Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) died in 1986’s “Top Gun.” But his now-grown son is expected to return in the “Top Gun” sequel underway, just like we requested.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, auditions are underway near Tom Cruise’s home in Clearwater, Florida, for the coveted role in “Top Gun: Maverick.”
The sequel has already signed up Cruise’s screen rival, Iceman (Val Kilmer), to return and face Maverick, now a pilot instructor. But Maverick must also face Goose’s son.
In the first “Top Gun,” Maverick grappled with guilt after Goose died while ejecting from their stalled jet, even though he was cleared of wrongdoing.
We got a glimpse of the son in the original film, pretragedy, with his father and mother (Meg Ryan) in happier times. But he’s all grown, and we’ve got the need to see one of these high-flying actors suit up for the part in “Maverick,” set to hit screens on July 12, 2019.
Glen Powell has the demeanor and a flight suit
The Austin native has Goose’s easy charm while also showing his comic chops (and cheekbones) in Richard Linklater’s 2016 film “Everybody Wants Some!!” You can just hear him barking “Great balls of fire!” like Goose.
Powell, starring in Netflix’s romantic comedy “Set It Up” with Zoey Deutch, is already a contender, according to THR. Major plus: He already proved he can handle fake high-altitude flight as astronaut John Glenn in “Hidden Figures.” He might even have that flight suit somewhere.
Nicholas Hoult is already a grown-up boy
Hoult, another reported contender, is the kind of top-shelf actor who disappears into every role, from the War Boy Nux in “Mad Max: Fury Road” to Beast in the “X-Men” franchise.
No doubt he’s gelling up his hair and sleeping in Ray-Bans to prepare for the audition. Bonus points: He played the awkward boy Marcus alongside Hugh Grant in 2002’s “About a Boy.” To go from Marcus to Beast shows he understands the needed character arc.
Get Dylan O’Brien back on that flight list
O’Brien was “in the mix in a previous stage” for the role, according to THR. Well, put him right back in the mix, immediately. Between “Teen Wolf” and his role in “American Assassin,” Goose’s son is right in O’Brien’s wheelhouse. Supremely likable, sensitive, with just enough cockiness, he’s got a built-in young fanbase to boot.
Duh, Anthony Edwards can play Anthony Edwards’ son
Sure Edwards is 55. But the dude is looking top form and can pull off his own screen progeny. We can do something digitally about the lack of follicles, slap on the sunglasses and we’re flying. Besides, with the latest screen de-aging advances, Michael Douglas looks like he just walked off the set of “The China Syndrome” in “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”
Edwards is rested and ready. Nobody better to capture Goose.
Miles Teller would bleed for this
Teller is said to be on the short list. It’s not a natural thought. But he did effectively convey a troubled kid who pulled his act together to become an elite firefighter in Joseph Kosinski’s “Only the Brave” — and Kosinski is also directing “Maverick.”
Jonathan Lipnicki is ready for the ride
Lipnicki already proved his off-the-charts screen chemistry with Cruise as Ray, the adorable son of single mom Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger) in 1996’s “Jerry Maguire.” He’s a 27-year-old actor now. Wouldn’t it be great to hear him ask Cruise inflight, “Maverick, do you know the human head weighs 8 pounds?”
———
© 2018 USA Today
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
