The actors playing the next generation of pilots in the action sequel felt the need for lots of cocktails.
It’s been almost three years since shooting wrapped on the COVID-delayedTop Gun: Maverick.
But how will those friendships be affected by alcohol?
Clockwise from left: Danny Ramirez, Lewis Pullman, Jay Ellis, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, and Greg Tarzan Davis.Michelle Groskopf for EW
We’ll find out today, particularly as Davis has an idea for making proceedings a little more boozy.
“And I’m not talking about a sip, I mean agulp.”
“Full name, Tom Cruise, or just Tom?”
Clockwise from left: Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, and Greg Tarzan Davis.Michelle Groskopf for EW
“Tom and Cruise or Cruise and Tom or Thomas or whatever,” clarifies Davis.
Strap on your parachutes, this should be fun.
MONICA BARBARO:Yeah, Tom designed this incredible aviation course for us.
From left, Jay Ellis, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, and Greg Tarzan Davis.Michelle Groskopf for EW
What is it like when you’re up there pulling extraordinary amounts of Gs?
And how much are you barfing?
JAY ELLIS:Danny, how much are you barfing when you’re up there?
From left: Danny Ramirez, Lewis Pullman, and Jay Ellis.Michelle Groskopf for EW
DANNY RAMIREZ:I think most of us could say that we were barfing quite a bit.
BARBARO:Whatever’scoming out of you.
ELLIS:Cheers to the puke and rally!
From left, Jay Ellis, Glen Powell, and Greg Tarzan Davis.Michelle Groskopf for EW
What was it like the first time you met Tom?
And you’re like, “You know my name?
Wait, what is happening right now?”
From left: Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, and Greg Tarzan Davis.Michelle Groskopf for EW
Glen, you auditioned with Tom Cruise.
What was that like?
GLEN POWELL:I did.
From left, Danny Ramirez, Jay Ellis, and Glen Powell.Michelle Groskopf for EW
I was actually pretty nervous.
When you meet him, you forget that he’s one of the biggest movie stars in the world.
ROUND 2: MARGARITA
Tell me about the first time you saw the originalTop Gun.
So, the fact that we’re here, it’s because I manifested it into existence.
BARBARO:Thank yousomuch, Danny.
Has Tom thanked you?
ELLIS:I saw it for the first time on an Air Force base in Austin, TX.
My dad was in the Air Force.
I remember going to the base theater and it was packed: families, pilots, mechanics.
What are the other films that inspired you to take up acting?
DAVIS:Boom!Denzel Washington.
ELLIS:Is that a movie?
DAVIS:You didn’t let me finish!
It was a dramatic pause.
So, we haveTraining Day,John Q,Man on Fire.
LEWIS PULLMAN:I wasn’t allowed to watch TV growing up, weirdly enough.
[The actor is son ofIndependence Daystar Bill Pullman.]
But we were allowed to watch two movies a week and we would go to Blockbuster.
He’s a young ‘un in that and he is incredible.
DAVIS:Did your dad influence you at all?
PULLMAN:Oh, of course that goes without saying.
I go to him with any questions any time.
He also knows the business better than anyone.
BARBARO:I think we all text him semi-regularly.
We try not to bug him.
DAVIS:I text him every night: “Goodnight!”
“Good morning!”
Sometimes I don’t get a response.
“How’s your day going?
I saw you on top of a train!
Was it scary?”
BARBARO:We do that with each other.
We were sending “Goodnight!”
DAVIS:That’s what it is.
Have you ever flown an F-18 before?
I mean, not today.
RAMIREZ:More people have got a Super Bowl ring than [have flown in an F-18].
What I’m saying is, trauma-bonding is real.
Have you ever been through trauma?
I think I’m going through it right now.
ELLIS:I think you are too!
RAMIREZ:We’ve stayed in contact with him.
DAVIS:With who?
RAMIREZ:With Tom, and he’s been supportive of any of our storytelling endeavors.
He’s continued as a mentor.
RAMIREZ:Tom had notes on a project that we have together.
They sent it to Tom Tom read it faster than I did.
That, I think, is just incredible.
It’s all him, because none of this exists without him.
I’m getting drunk.
What is the moment that you’ll remember from this whole experience?
To be the guy who’s in the corner who’s always watching and listening, but not contributing?
And am I supposed to be here?
I was like, I think I can be a part of this thing.
And everyone was like, “Ring the bell!
Yeah, free drinks!”
And I was, like, “Wait, sorry?…”
It was the first words I probably spoke.
“What are the rules here?
What’s going on right now?”
ELLIS:It was probably one of my finer moments, to be honest with you.
I’m actually really proud of myself for that one.
But it broke you out of your shell!
Watch the full Three Rounds video above.
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