Latest Top Gun: Maverick Trailer Suggests Iceman May Die in Sequel to 1986 Blockbuster

Latest Top Gun: Maverick Trailer Suggests Iceman May Die in Sequel to 1986 Blockbuster

By Dario Leone
Jan 9 2020
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There’s clearly a reason as to why Iceman has not been shown in the first two trailers for Top Gun: Maverick so it could be for the surprise reveal that he’s dead.

The lack of Val Kilmer in the latest trailer for Top Gun: Maverick supports the theory that Iceman is dead. 

The first trailer for Top Gun 2 debuted on Jul. 18, 2019 at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con to a thunderous reaction. The Top Gun: Maverick cast includes Miles Teller as Goose’s son, Rooster, Glen Powell as a pilot trainee, and Jennifer Connolly as the owner of a bar and Maverick’s love interest. According to Screen Rant, Val Kilmer as Vice admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, a fellow instructor and rival-turned-friend of Maverick, also joins Cruise from the original film. Although Kilmer will appear in the sequel, he was notably absent in the first trailer. There is a clip of Maverick at a funeral for a fallen comrade, which has led many to believe that Iceman is in fact dead.

Latest Top Gun: Maverick Trailer Suggests Iceman May Die in Sequel to 1986 Blockbuster

The new Top Gun: Maverick trailer features another look into the mysterious funeral.

Screen Rant explains:

“The short clip displays a dejected Maverick saluting a coffin draped in the American flag. Then, four fighter jets fly over the funeral with an emotional Connelly looking on. Once again, Iceman is notably absent, further strengthening the theory that it’s his funeral.

Latest Top Gun: Maverick Trailer Suggests Iceman May Die in Sequel to 1986 Blockbuster

“If Iceman is the one in the coffin, then it wouldn’t be the first time Top Gun killed a main character. In the first film, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards), Maverick’s Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), tragically dies while ejecting from their F-14 Tomcat. As Maverick suffered from survivor’s guilt the rest of the film, it was Iceman who came to his aid and they formed a friendship. With Maverick upset at the funeral in the trailer, it suggests he had a strong relationship with the deceased person, which further supports the idea that it could be Iceman. Also, it’s clearly a military funeral because of the American flag over the coffin and the flyover, which means it could be Iceman’s ceremony.

“Since Iceman has not been seen in the first two trailers, the likelihood of him showing up in future trailers is slim. There’s clearly a reason as to why Iceman has not been shown so it could be for the surprise reveal that he’s dead.” 

As we have previously explained, it’s been more than 30 years since Val Kilmer played the role of Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky (signature quote: “You are dangerous!”) in the 1986 film Top Gun.

Anyone who has watched the original will know that Iceman’s attitude towards Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell warmed considerably when he helped save the squad’s lives from enemy planes.

Back in 2015, Val ‘jumped the topgun,’ when he revealed on Facebook that he was offered a role in Top Gun: Maverick.

‘Offered ‪#‎topgun2 — not often you get to say ‘yes’ without reading the script…’ he said.

Latest Top Gun: Maverick Trailer Suggests Iceman May Die in Sequel to 1986 Blockbuster
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He then added: ‘This is a long way off so calm down. This has been talked about for a long long time and being offered a role is very different from doing a role.

‘I jumped the gun with my post. I jumped the topgun…an innocent mistake. It was just such a wonderful phone call with my agent.’

Top Gun: Maverick will hit theaters on Jun. 26, 2020.

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Photo credit: Paramount Pictures via Screen Rant


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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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