At CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Tom Cruise led a moving tribute to his late Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer, aged 65.
During the annual CinemaCon industry summit held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Tom Cruise paid heartfelt tribute to his late Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer, who passed away earlier this week. Before unveiling exclusive footage from his forthcoming film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Cruise led theater owners in a solemn moment of silence to honor Kilmer’s memory.
"I'd like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer," said Cruise, opening his long-anticipated appearance at the event. He continued, "I really can't tell you how much I admired his work, how much I thought of him as a human being, and how grateful and honored I was when he joined Top Gun and then came back for Top Gun: Maverick."
Kilmer, one of the most prominent Hollywood figures of the 1990s, rose to stardom with his portrayal of Iceman in the iconic 1986 film Top Gun. His family confirmed that he died at the age of 65. The cause of death was pneumonia. Kilmer had been battling throat cancer since 2014 and made his final screen appearance in the 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick, visibly weakened and speaking with a raspy voice.
During the tribute, Cruise addressed the audience with reverence, inviting them to reflect: "Take a moment and just think about all the wonderful times that we had" watching Kilmer light up the screen. He added, "I wish you well on your next journey," speaking directly to his late friend.
To the attendees, he expressed appreciation: "Thank you all for doing that. I know he appreciates it."
Top Gun marked Kilmer’s breakout performance, where he played the confident, stoic fighter pilot opposite Cruise’s hotheaded Maverick. In Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel integrated Kilmer’s real-life health struggles into the storyline with poignant realism, lending depth and emotional resonance to his final performance.
The evening continued with the debut of the trailer for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, set for release on May 23. The preview features Cruise’s tireless protagonist, Ethan Hunt, clinging to the landing gear of a small biplane as it speeds through a narrow canyon and executes daring barrel rolls high above the ground.
The trailer also includes powerful flashbacks to landmark scenes from the franchise’s previous installments—such as Hunt suspended among laser beams and scaling the Burj Khalifa in Dubai—underscoring the saga’s enduring legacy.
"I need you to trust me one last time," says Cruise’s character, in what Paramount Pictures is promoting as the final chapter of the blockbuster series.
With AFP
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