"Top Gun: Maverick" is breaking up the all boys' pilot club.
The Tom Cruise-led sequel brought its first female pilot on board with "Chicago Justice" star Monica Barbaro, according to a person familiar with the casting but not authorized to speak publicly about it.
Barbaro will also play the love interest to Miles Teller's character, a pilot training under Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell.
Here's what we know so far about the sequel coming to screens July 12.
Filming has started, stopped and resumes in September
Cruise, 56, tapped into his 23-year-old Tom Terrific self, signaling on May 30 that filming had begun with a Twitter post featuring the Ray-Bans, the Maverick helmet and a #Day1 "Feel the need" message.
The Department of Defense, no less, confirmed that "Maverick" was shooting at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego.
After two days of filming away from prying eyes, Cruise jetted off to promote "Mission: Impossible – Fallout" around the world. Shooting resumes in September.
Cruise summed up the story to E! News: "It's about a guy who flies jets."
Maverick may have a new love interest
Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly will star alongside Cruise in the female lead role, described as a single mom who owns a bar near the base. Cruise confirmed the casting, promising Connelly will be "amazing" in the movie.
In the original film, Maverick was famously involved with astrophysicist and civilian Top Gun instructor, Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood. It's looking like things didn't work out.
Maverick will team up with Goose's son
"Top Gun" focused on risk-taking pilot Maverick and his family-oriented wingman, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards). The bromance ended tragically, with Bradshaw dying after ejecting from their stalled jet.
The new film will feature Maverick, now a flight instructor, mentoring Goose's grown son (we caught glimpses of the boy in the first movie during the "Great Balls of Fire" performance in the barbecue joint).
News of the intense auditions for the coveted role leaked out. Miles Teller beat out a field that included actors Glen Powell and Nicholas Hoult.
Already showing he's following in Cruise's footsteps, Teller tweeted, "I feel the need ..." to confirm the casting.
While there are no points for second place, Powell's Twitter reaction after losing out was pretty fantastic.
Surprise! Glen Powell is joining the cast after all
In a surprise twist, Paramount confirmed that producers were so impressed with Powell, they're beefing up a role in the script just for him. No word yet on what the part will entail, but the "Hidden Figures" star is psyched.
Powell posted a picture on Instagram Aug. 8. of himself wearing aviators and a bomber jacket while posing in front of a classic fighter jet.
“Guess some things aren’t so classified…It’s now official. I’m headed to TOP GUN,” he wrote.“This movie is one of the reasons I became an actor. It’s why I always go low after a high-five, always fall in love with my teachers, say things like ‘clean ‘em and fry ‘em’ on a daily basis, end volleyball games in oiled-up flexing, and why I can blame all my speeding tickets on Kenny Loggins.”
In all seriousness, Powell added that it was a major achievement ten years after moving from Texas to Los Angeles.
"Victories are rare, dreams are mostly broken, so I am truly grateful for everyone in my life who's helped me beat the odds to get into this flight suit," he wrote. "This role is a dream come true."
Iceman makes a return
Cruise's main "Top Gun" adversary, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky (Val Kilmer), will be back. Kilmer, who has battled throat cancer, has been playfully campaigning to face off with Cruise on social media and was spotted in "Maverick" headquarters in San Diego.
Kilmer, 58, confirmed the news on Facebook, saying he was "officially in the sequel." He even hinted at a fan's request to see a replay of the infamous beach volleyball game.
"I can’t comment on the screenplay, but we all know what we want to see!" Kilmer wrote.
Cruise told "Extra" July 11 that working with his former screen rival was “special," adding that Kilmer is in good health. “He’s doing really well.”
Cruise also teased a "Top Gun 2" volleyball game. “There could be a beach scene," Cruise told "E.T." on July 12. "That's all I can tell you."
Maverick is gunning the bike, but it's a new one
Cruise was spotted by TMZ riding a motorcycle on the air base "Maverick" set. So watch out for a homage to this classic scene.
Maverick has traded in his Kawasaki GPZ900R for a Ninja H2R. List price: $55,000.
