Culture March 29, 2022

New 'Top Gun: Maverick' trailer has us feeling the need for speed

WATCH: ‘Mission Impossible 7' and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ release dates delayed due to COVID

After a series of movie theater fly-bys, "Top Gun: Maverick" is finally coming in for a landing May 27, and Paramount Pictures has just debuted a new trailer to trigger your need for speed.

The pandemic-delayed movie once again sees Tom Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in the cockpit, this time tasked with training a slate of young, hotshot pilots.

"With all due respect, sir, I'm not a teacher," Maverick protests to a superior officer, played by Jon Hamm.

MORE: 'Top Gun: Maverick' release date pushed to 2022

The request for Maverick to instruct a new class of elite fliers, we learn, was given by none other than Admiral Tom Kazansky -- whom fans know as Val Kilmer's "Iceman" from the first film and who has apparently moved up the chain of command.

Maverick, meanwhile, remains a captain, partly because more medals on his chest means he'd lose his cockpit time.

"Everyone here is the best there is. Who the hell are they gonna get to teach us?" asks Monica Barbaro, who plays "Phoenix."

Paramount Pictures
Tom Cruise as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in "Top Gun: Maverick."

Maverick's introduction to his cadre of students comes as he shocks them by shooting vertically up through their formation. "Good morning, aviators," he teases from his jet after stunning them. "This is your captain speaking."

Apparently, Maverick's training is needed before the up-and-coming fliers face a dangerous mission.

One of his students is Miles Teller, playing "Rooster," the son of Anthony Edwards' Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, whose death in the first film haunted Maverick. "My dad believed in you. I'm not gonna make the same mistake," he sneers.

MORE: Val Kilmer talks about starring in new film with daughter, 'Top Gun' and his health after cancer

Also appearing in the sneak peek is Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, who plays Penny Benjamin, a former admiral's daughter and Maverick's new love interest.

"Top Gun" wowed audiences with its aerial camerawork and the new trailer -- which sees Maverick flying completely upside-down in its final moments -- teases that the long-awaited follow-up will not disappoint.