Kelly McGillis Had A Brutal Take On Her Top Gun: Maverick Exclusion

Director Joseph Kosinski gave his side of the story about why McGillis and Meg Ryan weren't brought back, saying, "I didn't want every storyline to always be looking backwards. It was important to introduce some new characters." McGillis has mostly left Hollywood behind and, as of 2013, was living in Hendersonville, North Carolina, where she was teaching at a small acting studio.