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Top Gun's Jack Epps Jr.

A chat with the man who wrote the movie.

Eurogamer Several readers asked, if you were writing Top Gun today, who would be the enemy now the cold war's over?
Jack Epps Jr.

That's a very good question. When I was researching the movie, back in '82, we asked the pilots, and they kept talking about the North Koreans a lot. I think that might be who we would go up against.

The greatest fighter pilots in the world today would be England, Israel, probably China and probably North Korea. Those would be the top pilots.

Eurogamer Who would you cast in the role of Maverick? Tom Cruise is a bit over the hill. I was thinking Zac Efron would be good.
Jack Epps Jr.

That's an interesting one... Wait, is this a remake, or is this Maverick II, going to where he is now?

Eurogamer You tell me, you're the famous Hollywood scriptwriter. I'm just the creative consultant.
Jack Epps Jr.

I would basically like to take the story and move it forward. That's what gaming allows you to do - we can take it, examine it and keep exploring it.

You'd probably want the movie to involve Tom. But we've got to have a young guy, right? So there's room for Zac.

Eurogamer EFRON. EFRON. EFRON.
Jack Epps Jr.

Yep.

Eurogamer EFRON.
Jack Epps Jr.

My daughter would agree with you.

Eurogamer Perhaps your son would too, I don't know. Here's a question from a reader who calls himself Crikey: "Do you feel miffed at all the praise received by Brokeback Mountain, when you wrote a subversive homoerotic masterpiece many years before?"
Jack Epps Jr.

Haha! I think Quentin Tarantino did a great rant about that in one of his films which was really funny. What the hey.

Eurogamer Was the homoerotic thing intentional?
Jack Epps Jr.

No. Tony Scott really addresses the visual style on the commemorative Top Gun DVD, where he talks about his influences. So it's more about the visual influences.

Eurogamer So you didn't write, in the script, 'At this point, men take their shirts off and play volleball'?
Jack Epps Jr.

No. We did write that these guys compete on the ground, in the air, they compete everywhere. So it's about that competitive effect.

But then you have a director who comes along and puts his stylistic look onto it, and that's what part of it is about. The story is about the highest level of competition, truly, and that's how we wrote it.

Eurogamer I'm a big Top Gun fan. My husband knows this, so at our wedding a few weeks ago, he had the Top Gun anthem played as we walked into the reception. All the guests were wearing aviator shades he'd secretly handed out.
Jack Epps Jr.

I love it! That's great. I'd love to see a picture.

Eurogamer I'm not saying it's not going well, but if I were to get married again, would you be interested in writing my vows?
Jack Epps Jr.

Absolutely.

Eurogamer Are you saying you would be willing to be my wingman at that time?
Jack Epps Jr.

Absolutely.

Eurogamer Brilliant. I'll send you an email.

Top Gun is available now via PlayStation Network, priced at £7.99.

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