Val Kilmer inTop Gun(1986).Photo: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
Val Kilmer’s Tom “Iceman” Kazansky makes an unforgettable appearance inTop Gun: Maverick— with a little help from science.
Inan August 2021 blog post, Sonantic co-founder and CEO John Flynn previously said they “generated more than 40 different voice modelsand selected the best, highest-quality, most expressive one” for Kilmer.
“Those new algorithms are now embedded into our Voice Engine, so future clients can automatically take advantage of them as well,” he continued.
According to Flynn, “From the beginning, our aim was to make a voice model that Val would be proud of.” He added, “We were eager to give him his voice back, providing a new tool for whatever creative projects are ahead.”
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Val Kilmer (L) inTop Gun: Maverick(2022).
Kilmer’s sonJack, who recites some of narration in his father’s2021 documentaryVal, previously told PEOPLE of Sonantic’s technology, “They have just created something really incredible and it really moved me to see their proof of concept. It has so much potential.”
“Knowing my dad, he’ll probably use it for something creative and, at the very least, just to communicate with us when he’s feeling tired,” added Jack, 26. “A cool setup, though.”
Of filming the original movie at age 26, Kilmer recently toldPEOPLE in a newTop Gunspecial edition, “My main joy was the camaraderie of the cast, [producers] Don Simpson andJerry Bruckheimer, along with the incredible, unflappable enthusiasm of [director]Tony Scottand Tom Cruise.”
As for his off-screen relationship with Cruise, 59, “I am happy to announce we have home movies to prove how much fun we had!” said Kilmer, who used personal camcorder footage from his early career inVal.
RELATED VIDEO: Val Kilmer On Surviving Throat Cancer: “I Want to Share My Story More Than Ever”
Some three decades later, when he heard about a potential sequel, it was now the once-reluctant actor who lobbied to bring back Iceman. His successful pitch made him the only cast member besides Cruise toreprise his role inTop Gun: Maverick.
“The rivalry between Iceman and Maverick was such a memorable part of the first movie,” the sequel’s director,Joseph Kosinski, told PEOPLE. “I’m glad we’ll be able to show the evolution of that relationship.”
And Cruise wasthrilled to have Kilmer return. “I’ve always admired [Val’s] work, his talent,” he told PEOPLE, adding, “We get together. . . we just start laughing. It was special to have him back. It meant a lot to me.”
Top Gun: Maverickis now playing in theaters.
source: people.com
