Barry Tubb, who portrayed Leonard ‘Wolfman’ Wolfe in the 1986 film ‘Top Gun,’ recently filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures for using his image in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ without consent.
As per Entertainment Weekly, the suit claims unauthorized use of Tubb’s image in the 2022 blockbuster sequel, ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and demanding a trial by jury.
Tubb’s legal complaint, filed in California court, touches upon a particular scene in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ where characters Hangman (Glen Powell) and Coyote (Greg Tarzan Davis) discover an old photograph showing Iceman (Val Kilmer), Goose (Anthony Edwards), Maverick (Tom Cruise), and Wolfman.
The actor alleges this image, a modified behind-the-scenes shot from the original film, was used without his consent, breaching the terms of his original contract with Paramount. This contract, according to Tubb, did not extend permission for his likeness to be used in sequels or related promotions.
The complaint adds that Paramount’s actions mislead the public into believing Tubb was involved with the sequel, either through participation or endorsement, which he categorically denies. At the time of reporting, Paramount Pictures has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
A Sequel to ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is On the Way
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, ‘Top Gun: Maverick‘ has been a big success, earning critical acclaim and surpassing expectations by becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2022 with a worldwide box office of $1.496 billion.
As for now, anticipation is building for another sequel, reportedly titled “Top Gun: Rooster,’ focusing on Miles Teller’s character. Teller, who played the son of Maverick’s late friend Goose, has been in discussions with Cruise about the project, which, as of January 2024, is officially in development.
