'Top Gun: Behind Closed Doors': Meg Ryan auditioned for Charlie but was rejected as she was 'wrong for the part'
1986 classic 'Top Gun' has cemented itself in popular culture with its soundtrack and dialogues such as 'I have the need for speed', along with many others. The film tells the story of an elite group of navy fighter pilots who are training at the legendary Miramar Elite Fighter School. Pete, aka Maverick, (Tom Cruise) and his partner Goose (Anthony Edwards) have to go up against (Val Kilmer), Cougar (John Stockwell), Wolfman (Barry Tubb), Slider (Rick Rossovich) and others who are all competing for the trophy to see who is the best in their class. Viper (Tom Skerritt) is the instructor along with Charlie (Kelly McGillis), the civilian expert.
The film became iconic for several reasons, as it catapulted Tom Cruise to stardom and also changed the way the post-Vietnam public viewed the military. It also served as the launchpad for the careers of a band of young stars including Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Meg Ryan and Tim Robbins. 'Top Gun: Behind Closed Doors', is a documentary on Reelz that takes a look at the classic that was almost never made because of technical and other legal hurdles, as well as casting and script drama.
Watching the documentary one learns that Meg, who was relatively unknown at the time, had auditioned for the role of Charlie Blackwood, Maverick's girlfriend in the film. In 'Behind closed doors', casting director Margery Simkin recalls the actress reading at the audition. "She came in red, she was wearing hippie clothes and did her reading. She was completely wrong for the part," Simkin remembers. Later, when the role of Goose's wife, Carole Bradshaw was written, Meg returned again and this time she aced the audition, "She did a fantastic reading," Simkin said.
As for the lead actor, the producer Jerry Bruckheimer said that the film was written for Cruise and that they were dead set on him for joining the film. At first, Cruise was not sold on the idea and it took a bit of convincing and he went on the flight with pilots and he was in for the film, even though he threw up in his mask.