Cast of Top Gun 2 – Full List of Actors and Characters

When Top Gun: Maverick roared into theaters in 2022, it brought together a blend of familiar faces and fresh talent. The film,
directed by Joseph Kosinski, follows Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell as he trains a new generation of naval aviators for a
high-stakes mission. The result is an ensemble cast that balances nostalgia with new momentum.

The cast list spans more than 30 credited speaking roles, with a production crew that numbers well over 200 individuals.
Legacy characters from the 1986 original appear alongside a dozen new actors portraying the next wave of Top Gun graduates.
Understanding who plays whom, and how the cast connects to the original film, is the focus of this breakdown.

Who is in the main cast of Top Gun: Maverick?

The question at the heart of most searches about the film is straightforward: which actors appear, and which characters do they play?
The primary cast is led by Tom Cruise as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, the iconic naval aviator who returns
after 36 years. He is joined by Val Kilmer, reprising his role as Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, and
Miles Teller as Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s late best friend, Goose.
Jennifer Connelly plays Penny Benjamin, a character first mentioned in the original film and now expanded
into a central love interest.

Top Gun: Maverick — Cast at a Glance

Actor	Character	Role Type	Notable Detail
Tom Cruise	Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell	Lead — returning	Returns after 36 years
Miles Teller	Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw	Lead — new	Son of Goose from original film
Jennifer Connelly	Penny Benjamin	Support — new	Love interest, mentioned in original
Val Kilmer	Adm. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky	Support — returning	Reported as Kilmer’s final film role

Key insights about the main cast:

Top Gun: Maverick features a blend of legacy characters and a new generation of pilots.
Six main actors from the original Top Gun (1986) were invited back for the sequel.
Miles Teller was cast partly due to his resemblance to a young Anthony Edwards (Goose).
Jennifer Connelly’s character Penny Benjamin was only referenced in the original film.
Val Kilmer’s appearance is notably limited due to his real-life health challenges; the role was written to honor his career.
Tom Cruise also served as a producer on the film, according to cast listings.

Key facts and figures about the production:

Metric	Detail
Release year	2022
Director	Joseph Kosinski
Total cast size (speaking roles)	30+ (crew credits over 200)
Returning original cast count	3 (Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, and a cameo by Meg Ryan as voice of Carol Bradshaw)
New main cast count	10 (including Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, Charles Parnell, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez)
Runtime	2h 10m
Box office	$1.496 billion worldwide

Which new actors joined the Top Gun 2 cast?

Beyond the returning stars, the sequel introduced a large group of new performers who play the elite fighter pilots and support personnel
at the heart of the story. These additions form the core of Maverick’s training class and the senior officers overseeing the mission.

Jon Hamm as Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson

Jon Hamm portrays the no-nonsense senior Navy officer who questions Maverick’s methods. Cyclone serves as a foil to Maverick’s
instinct-driven leadership style, representing institutional authority.

Glen Powell as Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin

Glen Powell plays a supremely confident mission candidate pilot. Hangman is the top-performing aviator in the training group and
a rival to Rooster, creating much of the interpersonal tension within the squadron.

Monica Barbaro as Lieutenant Natasha “Phoenix” Trace

Monica Barbaro takes on the role of one of the mission pilot trainees. Phoenix is depicted as a highly capable and disciplined fighter
pilot, flying with Lewis Pullman’s character, Bob, as her weapons systems officer (WSO).

Lewis Pullman as Lieutenant Robert “Bob” Floyd

Lewis Pullman plays Phoenix’s WSO and a mission candidate. Bob is initially underestimated by his peers but proves his value
during the final mission, becoming a key asset to the team.

Casting detail worth noting

Miles Teller was cast as Rooster in July 2018, in part because of his physical resemblance to a young Anthony Edwards,
who played Goose in the original film. The character of Rooster was written specifically to carry forward the emotional
legacy of Goose’s death, making Teller’s casting a central narrative choice for the sequel.

What is the full cast list including supporting roles?

The complete cast of Top Gun: Maverick extends well beyond the lead performers. Supporting actors fill out the ranks of the
training squadron, senior Navy brass, and civilian characters. Below is a breakdown of the additional credited roles,
drawn from multiple cast listings.

Ed Harris as Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain

Ed Harris appears as Maverick’s superior in the Darkstar hypersonic aircraft storyline. His character represents the shifting
priorities within the Navy, where budget and politics threaten the future of the fighter pilot program.

Charles Parnell as Admiral Solomon “Warlock” Bates

Charles Parnell plays a senior Navy officer involved in the mission planning. Warlock serves alongside Cyclone as part of the
command structure overseeing the training and deployment of the squadron.

Additional aviators and squadron members

Several other actors portray the trainees and support crew that make up the mission group. These include:

Jay Ellis as Lieutenant Reuben “Payback” Fitch, a mission pilot trainee.
Danny Ramirez as Lieutenant Mickey “Fanboy” Garcia, Payback’s WSO.
Greg Tarzan Davis as Lieutenant Javy “Coyote” Machado, a mission candidate.
Jake Picking as Lieutenant Brigham “Harvard” Lennox, a mission candidate.
Bashir Salahuddin as CWO4 Bernie “Hondo” Coleman, a Maverick associate and support role.
Jack Schumacher as Lieutenant Neil “Omaha” Vikander.
Manny Jacinto as Lieutenant Billy “Fritz” Avalone.
Kara Wang as Lieutenant Callie “Halo” Bassett.
Raymond Lee as Lieutenant Logan “Yale” Lee.
Jean Louisa Kelly as Sarah Kazansky, Iceman’s wife.
Lyliana Wray as Amelia Benjamin, Penny’s daughter.

Clarification on returning characters

Jennifer Connelly’s character, Penny Benjamin, is not a returning actor from the original film — she was only referenced in the
1986 movie as “Penny Benjamin, daughter of the Admiral.” The character is treated as a legacy connection rather than a
direct screen return. The only two confirmed actors returning in the same roles from the original are Tom Cruise (Maverick)
and Val Kilmer (Iceman). A vocal cameo by Meg Ryan as Carol Bradshaw was also included.

When were the cast members announced?

The casting process for Top Gun: Maverick unfolded over several months in 2018, with principal photography beginning in 2019.
Below is a timeline of the key casting announcements and production milestones, based on industry reports and studio press releases.

May 2018: Tom Cruise confirms return as Maverick.
July 2018: Miles Teller cast as Rooster (son of Goose).
August 2018: Jennifer Connelly cast as Penny Benjamin.
September 2018: Jon Hamm, Ed Harris, and Glen Powell join the cast.
October 2018: Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, and others cast.
May 2019: Principal photography begins.
April 2020: Release delayed due to COVID-19.
May 27, 2022: Theatrical release.

What is confirmed about the cast, and what remains unclear?

Several details about the cast and production have been widely reported, while other pieces of information remain unconfirmed
by official sources. The table below separates the established facts from the uncertainties.

Established information	Information that remains unclear
Val Kilmer did not speak on set; his dialogue was delivered via AI voice recreation. This is confirmed by producers and Kilmer himself.	Whether all main cast members will return for a potential Top Gun 3. Talks are ongoing, but no official contracts have been reported.
Jennifer Connelly’s Penny Benjamin was briefly mentioned in the original 1986 film as “Penny Benjamin, daughter of the Admiral.”	Exact details of the casting process for several supporting roles remain undocumented in publicly available sources.
Tom Cruise and several other actors trained and filmed in real F/A-18 fighter jets during production.	Whether any additional original cast members were approached but declined to appear has not been officially confirmed.

The significance of real flying

Unlike many modern action films that rely heavily on CGI, the flight sequences in Top Gun: Maverick were captured with
real actors inside actual F/A-18 Super Hornets. Tom Cruise, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, and others underwent intense
G-force training to film the cockpit scenes themselves, lending the aerial combat an authenticity that critics widely praised.

Why does this particular cast matter?

The ensemble of Top Gun: Maverick was assembled with a clear narrative purpose: to bridge the gap between the original film’s
legacy and a new generation of characters. The casting choices reflect a deliberate “passing-of-the-torch” narrative,
both on-screen and behind the scenes.

The blend of nostalgia (through Cruise and Kilmer) with fresh momentum (Teller, Connelly, Hamm, and the younger actors) was
widely praised by critics for its chemistry — particularly the dynamics within the training squadron. Val Kilmer’s return
carried deep emotional weight given his real-life health journey; multiple critics noted that his scene with Cruise is
one of the most moving moments in the film.

The Full plot summary of Top Gun: Maverick explores how these characters
intersect throughout the story. For those wondering about the future of the franchise,
Top Gun 3: Everything we know so far provides an overview of what may come next.

Where do the cast listings come from?

The cast information presented here is drawn from several authoritative sources, including the
IMDb — Top Gun: Maverick page,
the Wikipedia — Top Gun: Maverick article,
the Rotten Tomatoes — Top Gun: Maverick Cast list,
the TV Guide — Top Gun: Maverick Credits,
the Fandango cast and crew page,
and the Official Top Gun: Maverick site (Paramount).
These databases and press resources have been cross-referenced to ensure accuracy.

Multiple critic reviews have highlighted the emotional weight of the returning cast. One widely echoed sentiment is that
“Val Kilmer’s return as Iceman is one of the most moving moments in the film.”

Is this the complete cast of Top Gun: Maverick?

The list above covers the primary, supporting, and additional credited roles as they appear in the most reliable cast databases.
The full production credits, including stunt performers, technical consultants, and background actors, number well over 200
individuals. For viewers seeking the complete credit roll, the IMDb full cast and crew page
offers the most exhaustive breakdown. As of late 2024, a potential third Top Gun film is in early development with Tom Cruise
and Joseph Kosinski attached, but no official casting announcements have been made for that project.

Frequently asked questions about the cast

Did any of the original Top Gun actors refuse to return?

There is no confirmed public record of any actor from the original film being asked and declining. The returning cast was
limited to Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, and a vocal cameo by Meg Ryan.

Why was Anthony Edwards not in Top Gun: Maverick?

Anthony Edwards’ character, Goose, died in the original 1986 film. His legacy is carried forward through his son, Rooster,
played by Miles Teller.

Who voiced the character of Iceman in the new film?

Val Kilmer performed the role on screen, but his dialogue was enhanced using AI voice recreation technology due to his
real-life health challenges. This was confirmed by the production team.

Is there a cameo by Kelly McGillis in Top Gun 2?

No. Kelly McGillis, who played Charlie in the original film, does not appear in the sequel. Jennifer Connelly plays
the new love interest, Penny Benjamin.

How many cast members from the original Top Gun appear in the sequel?

Three: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, and Meg Ryan (voice-only). The sequel primarily introduces new characters rather than
bringing back the full original ensemble.

Who plays the youngest pilot in the training squadron?

The youngest-seeming character in the training group is likely “Fanboy,” played by Danny Ramirez, though exact ages of
the characters are not specified in the film.

Were any of the supporting cast real Navy pilots?

The sources do not indicate that any of the credited supporting actors were real Navy pilots. The actors underwent
extensive flight training for their roles.

Is there a post-credits scene with additional cast?

No. Top Gun: Maverick does not include a post-credits scene. The film concludes with a tribute to the real-life naval
aviators who trained the cast.

Who composed the music for the film?

The music was contributed by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer, and Lorne Balfe, according to reference pages
and listing sources.

Will the same cast return for Top Gun 3?

As of late 2024, a third film is in early development with Tom Cruise and Joseph Kosinski attached, but no cast
contracts have been officially confirmed.