[Exclusive] 'Determined Trip to Korea' Tom Cruise Confirms 10th Visit with 'Top Gun' Team (Comprehensive)

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and 'Top Gun: Maverick' Cast Visit Korea
First Visit Event Since the Pandemic

Movie actor Tom Cruise [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Hollywood actor Tom Cruise (59) has confirmed his 10th visit to Korea, overcoming the pandemic.

It was exclusively reported by Asia Economy on the afternoon of the 2nd that Tom Cruise will visit Korea this month for the movie "Top Gun: Maverick" (directed by Joseph Kosinski). On the morning of the 3rd, Lotte Entertainment confirmed, "Tom Cruise, film producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and actors Jay Ellis and Greg Tarzan Davis have confirmed their visit to Korea on the 18th."

There is a special background to this visit. Tom Cruise's determination to come to Korea was stronger than ever, and although the release was postponed to facilitate the visit, quarantine and other pandemic-related restrictions made the process difficult. However, the actor's strong will to come to Korea and changes in guidelines across Asian countries, including Japan and Korea, have finalized the Asia tour schedule.

Tom Cruise first came to Korea in 1994 with the movie "Interview with the Vampire" and will visit Korea for the 10th time with "Top Gun: Maverick." He previously visited Korea for "Mission: Impossible 2" (2000), "Vanilla Sky" (2001), "Valkyrie" (2009), "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol" (2011), "Jack Reacher" (2013), "Mission: Impossible ? Rogue Nation" (2015), "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" (2016), and "Mission: Impossible ? Fallout" (2018), making him the Hollywood actor with the most visits to Korea.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who is visiting Korea with him this time, participated as a producer of "Top Gun" and is known as a Hollywood Midas touch producer with works such as "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Bad Boys," and the "CSI" series. Additionally, rising stars who gained fame through the movie will join the promotional tour. Jay Ellis, callsign "Payback," and Greg Tarzan Davis, callsign "Coyote," will visit Korea for the first time with excitement.

Tom Cruise and the "Top Gun: Maverick" team are scheduled to carry out promotional activities in Korea ahead of the film’s release on the 22nd. The movie is an aviation action blockbuster about Maverick (Tom Cruise), the top pilot returning as an instructor, and the new team members who undertake life-threatening missions.

Jerry Bruckheimer/Photo by Lotte Entertainment

"Top Gun: Maverick" was invited to the Cannes Film Festival last month and heated up the event. Cannes held a special event during the premiere screening red carpet by flying an Air Force fighter jet, and a tribute video chronicling the life of the Hollywood star was screened, showing the highest level of respect. The film, which was first released in North America, recorded an opening of $150 million (1.891 trillion KRW), starting at number one at the box office and gaining popularity.

When it became known that Tom Cruise changed his release schedule to come to Korea, fans who have been waiting for him and "Top Gun" responded enthusiastically. He is a beloved actor who has gained affection by appearing on domestic variety shows during his visits, so this visit is also attracting attention.

The "Tom hyung" effect is expected to appear in theaters as well. On the 1st, a public holiday for local elections, about 1.45 million people watched movies, breaking the daily highest audience record. Attention is focused on whether "Top Gun: Maverick" will launch a full-fledged box office hit.