Barbie dolls can be fighter pilots, too.
A new special-edition doll is being released by Mattel inspired by the upcoming film “Top Gun: Maverick.”
The Tom Cruise-led action flick is a follow-up to 1986’s “Top Gun” and will be released in May 2022 after months of delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The new Barbie is based on the character “Phoenix,” played by Monica Barbaro. Phoenix is a pilot trainee who is set to appear in the sequel.
The doll can be found at both Walmart and Amazon for $40 a pop.
The figurine shows Phoenix rocking her pilot trainee uniform: an army green jumpsuit, helmet and the American flag on her shoulder sleeve. The packaging also comes with aviator sunglasses, dog tags and a watch.
“Top Gun” originally starred Cruise, 59, as US Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and Val Kilmer as his rival-turned-friend Tom “Iceman” Kazansky.
The new doll is based on the character “Phoenix,” played by Monica Barbaro in “Top Gun: Maverick.”Courtesy of Matell/WalmartThe sequel comes over 35 years after its parent film and also stars Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller and Ed Harris.
Kilmer, 61, also returns, and Cruise was “adamant” on having his old co-star appear, despite his health battles. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer six years prior and has undergone painful chemotherapy treatments, radiation and a tracheotomy.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer explained to People in August that the “Mission Impossible” star “really wanted” Kilmer to be part of the action film.
“[Cruise] said, ‘We have to have Val, we have to have him back. We have to have him in the film,’” Bruckheimer said. “And he was the driving force. We all wanted him, but Tom was really adamant that if he’s going to make another ‘Top Gun,’ Val had to be in it.”
Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise in 1986’s “Top Gun.”©Paramount/Courtesy Everett ColThe film producer added, “[Kilmer is] such a fine actor, and he’s such a good individual. We had such a good time on the first one and wanted to bring some of the gang back together again.”
According to Bruckheimer, the “Top Gun” reunion was “very emotional” for the “Alexander” star and Cruise. “It was a really emotional experience for all of us,” he revealed. “It was a long time getting there, but we did.”
