Val Kilmer says Top Gun co-star Tom Cruise was ‘laser-focused’ on becoming ‘the greatest action hero in the history of film’

The screen legend writes of Cruise’s drive in his ‘remarkably candid’ new memoir

Val Kilmer, who plays Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in Top Gun, says that during filming, lead actor Tom Cruise was “laser-focused” on making his character Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell the best action hero in the history of film.

In his new memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, Kilmer writes of his experience on the set of the action film: “Tom refrained from our revelry, with good reason. From day one, he was laser-focused on a singular goal: to become the greatest action hero in the history of film.”

The 60-year-old screen icon continues: “He was up nights learning lines; he spent every waking hour perfecting his stunts. His dedication was admirable. Of course even more admirable is the fact that he achieved his goal.“

Top Gun was a box office smash upon its release, grossing $357 million (£275m). It went on to win cult status and an Oscar win for the Berlin song “Take My Breath Away.”

Both Cruise and Kilmer are set to reunite in the Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, where they will both reprise their roles from the original film. It’s set to hit cinemas on 23 December 2020.

In his remarkably candid memoir, Kilmer also details how he “couldn’t wait to kiss” Angelina Jolie on the set of Alexander after accepting the role as of her husband.

Kilmer said that he told director Oliver Stone he would only accept the role of Jolie's husband in the historical film if their characters “had flashbacks to falling hard for each other and storming the castle with passion, before turning against each other”.

I'm Your Huckleberry is out now. The book's blurb reads: “Legendary actor Val Kilmer shares the stories behind his most beloved roles, reminisces about his star-studded career and love life, and reveals the truth behind his recent health struggles in a remarkably candid autobiography.”