In a transfer that surprised insiders, Tom Cruise allegedly unleashed a livid tirade throughout a “High Gun 3″ manufacturing assembly when a controversial thought was floated.

This was after a suggestion was made to deliver again Val Kilmer‘s character utilizing synthetic intelligence.

The incident has sparked conversations about Cruise’s stance on AI and the fragile legacy of Kilmer, who died earlier this 12 months.

Cruise, lengthy identified for his intense dedication to authenticity, reportedly exploded when a staff member steered digitally reviving Val Kilmer’s Iceman utilizing AI.

Sources instructed the Each day Mail that the star leapt from his seat and “let rip,” leaving your entire room in surprised silence.

“Somebody steered bringing Val Kilmer again by way of AI,” one insider mentioned. “Tom jumped to his ft and let rip, leaving your entire room silent for actually minutes. You could possibly nearly hear a pin drop and see steam popping out of his ears.”

Cruise, 62, is alleged to have a deep disdain for synthetic intelligence, believing that it might “bastardize every little thing” Kilmer stood for as each an actor and a buddy.

The actor was reportedly adamant that any try and recreate Kilmer’s picture posthumously would cross a line he is unwilling to tolerate.

Val Kilmer made his closing on-screen look in “High Gun: Maverick,” along with his iconic voice recreated by AI expertise because of his battle with throat most cancers.

Kilmer’s vocal cords had been broken following a tracheotomy in 2014, and London-based AI agency Sonantic was enlisted to assist him converse each within the movie and in actual life.

“I am grateful to your entire staff at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a method I’ve by no means imagined potential,” Kilmer mentioned on the time.

The 2022 sequel marked Kilmer’s final movie earlier than his loss of life from pneumonia in April 2025 on the age of 65. The emotionally charged reunion between Iceman and Cruise’s Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell was one of many movie’s most unforgettable moments.

“The Navy wants Maverick,” Kilmer’s character mentioned within the movie. “The child wants Maverick. That is why I fought for you. That is why you are still right here.”

The pair then embraced, with Iceman cheekily including, “One last item — who’s the higher pilot, you or me?”

Director Joseph Kosinski described the scene as deeply emotional. “After one of many takes — we solely did just a few — I observed that each Tom and Val had tears of their eyes. It felt like a real second between two outdated mates.”

Although Kilmer’s character dies in “High Gun: Maverick,” some early concepts for “High Gun 3” included referencing and even digitally recreating Iceman. Cruise reportedly shut the thought down instantly.

“Val solely managed to make a quick look in Maverick because of his lengthy battle with most cancers,” one supply defined. “Tom knew it might be Val’s display screen farewell and wished to present him the honorable send-off he deserved.”

One other insider added, “The second he shared with Val in Maverick was such a gorgeous expertise, that when an AI Val was introduced up, he wasn’t glad and rapidly killed it as a result of that might simply bastardize every little thing.”

Cruise was allegedly agency that if Kilmer is not alive to approve the portrayal, he will not be concerned in any type of digital resurrection.

“Will the film reference Val? Sure, however Maverick is the final time we’ll see him,” the supply mentioned.

This isn’t the primary time Tom Cruise has made headlines for his passionate outbursts.

In 2020, throughout the filming of “Mission: Not possible 7,” audio leaked of the actor unleashing a profanity-laced rant at crew members who violated COVID-19 security protocols.

“If I see you do it once more, you are f-cking gone,” he shouted within the now-infamous recording. “No apologies. You may inform it to the people who find themselves dropping their f-cking houses as a result of our INDUSTRY is shut down.”

As certainly one of Hollywood’s most devoted perfectionists, Cruise is thought for going to excessive lengths to keep up the integrity of his tasks.

“Individuals cherished the sequel, so Tom will do nothing to spoil the viewers’s goodwill,” a supply emphasised. “So as to add an AI Val could be graceless.”