Los Angeles, Jun 7 (IANS): Actor Val Kilmer will bring back the character of the skilled fighter pilot (and beach volleyball player) Tom Kazansky aka Iceman for "Top Gun: Maverick".
Actor Tom Cruise is also returning for the sequel to 1986's "Top Gun", the film that launched the actor as a global star, reports hollywoodreporter.com.
In the original film, Iceman was a rival to Maverick, before the pair eventually became friends after earning each other's grudging respect.
Cruise recently tweeted a photograph announcing that production had begun on the "Top Gun: Maverick".
Joseph Kosinski will helm the sequel, which follows fighter pilots dealing with a world in which drone technology is making their old style of flying obsolete.
German composer Harold Faltermeyer, who created Top Gun's memorable synth score, is also returning to the production.
The film is scheduled to release in July next year.