The Top Gun: Maverick cast features Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer and Jennifer Connelly. This info article contains minor spoilers and character details for Joseph Kosinski’s 2022 movie on Paramount+. Check out more streaming guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast section.

Top Gun: Maverick follows Pete Mitchell, a legendary U.S. Navy pilot. He clashes with superior officers while trying to protect a hypersonic jet program. The narrative examines Pete’s attempts to prepare TOPGUN pilots for an international bombing mission. Here’s every main performer and character in Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the 1986 classic Top Gun.

Read More at VV — Soundtracks of Cinema: ‘Top Gun’

Top Gun: Maverick Cast: Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell

Character Profile: A U.S. Navy test pilot who rejects promotions. He receives an opportunity to train pilots as a TOPGUN instructor. Maverick upsets superior officers while impressing young pilots with his flying skills.

Cruise’s Resume: Ron Kovic in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible Movie Franchise (1996-), Jerry Maguire in Jerry Maguire (1996), Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia (1999), Nathan Algren in The Last Samurai (2003)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘A Perfect Pairing’

Top Gun: Maverick Cast: Val Kilmer as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky

Character Profile: A four-star U.S. Navy admiral. He chooses Maverick to train Super Hornet pilots for a mission. Iceman has throat cancer and looks after the best interests of Cruise’s character.

Kilmer’s Resume: Madmartigan in Willow (1988), Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991), Gay Perry in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Stewart in Palo Alto (2013), Bluntman in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Heartstopper’

Top Gun: Maverick Cast: Miles Teller as Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw

Character Profile: The son of the late Nick “Goose” Bradshaw from Top Gun. He remains bitter that Maverick blocked his application to the Naval Academy. Rooster doesn’t understand the full context for Pete’s actions.

Teller’s Resume: Sutter in The Spectacular Now (2013), Andrew in Whiplash (2014), Peter in Divergent (2014), Martin Jones in Too Old to Die Young (2019), Albert S. Ruddy in The Offer (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Russian Doll’

Top Gun: Maverick Cast: Jennifer Connelly as Penelope “Penny” Benjamin

Character Profile: Maverick’s ex-girlfriend, a bar owner and the daughter of a U.S. Navy admiral. She has a teenage daughter named Amelia. Penny reignites a romantic relationship with Maverick.

Connelly’s Resume: Jennifer Corvino in Phenomena (1985), Jenny in The Rocketeer (1991), Marion Silver in Requiem for a Dream (2000), Alicia Nash in A Beautiful Mind (2001), Melanie Cavill in Snowpiercer (2020-)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Godspeed’

Top Gun: Maverick Cast: Jon Hamm as Beau “Cyclone” Simpson

Character Profile: A U.S. Navy vice admiral. He commands the Naval Air Force and clashes with Maverick. Cyclone learns to appreciate Pete’s skills and perspective.

Hamm’s Resume: Don Draper in Mad Men (2007-15), Adam Frawley in The Town (2010), JB in Million Dollar Arm (2014), Buddy in Baby Driver (2017), Joe Finney in No Sudden Move (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Senior Year’

Top Gun: Maverick Cast: Glen Powell as Jake “Hangman” Seresin

Character Profile: An F/A-18E pilot. He is the most charismatic of the TOPGUN crew. Hangman’s personality and skills mirror Iceman from Top Gun.

Powell’s Resume: Chad Radwell in Scream Queens (2015-16), John Glenn in Hidden Figures (2016), Finnegan in Everybody Wants Some!! (2016), Charlie in Set It Up (2018), Bostick in Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood  (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Valet’

Top Gun: Maverick Cast: Ed Harris as Chester “Hammer” Cain

Character Profile: A U.S. Navy rear admiral. He plans to shut down the “Darkstar” program. Hammer keeps a close eye on Maverick throughout the film.

Harris’ Resume: Gene Kranz in Apollo 13 (1995), Christof in The Truman Show (1998), Jackson Pollock in Pollock (2000), Man in Black in Westworld (2016-), Lyle in The Lost Daughter (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Toscana’

Top Gun: Maverick Cast: Lyliana Wray as Amelia

Character Profile: Penny’s teenage daughter. Her father lives in Hawaii. Amelia urges Maverick not to break her mother’s heart again.

Wray’s Resume: Angel in Maximum Ride (2016), Naya in The Night Shift (2017), Riley in Black-ish (2018), Young Susan in Strange Angel (2018), Rachel Carpenter in Are You Afraid of the Dark? (2019)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘The Recruit’

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The Top Gun: Maverick cast also includes:

• Bashir Salahuddin as Chief Warrant Officer Four Bernie “Hondo” Coleman
• Monica Barbaro as Lt. Natasha “Phoenix” Trace
• Lewis Pullman as Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd
• Jay Ellis as Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch
• Danny Ramirez as Lt. Mickey “Fanboy” Garcia
• Jack Schumacher as Lt. Neil “Omaha” Vikander
• Manny Jacinto as Lt. Billy “Fritz” Avalone
• Kara Wang as Lt. Callie “Halo” Bassett
• Greg Tarzan Davis as Lt. Javy “Coyote” Machado
• Jake Picking as Lt. Brigham “Harvard” Lennox
• Raymond Lee as Lt. Logan “Yale” Lee

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.