Val Kilmer has opened up about how he was left "very moved" after 'speaking' to Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick.
Hollywood legend Val played Lieutenant Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky in the first instalment of the blockbuster franchise, which was released in 1986.
His character was the rival of Tom's, Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, as they chased to be the top student in training before eventually becoming his wingman and having mutual respect for each other.
Val's character made a cameo in the critically acclaimed sequel - released 36 years after the original film - with the actor making a return to the big screen despite losing his voice to throat cancer in 2015.
Val has had a number of surgeries on his windpipe, two tracheotomies and chemotherapy as he endured a two-year battle with throat cancer which resulted in the actor having to plug in an electric voice box in his trachea due to the permanent damage.
He has often covered up his throat in public with scarves and jumpers but the 62-year-old, remarkably, was able to 'speak' during his scene with Cruise, 59, thanks to incredible AI technology.
In a scene, Maverick visits Iceman, who is now an Admiral in the US Navy and the commander of the US Pacific Fleet.
Kazansky speaks through a computer screen until the final moment of the scene, where he says out loud: "The Navy needs you Maverick, they (the pilots) need you."
Val revealed how he felt after filming the scenes and how they "laughed all day" on set. He also praised the "good story arc" for his character in the movie that has made over $203 million (£162.5m) at the box office since it's release on May 27.
He told USA Today: "I was very moved the first time I saw it. Almost 40 years is a long time for a reunion. We laughed all day. Tom is great and surprisingly funny!!
"It is nice to see Iceman reach such success in the career he loved. It's a good story arc. And it was very exciting to be back at it with Tom.
He added: "I love Tom. We’ve always gotten along great."
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