Jay Ellis had a memorable experience working alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, and one particular moment left him in awe—especially when it came to his father’s reaction. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ellis shared that his father was completely star-struck when Cruise appeared on a FaceTime call. While chatting with his dad, Cruise took the phone right out of Ellis’s hands and started conversing with him, much to his father’s surprise. Ellis laughed, recalling how his dad was in disbelief, saying, “Wait, Tom. What’s happening?” It was a surreal moment for both Ellis and his father.
Ellis also reflected on the valuable lessons he learned from working with Cruise, a seasoned Hollywood legend. He mentioned that Cruise taught him the importance of storytelling and serving the audience. Ellis admired how Cruise always goes above and beyond, not only in his performances but also in promoting his films. He recalled how Cruise once made a surprise visit to the San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 to launch the Top Gun: Maverick trailer, and even showed up unexpectedly at a screening of the film at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Cruise’s dedication to his fans is evident, as he’s also known for making spontaneous appearances, like when he flew to four cities in just 24 hours to attend Mission: Impossible screenings and surprise fans.
As for the Top Gun: Maverick cast, it included several up-and-coming stars, such as Monica Barbaro and Glen Powell. Ellis, who starred alongside these talented actors, expressed his excitement at the prospect of reuniting with the cast for a potential third Top Gun movie, saying he would “love” to return and work with them again.
