Empire’s Triumph of 2022 is, in fact, Prime Gun: Maverick. What else may it’s? A love letter to an ‘80s basic – but additionally a contemporary basic in its personal proper; nostalgic however forward-looking; and boasting among the most spectacular aerial motion sequences ever dedicated to movie. In IMAX particularly, it’s essentially the most thrilling, visceral cinematic expertise in years.

Tom Cruise, within the final decade alone, has taken his distinctive sideline as a death-defying stunt-man to unbelievable heights of daredevil insanity: dangling from buildings, hanging from planes… However it seems that Maverick’s main set piece was too excessive even for him. That two-minute-15-seconds instance run of the course that the pilots should get by means of with the intention to full their previously-thought-impossible mission, which Maverick goes rogue and does in a commandeered jet, was flown by ace Navy pilot Frank ‘Walleye’ Weisser. However Cruise was, in fact, within the airplane nonetheless. He wasn’t going to overlook that journey.

“That was essentially the most excessive factor we shot within the movie, simply when it comes to the practicality of what you’re truly seeing on display screen,” director Joseph Kosinski tells Empire. “It’s all in-camera, it’s Tom Cruise at 550 knots, going 30 ft above floor by means of the Toiyabe [Canyon] low-level coaching grounds. That’s an actual Prime Gun coaching factor, however they by no means fly as little as he does. After they landed, Walleye got here as much as me and mentioned, ‘Did you get it?’ I mentioned, ‘Yeah, I believe we did.’ He mentioned, ‘Good, as a result of I’m by no means doing that once more.’”

And Cruise? “He would have finished it 100 extra occasions!” laughs Kosinski. “The truth is, I smile as a result of after I watch that sequence, he’s wincing by means of the Gs, however I do know underneath the masks he’s smiling for many of it, as a result of he’s having the time of his life.” It actually took our breath away.

Learn Empire’s full tribute to Prime Gun: Maverick, talking to director Joseph Kosinski, within the new Assessment Of The 12 months difficulty – on sale Thursday 27 October, or pre-order a replica on-line right here. Prime Gun: Maverick is accessible on residence launch from 31 October.