Jerry Bruckheimer Shares How He Got Tom Cruise to Star in 'Top Gun'

Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer of so many hugely successful films and television shows that listing them would fill this entire post, stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! and discussed the origins of some of the films he has produced, including Pirates of the Caribbean. He also explained that Tom Cruise was hesitant to sign on for the role of Maverick in Top Gun.

Bruckheimer decided to make a bold move after quite a bit of back-and-forth with the actor. He called up the U.S. Navy and asked them to put Cruise in one of their fighter jets. The Blue Angels were up for the task. Tom Cruise met the pilots at a base and went for a ride.

The producer described the day: “So they take Tom up there they do 5 Gs, they do barrel rolls, they do everything. He’s heaving in the plane. He gets on the tarmac, runs to a pay phone … and he said, ‘I’m in. I’m doing the movie. I love it. This is great.’”

Chris Hemsworth’s near-death vacation story:

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