Here's a 3-Hour Cut of the ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Shirtless Beach Scene
Top Gun: Maverick was one of the biggest cinematic releases of 2022, combining nostalgia for the '80s Tom Cruise classic with a dynamic, charismatic new cast of fighter pilots. The movie ticks off every box that made the first movie such a hit: tense dogfights in the sky, fierce rivalry, and of course, some obligatory male bonding in the form of shirtless sports.
While the initial version saw Cruise playing volleyball with the boys, in the sequel the older, wiser version of his character orchestrates a game of "dogfight football" which combines offense and defense to build trust among his class. It didn't take long for the sequence to go viral, not only for some obvious thirst reasons, but also due to the playful dancing of Miles Teller, who plays Rooster, the son of Maverick's late friend Goose.
For director Joseph Kosinski, the beach football scene in Top Gun: Maverick forms something of a center for the movie, as it brings together every single character in a rare moment of camaraderie—and pays loving homage to the original.
"When anyone and everyone found out I was making this movie, they told me: 'You know you've got to have a volleyball scene. It's not a Top Gun movie without it,'" said Kosinski. "Everyone had their calendar circled with: 'This is dogfight football day. Break out the coconut oil and the spray tan, let's do this!'"
The scene was also top of mind for Glen Powell, who plays Hangman, while he was physically preparing for the movie. "I knew the stakes were high," he said. "In the days leading up, there was more male insecurity than you’ve ever seen on any set ever... And probably more coconut oil than even on Magic Mike."
However, at least one cast member was fine to be left out of the oiled-up action. Jon Hamm, who plays the Top Gun commanding officer Cyclone, is only seen watching the dogfight football game from the sidelines. After the movie's release, Hamm said: ""I was very, very happy to leave the shirtless parts to the younger generation."
Now, to celebrate the release of the film on its streaming platform, Paramount+ has released a 3-hour looping version of the scene. Watch it below.
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