Los Angeles, CA – Late-night television host James Corden traded his famed “Carpool Karaoke” segment for a genuine adrenaline rush, as he was coaxed into the cockpit of a fighter jet by Hollywood icon Tom Cruise for a memorable segment on The Late Late Show with James Corden. The thrilling, two-day aerial adventure, which aired in May 2022, was a high-octane promotion for Cruise’s blockbuster sequel, Top Gun: Maverick.
Corden, known for his comedic reluctance in action segments, initially expressed profound fear at the prospect of flying with Cruise, who is a certified pilot with a license since 1994. The comedian famously quipped, “With all due respect, you played a lawyer in A Few Good Men. I wouldn’t want you to represent me in court,” highlighting his apprehension about Cruise’s pilot credentials versus his acting roles. He even confessed he tried to cancel, noting the terror that his children might grow up being told, “Their dad killed Tom Cruise.”
The ‘Top Gun Day’ unfolded in two distinct phases, carefully orchestrated by Cruise. The first leg involved a flight in Cruise’s own vintage P-51 Mustang, a World War II-era fighter plane. Corden’s fear was palpable, but Cruise—reprising his on-screen persona of Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell from the Top Gun films—demonstrated his real-world piloting skills, even performing maneuvers and a simulated dogfight.
The second flight escalated the intensity. After a moment of levity involving a recreation of the famous volleyball scene from the original 1986 Top Gun film, the pair boarded a modern fighter jet trainer, the Aero L-39 Albatros, which can handle up to 8-G turns. It was here that Cruise truly turned the flight into a cinematic experience, pulling off high-G maneuvers, loops, and inverted flight, all while the iconic Kenny Loggins song “Danger Zone” played. The terrifying turns resulted in Corden’s signature mix of screams and hysterical exclamations of amazement, reportedly calling Cruise an “absolute badass.”
During the flight, Cruise affectionately referred to Corden as his “Goose,” a nod to the character LTJG Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (originally played by Anthony Edwards) from the first Top Gun movie, eliciting a nervous yet funny response from Corden, who quickly pointed out that Goose, tragically, dies in the film. The flight concluded with a moment that directly referenced the original film, with Cruise telling Corden, “You can be my wingman anytime,” to which Corden, utterly relieved to be back on the ground, jokingly replied, “You know what? I think I’m good.”
This aerial stunt marks another chapter in the action-loving dynamic between the two stars, who previously undertook a terrifying tandem skydiving jump in 2018 to promote Cruise’s film Mission: Impossible – Fallout. The segment served as a perfect, real-life tie-in for Top Gun: Maverick (directed by Joseph Kosinski), a film celebrated for its commitment to practical effects. The film itself became a phenomenal success, grossing a massive $1.496 billion worldwide, making it not only the highest-grossing film of Cruise’s career but also the second-highest-grossing film of 2022. The segment ultimately showcased Cruise’s genuine passion for aviation and Corden’s surprising willingness to face his greatest fears for the sake of entertainment, transforming a nervous flight into a television highlight and a masterclass in promotional synergy.