Shooting For The Film Began May 31

The long-anticipated sequel to the Tom Cruise movie "Top Gun" is filming this week aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to the U.S. Navy.

The Virginian Pilot reports that filming for the movie began May 31, according to a photo posted to Cruise's Instagram account. Initial filming was done at Naval Air Station North Island in California.

A film crew of 15 from Paramount Pictures and Bruckheimer Films embarked aboard the Lincoln on Sunday, and were scheduled to be on board for a week, according to Naval Air Force Atlantic spokesman Cmdr. Dave Hecht. The crew was filming flight deck and air operations, including F/A-18 Super Hornets from Virginia Beach-based Carrier Air Wing Seven working on carrier qualifications.

“This opportunity is one of many aircraft carrier embarks planned pierside and at sea on both coasts coordinated by the Commander, Naval Air Forces,” Hecht said in an email from aboard the Lincoln. No actors were aboard the ship.

“Top Gun inspired countless men and women to volunteer to protect and defend our country as Naval aviators and the crew of USS Abraham Lincoln are excited to play a small role in bringing this story back to the silver screen and inspiring another generation to serve in the world’s finest Navy,” Hecht said.

Cruise has said in media interviews that the new movie will be in the same vein as the original, which was released in 1986. The working title is "Top Gun: Maverick".

(U,S Navy file image)

FMI: Source report