By Armando

“Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to say hello to the biggest movie star you’re gonna meet in a long, long time,” comedian O’Brien said at the big SDCC stage. He was not kidding.

Tom Cruse made a surprise appearance at the 2019 Comic-Con International in San Diego Thursday, much to the delight and surprise of the fans at SDCC. The actor appeared on stage shortly after the end of the panel for another Paramount film, “Terminator: Dark Fate.”

The moviestar also unveiled a thrilling first trailer to his upcoming action drama film ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, the highly anticipated sequel to the 1986 global blockbuster “Top Gun.”

“Thirty-four years ago I made a movie in San Diego right here,” Cruise said about the original “Top Gun.” “I actually shot across the street at a restaurant.”

“For 34 years, you guys have been very very patient with me. And I felt that it was my responsibility to finally really deliver for you,” Cruise added about the iconic film.

“Maverick” of course is Cruise’s character nickname in the original film where he played LT Pete Mitchell, a reckless young naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. The global success of the original film made Cruise a bonafide star: grossing $356m worldwide against a modest $15 million budget, it was the highest grossing film that year.

“Everything you see in this film, obviously it’s for real. So the flying, working with the Navy, all the flying you’ll see in this picture, everything is real. I really wanted to give you all the experience of what it is to be inside that aircraft.”

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film co-stars Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer who will reprise his role as Vice Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is set to hit theaters next June.