Jennifer Connelly Will Fly To The Danger Zone With Tom Cruise In ‘Top Gun 2’

As I just ranted on Twitter, she’s never been on top of the A-list, but Jennifer Connelly (“Requiem For a Dream,” “The House of Sand And Fog”) is a hugely undervalued actress in Hollywood, who’s never been able to land big parts, but is tremendously talented. But she’s just bagged arguably one of the most high-profile gigs of her career with a supporting role in the upcoming “Top Gun 2” film starring Tom Cruise.

Joseph Kosinski who directed the “Tron” remake and the sci-fi film “Oblivion” also starring Cruise will helm the picture. Paramount wouldn’t give details of the “Top Gun 2” role, but THR says the part is believed to be that of a single mother who runs a bar near the air base. Presumably, she’ll be a romantic lead for Cruise, but that’s unconfirmed as of right now.

The sequel takes place in the world of drone technology as former hotshot Maverick (Cruise) becomes a Top Gun flight instructor. Miles Teller will play a young pilot who joins the Navy and the son of Goose, Anthony Edwards’ wingman character from the original picture. The movie is said to “explore the end of the era of dogfighting.” Val Kilmer is also set to return as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky and Maverick’s main adversary.

Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the original film directed by Tony Scott, will produce with Cruise and Skydance CEO David Ellison.

A “Top Gun” was a massive, profitable hit in 1986, grossing $350 million off a $15 budget and in 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Original helmer Tony Scott (“True Romance,” “The Hunger“) had been developing the sequel for years but died from suicide in 2012. “Top Gun 2” is set on the runway to start filming in September. The film will hit theaters in wide release via Paramount on July 12, 2019.