Tom Cruise visits US Navy aircraft carrier for Top Gun: Maverick screening with Hannah Waddingham
Tom Cruise appeared in great spirits as he visited a US Navy aircraft carrier in Adriatic Sea for a special Top Gun: Maverick screening on Friday.
The actor, 60, led the visit to USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) which included a screening of the blockbuster movie in the ships hanger bay and a meet-and-greet with sailors aboard the vessel.
He was joined by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, producer Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton.
Tom cut a casual figure in a navy blue bomber jacket and a matching jumper as he smiled for selfies with the crew.
Meanwhile, Hannah put on an animated display at the event while sporting a black turtleneck top and matching trousers.
Looking good: Tom Cruise appeared in great spirits as he visited the US Navy aircraft carrier in Adriatic Sea for a special Top Gun: Maverick screening on Friday
Beaming: He was joined by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, producer Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton
The pair were seen chatting to the crew, taking pictures and having a tour of the impressive vessel.
The ship has been deployed since departing Naval Station Norfolk in August last year.
The vessel is the tenth and final Nimitz-class supercarrier of the United States Navy.
Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG, said: ‘I know our Sailors will never forget that night in the hangar bay, and I am equally as certain that neither will Mr. Cruise.
‘The Sailors of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group represent what is best about America. Their commitment and courage is on display every day, and I know Tom and his entire team left with a fuller appreciation of the capabilities and power of U.S. Navy’s carrier strike groups — and the dedication and grit of our Sailors that make it all possible.’
Capt. Dave Pollard, the aircrafts carrier and commanding officer, himself a Top Gun graduate and instructor, said: ‘While Top Gun will always be an American and Navy classic, Tom, Chris, Eddie, and their team outdid themselves with Top Gun: Maverick!
‘Every minute they spent with the crew of our mighty warship paid dividends toward our crews morale from the top-down.
‘It buoys my spirits to know that the leading entertainers and filmmakers of our day not only conceptually know what we do, but they can relate to what our nations warriors do on a daily basis through their personal experiences aboard USS Georg.’
The film has earned nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound at the upcoming 95th Oscars.
Outing: Tom cut a casual figure in a navy bomber jacket and matching jumper as he smiled for selfies with the crew
Fun: Hannah put on an animated display at the event while sporting a black turtleneck top and matching trousers
Happy: The actor, 60, led the visit to USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) which included a screening of the blockbuster movie in the ship s hanger bay and a meet-and-greet with sailors aboard the ship
Screening: They were seen chatting to the crew, taking pictures and having a tour of the impressive vessel
The blockbuster surpassed global sales of $1.4 billion, making it Paramount Pictures’ most successful film ever and landing it in the top 10 movies of all time.
The cast includes: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Ed Harris and Val Kilmer.
The film, directed by Joseph Kosinski, is the 12th film in history to ever cross the $600 million mark at the domestic box office.
The sequel follows Capt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise) after more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators.
Maverick is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
Cruise and the Top Gun cast underwent months of flight training in preparation for their roles, as they took to the sky themselves for the scenes.
Tom was not allowed to fly an actual F-18 jet but he was the pilot of many other planes used throughout the film and even directed and filmed his own scenes while flying the plane and adjusting his own camera in front of himself with no room in the cockpit for a director’s assistance.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is hoping the Academy Awards will recognize Top Gun: Maverick, especially the efforts of its lead star, Tom Cruise.
Hard work: The ship has been deployed since departing Naval Station Norfolk in August last year
Successful: The blockbuster surpassed global sales of $1.4 billion, making it Paramount Pictures’ most successful film ever and landing it in the top 10 movies of all time
Impressive: The film has earned nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound at the upcoming 95th Oscars
Paramount Pictures could push it for the Best Picture Oscar as well, and with his long and fantastic career, maybe he can win the leading actor nod, which man.
Cruise served as a producer on Top Gun: Maverick, which was released last May.
The movie followed the original Top Gun feature, which previously debuted in 1986.
Top Gun: Maverick was made available to the public on May 27 of last year and was an immediate hit with critics.