined.

Even if Tom Cruise's new movie role doesn't get him an Oscar nomination like Magnolia did, it could still be his best performance since then. He's had great performances over the last 25 years , whether in Collateral , Minority Report , or Top Gun: Maverick , but they still did not reach the emotional heights of his Oscar-nominated performance. Iñárritu's track record and Tom Cruise 's interest in seeking out this project are signs that the actor could be in line for one of his best roles ever.

Source: Deadline