Top Gun: Maverick spoilers follow.
Top Gun star Val Kilmer has addressed his emotional appearance in the newly released sequel Maverick.
The actor starred alongside Tom Cruise in the 1986 original as Iceman, though briefly returns for the new movie as he and Maverick meet again.
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In the scene, Iceman – aka Tom Kazansky – communicates via a computer due to an unspecified illness, reflecting Kilmer's real-life experience of throat cancer.
Related: Top Gun: Maverick's treatment of Iceman is as powerful as any flight sequence
Speaking of the scene, Kilmer told USA Today: "I was very moved the first time I saw it. Almost 40 years is a long time for a reunion. We laughed all day. Tom is great and surprisingly funny!!"
He also confirmed that he had been hoping for a reunion since the sequel was announced, recalling: "I called the agent immediately. Yes, Top Gun has all the perfect elements for a sequel."
In Maverick, Iceman takes on the role of a higher-ranking admiral, Kilmer admitting it was "nice to see Iceman reach such success in the career he loved".
"It's a good story arc. And it was very exciting to be back at it with Tom," he added.
Related: Top Gun: Maverick has a "hardcore" Easter egg you might have missed
Director Joseph Kosinski said that the format of the scene changed until they decided to end it with Iceman speaking, Kilmer adding: "It changed every day in rehearsals. They made the right choice in the end."
The actor also recalled that the hug between the two characters was "straight from the heart", saying: "I love Tom. We've always gotten along great."
Following the movie's release, Maverick has been breaking all sorts of box office records, the latest being its $156 million haul in the first four days, making it the biggest Memorial Day opening in history.
Top Gun: Maverick is out now in the UK and the US.
![Top Gun – 4K Ultra HD [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1623254447-51aVUJxpYxL._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Top Gun – 4K Ultra HD [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]")
Columbia/Legacy Top Gun - Motion Picture Soundtrack (Special Expanded Edition)
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