Most pilots remember Top Gun, the 1986 blockbuster directed by Tony Scott that encouraged many people to learn to fly—both in the military and general aviation. Although plans for a Top Gun 2 sequel apparently were abandoned following Scott’s recent death, the original movie has been remastered in 3-D and will return to theaters for a limited six-day engagement in February.
One of the film’s co-stars, Anthony Edwards—who played Goose, Maverick’s backseater—recently became a private pilot. “Flying is something I always wanted to do, even before Top Gun,” Edwards recently told Flight Training . “I was lucky to have an instructor who, by taking me step by step, never made me feel overwhelmed.” Edwards currently flies a Cirrus SR20.
Beginning Feb. 8, Top Gun is expected to be screened in 3-D at more than 300 IMAX theaters in 113 U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Las Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Look for a complete schedule on the IMAX website closer to the beginning of the six-day engagement.
The Paramount Pictures movie, which tells the story of an elite group of pilots competing to be the best in their air combat maneuvering class, earned more than $350 million in box offices worldwide. Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis star in the film; in addition to Edwards it also co-stars Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan.
Scott supervised the film’s conversion to 3-D before his death Aug. 19 in an apparent suicide. The remastered Top Gun will be released on Blu-ray, in both 3-D and 2-D versions, on Feb. 19. The 2-D Blu-ray will include a six-part documentary on the making of the movie; a behind-the-scenes featurette; and commentary by Scott, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and co-screenwriter Jack Epps Jr., among others.