Top Gun: Maverick soars into theatres this year, but more evidence is mounting that Val Kilmer's Tom "Iceman" Kazansky will either die in the movie, or already be dead when it begins. Maverick is the highly anticipated sequel to the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, but only a couple of members of the original cast will return to reprise their signature roles. Tom Cruise will of course play Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, the hot shot pilot who trains with the Navy’s prestigious Fighter Weapons School in the first movie, and who now continues pushes the envelope as a courageous test pilot and instructor.
Kilmer is reportedly back to reprise his role as Maverick’s adversary, Iceman, but speculation looms as to the extent of his role in Top Gun: Maverick. Iceman was not expected to return in the sequel, but Kilmer reveals in his memoir that he begged producers for an Iceman revival, and he and Cruise "took up where we left off." Upon the trailer release, however, Kilmer was no where to be found - thus sparking rumors that Maverick's rival aviator was already dead. It is possible that the role only required several scenes not included in the trailer, but many theories have pointed to the unfortunate likelihood of Iceman's death.
In the trailer for Top Gun: Maverick, amidst all the action, a somber moment occurs where Maverick stands over a coffin. With no hints as to who is inside, and the absence of Iceman from view, speculation arose that Maverick was honoring his long-time friend and foe. One key piece of evidence placed carefully on top of the coffin may provide a clue as to who the deceased might be: a metal pin with outspread wings. The same pin worn by Iceman on his gleaming white jacket, thus offering the hint that whoever is in inside was trained at Topgun, the Naval Fighter Weapons School in Miramar.
The fact that Kilmer had to beg for his return in Top Gun: Maverick indicates that he didn't originally have a role in the story, which makes it all the more likely that he will be taken out of the picture early on. If Iceman is killed off, it offers the film a chance to include him while still keeping the bigger picture intact. With Kilmer remaining quiet on the subject, theories surrounding Iceman’s role will only continue to grow. Unfortunately, with Top Gun: Maverick's release date pushed back to December as a result of the coronavirus lockdowns, it may be a while before we get another trailer.
Top Gun: Maverick will see some new faces as the sequel prepares for its long-awaited release. Miles Teller will play the son of Maverick’s late co-pilot Goose, who has followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a pilot, and Jennifer Connelly will replace Kelly McGillis as the love interest. The large turnover in cast has been linked to the age of many of the actors, with this sequel coming nearly thirty years after the original Top Gun. As Cruise prepares to fly high, Top Gun: Maverick fans will be on the edge of their seats in hopes of seeing Iceman soar beside him.