LOS ANGELES, May 11: Val Kilmer, reflecting on his role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in Top Gun, reveals his initial reluctance to join the cast. In his memoir, "I'm Your Huckleberry," Kilmer admits, "I didn't want the part. I didn't care about the film. The story didn't interest me." However, despite his reservations, Kilmer's agent persuaded him to meet with director Tony Scott, leading to an audition where Kilmer purposely underperformed, stating, "I showed up looking the fool... I read the lines indifferently."

Yet, upon landing the role, Kilmer found unexpected joy in portraying Iceman, citing camaraderie with the cast and crew as a highlight. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Kilmer fondly recalls, "My main joy was the camaraderie... We all laughed till we fell down the hot, spiked crabgrass at the Holiday Inn in San Diego." Kilmer also shares snippets of off-screen fun with co-star Tom Cruise, remarking, "I am happy to announce we have home movies to prove how much fun we had!"

Despite his initial skepticism, Kilmer was impressed by the finished film, which propelled him to fame. Years later, when approached about a sequel, Kilmer lobbied to bring back Iceman, becoming the only original cast member, aside from Cruise, to reprise his role in Top Gun: Maverick. Director Joseph Kosinski expresses excitement about exploring the evolving relationship between Iceman and Maverick, while Cruise expresses admiration for Kilmer's talent, stating, "It was special to have him back. It meant a lot to me."

Filmed after his recovery from throat cancer, Kilmer's return to the role may be one of this year's most talked-about performances. Kilmer describes the experience as "like being reunited with a long-lost friend," emphasizing that, even after 30 years, "the characters never really go away. They live on in deep freeze."