Why ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ almost had a different opening sequence.
The highly-anticipated sequel to the 1986 “Top Gun” movie has taken off around the world, bringing a new audience as well as fans of the original into movie theaters. “Top Gun: Maverick” opens with a sequence that pays homage to the first film visually and sonically as the music launches into Harold Faltermeyer’s famous “Top Gun” anthem. Editor Eddie Hamilton, who locked picture back in July 2020, breaks down how he helped edit the opening scene. In the first frames of the film, Hamilton had marks to hit as the film paid homage to the original through score, music and cinematography. The opening was almost a mirror of the 1986 original.
“Tom always said we had to start the film the same way with Harold Faltermeyer’s opening and then “Danger Zone.” It was the first thing Joseph and the DP Claudio Miranda shot.
“They went on to the USS George Washington in July 2018 and they shot for five days. I had over 15 hours of footage activity on deck and that was the first thing I did, break it down and build that opening montage.
“We changed the caption opening description to include men and women, and that was the only difference from the original movie. That was one of the very first things we showed to the studio.
“The following year, in 2019, Tom and Claudio went back to another aircraft carrier to film the sequence where Tom launches off. They did a few days of that, so I had more shots of people doing thumbs up and catapults being loaded and people saluting.
“This opening was important that everyone who loved “Top Gun,” sat down in the theater, and immediately felt like we really cared about their experience, that we were treating the original movie with respect, and honoring Tony Scott.
“Within two minutes, we wanted everybody to be in.
