Original Top Gun star Barry Tubb is suing Paramount Pictures over an image of him they used without his permission in their 2022 smash hit Top Gun: Maverick.
Tubb, 60, played Wolfman in the original 1986 blockbuster, one of the Top Gun pilots alongside Tom Cruise’s Maverick and Val Kilmer’s Iceman, to name a few.
The actor does not return for Top Gun: Maverick, though he is seen in a few shots, with his image from a 1986 ‘class picture’ from the original shown on a wall.
Tubb filed a lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, which alleges that there was no mention of a sequel in his original contract, and they had no right to use his image in the sequel.
The scene in question happens just over 44 minutes into the sequel, where Hangman (Glen Powell) notices a photo of the 1986 Top Gun class in an office.
Original Top Gun star Barry Tubb is suing Paramount Pictures over an image of him they used without his permission in their 2022 smash hit Top Gun: Maverick
Tubb, 60, (center) played Wolfman in the original 1986 blockbuster, one of the Top Gun pilots alongside Tom Cruise ‘s Maverick and Val Kilmer ‘s Iceman, to name a few
The actor does not return for Top Gun: Maverick, though he is seen in a few shots, with his image from a 1986 ‘class picture’ from the original shown on a wall
He calls over Coyote (Greg Tarzan Davis) to look at the photo, with a close-up shot clearly showing Tubb’s character Wolfman standing directly behind Cruise’s Maverick.
He’s seen again in another close-up shot focusing on Maverick, which Coyote thinks Hangman is focused on, though he says, ‘next to him… look familiar?’
Hangman is referring not to Wolfman, but to the man next to him, Goose (Anthony Edwards), who they realize is the father of their fellow recruit Rooster (Miles Teller).
Tubb’s lawsuit alleges that Paramount Pictures never asked permission to use the photo, and they had no right to do so.
He also claims they never paid him a cent to use his likeness, leading to the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages.
Top Gun: Maverick was easily the highest-grossing film at the domestic box office in 2022, taking in a whopping $718.3 million, nearly $300 million more than second place, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($436.4 million).
It took second place worldwide in 2022 with $1.495 billion, a distant second to Avatar: The Way of Water with $2.320 billion.
Tubb started his career with roles in Christine, Mask and The Legend of Billie Jean before he landed the Top Gun role.
He calls over Coyote (Greg Tarzan Davis) to look at the photo, with a close-up shot clearly showing Tubb’s character Wolfman standing directly behind Cruise’s Maverick.
Tubb’s (right) lawsuit alleges that Paramount Pictures never asked permission to use the photo, and they had no right to do so
He also claims they never paid him a cent to use his likeness, leading to the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages
He would go on to play Jasper Fant in the four-episode Lonesome Dove mini-series and the 1993 sequel Return to Lonesome Dove.
He stepped away from acting for many years before returning in 1999 with The Big Day and in 2001 in American Outlaws.
The actor also had roles in Temple Grandin, the Friday Night Lights TV series, Revolution and his final movie, 2014’s Deliverance Creek.
He hasn’t acted in a decade. though he did direct four films, 2002’s Grand Champion, 2005’s Blood Trail, 2008’s Clown Hunt and 2011’s Javelina.