Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he almost made a cameo in Top Gun: Maverick, though had to pull out.
The seven-time Formula 1 drivers' champion is close friends with star Tom Cruise, calling the actor "one of the nicest people you'll ever meet" in a recent interview. Cruise was a guest of Hamilton at the British grand prix earlier this year, and was also spotted chatting with the Mercedes driver's dad Anthony and brother Nicolas at the event.
"He invited me to his set years ago when he was doing Edge of Tomorrow, and then we just built a friendship over time," Hamilton told Vanity Fair.
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As a fan of Top Gun, as well as a childhood dream to be a fighter pilot, Hamilton revealed that he approached Cruise pitching for a role in the recent sequel.
"So when I heard the second one was coming out, I was like, 'Oh, my God, I have to ask him.' I said, 'I don't care what role it is. I'll even sweep something, be a cleaner in the back,'" he recalled.
Cruise agreed to the request and gave Hamilton a role as a fighter pilot – however, the filming coincided with the climax of a Formula 1 season, meaning he would have to decline the role ultimately.
Related: Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller in talks for Top Gun 3
"I'm a perfectionist," Hamilton admitted of not being able to prepare for the role due to the calendar clash, saying that his subsequent chat with Cruise and Maverick director Joseph Kosinski was "the most upsetting call that I think I've ever had".
Hamilton also confirmed that he is working with Kosinski and Brad Pitt on a Formula 1 film, arranging for Pitt to visit his team Mercedes' factory to get a first-hand view of the sport.
He's a producer on the project, and has also been assessing the storyline and script for authenticity.
Following the release of Maverick, the movie has been breaking records left, right and centre and has garnered acclaim from critics as well.
Most recently, it overtook Titanic as Paramount Pictures' highest-grossing picture ever after passing just over $600 million in the US.
Top Gun: Maverick is available to watch on Sky Cinema, NOW and Virgin TV.
![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)
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
