Hollywood is feeling the need for ‘Top Gun’

Tom Cruise is aboard for “Maverick,” which features Goose’s son and other familiar faces from the 1986 hit.

We’ve all got the need for “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Tom Cruise returns to his role as hotshot pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in one year, screaming into theaters on July 12, 2019.

Talk about the much-anticipated sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun” exploded last year when Cruise announced, “It’s definitely happening.”

But details about director Joseph Kosinski’s film have been maddeningly difficult to come by, even for Martin Blair, who owns the Kansas City Barbeque restaurant in San Diego where key scenes from the original were shot.

“We only hear different snippets – they are filming here or there,” Blair says. “There’s so much interest. People have been talking about this for decades, and it’s finally happening.”

Here’s what we know so far:

Filming has started, stopped

Cruise, 56, tapped into his 23-yearold Tom Terrific self, signaling May 30 that filming had begun with a Twitter post featuring the Ray-Bans, the Maverick helmet and a #Day1 “Feel the need” message. Miles Teller, left, has been cast to play the son of “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards). Val Kilmer returns as “Iceman” Kazansky.

The Defense Department confirmed “Maverick” was shooting at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego.

After two days of filming, Cruise jetted off to promote “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” around the world. Shooting resumes in September.

Maverick teams with Goose’s son

“Top Gun” focused on risk-taking pilot Maverick and his family-oriented wingman, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards). The bromance ended tragically, with Bradshaw dying after ejecting from their stalled jet.

The new film will feature Maverick, now a flight instructor, mentoring Goose’s grown son.

News of the auditions for the role leaked. Miles Teller beat a field that included Glen Powell and Nicholas Hoult.

Following in Cruise’s footsteps, Teller tweeted, “I feel the need ...” to confirm the casting.

Iceman makes a return

Cruise’s main “Top Gun” adversary, Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Val Kilmer), will be back. Kilmer, who has battled throat cancer, has been playfully campaigning to face off with Cruise.

Kilmer, 58, confirmed the news on Facebook, saying he was “officially in the sequel.” He even hinted at a fan’s request to see a replay of the infamous beach volleyball game.

“I can’t comment on the screenplay, but we all know what we want to see!” Kilmer wrote.

Maverick is gunning a new bike

Cruise was spotted by TMZ riding a motorcycle on the “Maverick” set.

Maverick has traded in his Kawasaki GPZ900R for a Ninja H2R. List price: $55,000.

As the motorcycle enthusiast site Ride Apart noted, “Maybe Cruise’s character also got a pay raise?”

CRUISE BY PARAMOUNT

PARAMOUNT PICTURES Production on the sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun,” starring Tom Cruise, has gotten clearance from the control tower.