The Legacy of Rooster in Top Gun
25 Things You Missed In Top Gun: Maverick
Rooster, the character portrayed by Miles Teller in Top Gun: Maverick, is the son of Maverick's best friend, Goose. Interestingly, Teller did not play Goose's son in the original Top Gun, which may come as a surprise to some viewers. In the 1986 original movie, Rooster, then known as Bradley, was portrayed by child actors and identical twins, Aaron and Adam Weis. It's worth noting that Meg Ryan, who played Goose's wife, Carole, also had a significant role in the Top Gun story of Goose and Rooster.
Maverick and Goose walking on the tarmac in Top Gun: Maverick
Despite his minor role in the first movie, Bradley, also known as Rooster, plays a crucial part in depicting Goose's joyful family life, which adds to the tragedy of his later demise in Top Gun. The adult portrayal of Goose, now played by Miles Teller, makes a poignant return in Top Gun: Maverick, further highlighting the emotional depth of the narrative. While the sequel featured some familiar faces from the original, the role of Rooster was recast, leading to questions about the decision.
Top Gun Maverick photo of Pete and Rooster laughing and embracing
The Recasting of Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick
The original actors who portrayed Bradley in Top Gun were not approached to reprise their roles in Top Gun: Maverick. According to Aaron and Adam Weis, the twins who played Bradley, they were not contacted about returning, as they have since pursued careers outside of acting. Aaron Weis is now a sixth-grade teacher, while Adam is a fifth-grade teacher. Their only other acting appearance was in a SeaWorld commercial with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Additionally, the Weis twins were not credited in Top Gun and were considered extras.
Miles Teller as Rooster and Tom Cruise as Maverick hiding behind a snowbank in Top Gun 2
It is evident that the studio sought a seasoned actor with experience to portray the pivotal role of Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick. Given the Weis twins' transition to different career paths, it became clear that bringing back the original actors was not a feasible option for the studio. Despite the absence of the original actors, the sequel successfully leveraged the legacy of Goose and Rooster, with Miles Teller's performance as Rooster receiving widespread acclaim from both audiences and critics.
Rooster in the cockpit in Top Gun: Maverick
The Impact of Miles Teller as Rooster
The decision to recast the role of Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick with Miles Teller proved to be a significant factor in the success of the film. Teller's portrayal of Rooster added depth to the dynamic between Rooster and Maverick, as they coped with the shared trauma of Goose's death. The choice to cast Teller underscored the film's focus on storytelling rather than relying solely on nostalgia, contributing to the sequel's overall impact.
Rooster (Miles Teller) walking away angrily from Maverick (Tom Cruise) in Top Gun 2
While casting the original child actors in grown-up roles may have appealed to audiences on a nostalgic level, Teller's seasoned performance as Rooster brought a new dimension to the character, surpassing the potential impact of the original actors' return. Teller's dedication to the role and his collaboration with director Joseph Kosinski further solidified his position as the ideal choice for Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick. As a testament to the effectiveness of Teller's portrayal, reports indicate that he will continue to reprise the role of Rooster in the upcoming Top Gun 3 alongside Tom Cruise.
Custom image of Anthony Edwards as Goose in Top Gun and Miles Teller as Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick
