When Val Kilmer reprised his role as Lieutenant Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in Top Gun: Maverick, the film’s star Tom Cruise called it ‘special’ and ‘beautiful.’

Indeed, Cruise had allegedly been the ‘driving force’ behind the actor’s return to the movie franchise three decades after the pair first took flight as US Naval aviators in the 1986 blockbuster.

But Kilmer’s reprisal in the 2022 sequel was made possible with the help of artificial intelligence – a technology Cruise, 62, reportedly ‘despises.’

Kilmer’s voice was regenerated using AI due to his damaged vocal cords, a result of a 2014 tracheotomy following his throat cancer diagnosis.

It marked his final film appearance before his death, aged 65, from pneumonia in April this year – which was also around the same time that early talks were starting for Top Gun 3. One tentative plot suggestion was to resurrect Kilmer using AI – a move that was furiously quashed by Cruise.

Sources exclusively revealed to the Daily Mail that the Scientologist exploded at the proposition in a pre-production meeting, reportedly leaving fellow attendees stunned as they sat in silence.

Tom Cruise exploded at the suggestion of using an AI Val Kilmer in the upcoming Top Gun 3, sources have told the Daily Mail

Tom Cruise exploded at the suggestion of using an AI Val Kilmer in the upcoming Top Gun 3, sources have told the Daily Mail  

'Tom jumped to his feet and let rip at the guy, leaving the entire room silent for literally minutes,' a source told Daily Mail

‘Tom jumped to his feet and let rip at the guy, leaving the entire room silent for literally minutes,’ a source told Daily Mail

‘Someone suggested bringing Val Kilmer back via Al,’ one source told the Daily Mail. ‘Tom jumped to his feet and let rip, leaving the entire room silent for literally minutes. You could almost hear a pin drop and see steam coming out of his ears.

‘Tom’s stand on AI is that he despises it. Val only managed to make a brief appearance in Top Gun: Maverick due to his long battle with cancer. Tom knew it would be Val’s screen farewell and wanted to give him the honorable send off he deserved.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Cruise’s representatives for comment. 

Fans were reduced to tears when Iceman, who had been promoted to Admiral, returned to screens alongside Cruise’s Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell.

The former rivals shared an emotional conversation, with Iceman advising Maverick to ‘let go’ of the past and move on.

‘The Navy needs Maverick,’ Iceman said in the film. ‘The kid needs Maverick. That’s why I fought for you. That’s why you’re still here.’

The pair then embraced, with Iceman joking: ‘One last thing – who is the better pilot, you or me?’

Director Joseph Kosinski revealed that both actors were teary-eyed while shooting the touching scene.

Kilmer was famed for his role as Lieutenant Tom ¿Iceman' Kazansky in the 1986 smash hit original Top Gun movie alongside Cruise, 62, as Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell (pictured)

Kilmer was famed for his role as Lieutenant Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in the 1986 smash hit original Top Gun movie alongside Cruise, 62, as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (pictured)

London-based firm AI company Sonantic recreated Kilmer's voice for Top Gun: Maverick in 2022

London-based firm AI company Sonantic recreated Kilmer’s voice for Top Gun: Maverick in 2022

‘After one of the takes – we only did a few – I noticed that both Tom and Val had tears in their eyes. It felt like a genuine moment between two old friends,’ he said at the time.

London-based firm AI company Sonantic recreated Kilmer’s voice in a lifelike yet artificial mock-up, which he was able to use to help him communicate in everyday life.

‘I’m grateful to the entire team at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a way I’ve never imagined possible,’ Kilmer said at the time.

But Cruise allegedly feels that an entirely AI Kilmer would ‘bastardize’ the actor’s legacy.

After all, Iceman died of cancer in the sequel, which saw Maverick saluting his old rival as he was laid to rest at a military funeral.

‘The moment he shared with Val in Maverick was such a beautiful experience, that when an AI Val was brought up, he wasn’t happy and quickly killed it because that would just bastardize everything,’ a source said.

‘He did not want to be part of it. If Val isn’t here to appreciate or sign off on it, Tom is having none of it. He didn’t want to do that to Val. Will the movie reference Val? Yes, but Maverick is the last time we’ll see him.’

It is not the first time Cruise has let rip at work. 

'When an AI Val was brought up, he wasn¿t happy and quickly killed it because that would just bastardize everything,¿ said a second source

‘The moment he shared with Val in Maverick was such a beautiful experience, that when an AI Val was brought up, he wasn’t happy and quickly killed it because that would just bastardize everything,’ a source said 

In 2020, a recording was released of his expletive-laden outburst at staff who were flouting Covid-19 protocols on the set of Mission: Impossible 7.

The first major box office production to start shooting amid the pandemic, Cruise’s tirade came after two staff members stood too close to one another. 

‘If I see you do it again, you’re f***ing gone,’ he screamed. ‘And anyone on this crew does it, THAT’S IT! And you, too. And you, too. And you. If you ever do it again, that’s it.

‘No apologies. You can tell it to the people who are losing their f***ing homes because our INDUSTRY is shut down.’

As a perfectionist, it is no surprise that Cruise, who is rumored to be dating Ana de Armas, went ballistic at the notion of an AI Kilmer. After years of waiting for plans for Maverick to take off, he is ‘not going to screw it up now.’

‘People loved the sequel so Tom will do nothing to ruin the audience’s goodwill,’ the source said. ‘To add an AI Val would be graceless.’

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