Tom Cruise Says He Would’ve Held ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ for 10 Years to Secure a Theatrical Release

thewrap.com:

“Top Gun: Maverick” star Tom Cruise made a rare late-night TV appearance and sat down with Jimmy Kimmel on Friday, as the two talked about why Cruise pushed to make sure “Top Gun: Maverick” was given a lengthy, exclusive theatrical release before it hit streaming (it’s currently on Paramount+) — and how long he would’ve held out.On “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Cruise was asked about pressure from various people in Hollywood to put the sequel on streaming during the pandemic, as the film was originally scheduled to be released in June 2020.Cruise explained that if he had to wait a decade for “Top Gun: Maverick” to be released in theaters, he would’ve.“I assumed you got pressure, from whomever – the movie studios, investors, or whoever it was to put the movie out on streaming you said ‘no,’ and you held it for two years, you were I guess a billion and a half dollars right,” Kimmel said to Cruise, referring to the film’s global box office gross.Cruise laughed as the audience applauded and said, “People have been asking for the movie for 34 years, and I figured a couple more years would’ve been alright.”“I would’ve held out for 10 years,” Cruise said as he answered Kimmel’s question. “The film is made for the screen.

I made it for theatrical. We all did. We all made it for theatrical. It wasn’t just me.”Cruise explained to Kimmel that everything he does is motivated by giving the audience the best experience.“When I make a film, I want to go see it with an audience,” Cruise said. “When they really enjoy it, that’s what I want.

I make my movie for audiences and you all, so it’s a pleasure. I just want to entertain you.”Kimmel asked Cruise when he’s seeing these movies if people in the audience recognize him.