Ed Harris proved that he can handle pressure like Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain in “Top Gun: Maverick”, even a powerful jet pressure wave.
In one of the most memorable moments of the “Top Gun” sequel, Harris, 71, stands, forcefully absorbing the impressive pressure wave of an eerily low-passing aircraft.
That’s no substitute for Harris, who doesn’t budge as the rest of the Nevada set takes damage from the powerful air disturbance, including an unplanned roof lift (as seen in the final seconds of the trailer).
“It blew the roof off the guard station,” Harris tells USA TODAY with a smile. “It was a fun scene with the plane roaring overhead. I was just holding my ground knowing what to expect. It’s really impressive to see this plane coming at you from so far away and just flying over your head.”
The nearby overpass is daunting to see on screen. But, “The Right Stuff” star Harris handled it.
“It was great,” says Harris. “These guys are professional drivers. I knew they weren’t going to find me or anything.”
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In “Maverick,” it’s Cruise’s rebel Pete “Maverick” Mitchell performing the hypersonic flyby on his new commanding officer. Director Joseph Kosinski told the New York Times that the sequence was flown by a Blue Angel pilot, Walleye, one of the few Navy pilots cleared for the “low-altitude transition” maneuver necessary for full glory.
“The set was destroyed by the pressure wave,” Kosinski said. “That’s Ed Harris getting a pressure wave to the face. He’s not a stuntman.”
Harris made quite an impact with his role as Cain in the sequel, perfectly scowling and barking at Cruise’s Maverick while extolling the virtues of drones that would replace human pilots (yes, even Maverick).
But the role was brief in terms of screen time, as Cain reluctantly follows orders to send Maverick to instruct at the Top Gun training school. Voices On twitter have lamented the lack of Ed Harris time.
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However, Harris, who returns as the Man in Black on season 4 of HBO’s “Westworld” on June 26, says he maxed out Cain alongside Cruise, his co-star in the 1993 action flick “The Firm.” “.
“There were never any more scenes with the character (of Cain). That was it,” says Harris. “It was fun. And I’m really happy to be a part of the movie. And happy that it’s doing so well with so many people watching it.”
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Other “Maverick” superstars got even less screen time.
Anthony Edwards, who plays Maverick’s late “Top Gun” best friend Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, wasn’t needed for any scenes in the sequel. However, Goose figures prominently in “Maverick,” appearing in images and flashbacks, and is the father of his adult pilot son, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller).
Cruise, 59, treated Edwards, 59, and his real son, Bailey, 28, to a private Dolby screening of “Maverick.”
“As I told Tom, ‘mission accomplished.’ They did,” Edwards told Entertainment Tonight. “He had the feel, he had the tone, he had what people wanted.”
Not to mention, a really easy job for the actor.
“It’s the biggest movie I’ve ever been in where I never had to show up for a day job,” Edwards said. “So that was fun.”
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