LOS ANGELES: "Whiplash" star Miles Teller has been tapped to play Goose's son and Maverick's new protege in the long-in-the-works "Top Gun" sequel.
The 31-year-old actor will star alongside Tom Cruise, who reprises his role as the hotshot fighter pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell from the 1986 hit, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In the original feature by Tony Scott, the plot sets into motion when Maverick blames himself after his wingman, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards), dies during a jet wash.
How he overcomes his guilt and the resultant fear of flying lies at the core of the story.
Teller nabbed the role, beating Nicholas Hoult and Glen Powell to the chase.
Dylan O'Brien and Austin Butler were being considered for the part at a previous stage.
The film will be helmed by Joseph Kosinski, who has earlier worked with Cruise in "Oblivion".
Kosinski will direct from a script penned by "American Hustle" scribe Eric Warren Singer.
Val Kilmer will also return as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky.
"Top Gun: Maverick" is set to release on July 12, 2019.