April 3, 2025 – Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise paid a moving tribute to his late friend and Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer, who passed away on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65. The heartfelt moment occurred just before production kicked off on the latest Mission: Impossible film, as reported by entertainment journalist Jeff Sneider in a series of posts on X.
Cruise, reflecting on their nearly 40-year friendship, spoke with deep admiration for Kilmer, calling him a “great friend whose work he admired.” The two first collaborated in the 1986 classic Top Gun, with Kilmer playing the rival pilot Iceman opposite Cruise’s Maverick. Their bond grew over the decades, culminating in an emotional on-screen reunion in the 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Sneider’s initial post at 18:01 UTC on April 3 captured Cruise’s words: “I want to honor a dear friend of mine – Val Kilmer… He loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us. Was grateful and honored he joined us on Top Gun.”
Kilmer’s passing has deeply affected the entertainment world. The actor, celebrated for roles in Batman Forever, The Doors, and Tombstone, had faced significant health challenges, including throat cancer, which was poignantly reflected in his Top Gun: Maverick cameo. In that film, his character Iceman also battled the illness, using artificial voice technology to communicate—a scene that moved both audiences and Cruise himself. According to a 2023 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cruise admitted the reunion brought him to tears, describing it as “pretty emotional.”
Sneider’s subsequent posts offered more details on the upcoming Mission: Impossible film, the eighth in the franchise, set for release on May 23, 2025. At 18:02 UTC, he shared that director Christopher McQuarrie confirmed the return of franchise staples Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Vanessa Kirby, with new cast members Nick Offerman and Katy O’Brian joining the ensemble. At 18:04 UTC, Sneider revealed that the story will introduce a new IMF team, with Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, taking on a mentorship role—a fresh dynamic for the long-running series. Finally, at 18:11 UTC, Sneider disclosed the film’s plot: a high-stakes mission to secure a “next-gen algorithm” capable of destabilizing global security, with filming slated to begin in London.
Cruise’s tribute to Kilmer adds a layer of emotional depth to the start of this new Mission: Impossible chapter. The two actors’ relationship, which began with a rocky start due to Kilmer’s method acting on the Top Gun set, evolved into a profound friendship, as detailed in a recent ABC News article. Kilmer’s passing due to pneumonia, as confirmed by his daughter Mercedes Kilmer in The New York Times, has prompted widespread reflection on his legacy. Cruise’s decision to honor him before embarking on another action-packed project highlights the personal significance of their bond, blending the high-octane world of Mission: Impossible with a touching real-life tribute to a cinematic icon.
