Tony Scott, the late director of 1986's Top Gun, was almost fired by Paramount Pictures for going in his own direction when creating the now-iconic volleyball scene.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, editors Chris Lebenzon and Billy Weber recalled how Scott upset the studio in the way that he filmed the scene. "The volleyball scene. 'Playing With The Boys.' That scene was scripted as a real game," said Lebenzon. "They kept score and everything -- and Tony shot it like a commercial, and they were angry." Weber added, "The studio was so pissed off. The head of production, Charlie McGuire, he said, 'I'm gonna fire him.' Meaning Tony, because he spent a whole day shooting this scene. And then of course it turns out it's one of the most famous scenes in the movie."

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The scene in question features a group of hunky, shirtless actors, including Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, glistening with sweat while playing beach volleyball. Weber and Lebenzon, who were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film Editing for the film, explained that the volleyball scene was only a single paragraph in the script, but Scott ended up significantly expanding it. "We didn't expect it. And it was interesting to edit," said Lebenzon. "I had never done a commercial before, or a music video. And that was Tony's forte." Scott passed away in 2012.

"Playing With The Boys" has become so iconic that the scene earned its own reimagining in the long-awaited sequel. In Top Gun: Maverick, the pilots play beach football as opposed to beach volleyball, but the scene still features several shirtless actors having fun in the sun. This time around, however, the scene is integrated into the script in a way that allows for some key plot points to play out while the pilots tackle each other in the sand.

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Top Gun: Maverick has been a box office success, earning the best preview gross in the history of Paramount and the best gross for any Memorial Day Weekend opening. Maverick earned $19.3 million in its preview screenings, which placed the film on track to be the biggest domestic box office opening of Cruise's career. Cruise reprised his 1986 role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, joined by returning castmate Kilmer as Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky. Overall, critics have praised Maverick for its aerial action sequences and '80s nostalgia.

Top Gun is currently streaming on Paramount+ and available to rent or purchase on Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, and Google Play. Top Gun: Maverick is currently in theaters.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter