The 'Unstoppable' helmer and the 'Mission: Impossible' actor were reportedly touring a Naval air station in Nevada before the former committed suicide last weekend.
- Aug 21, 2012
AceShowbiz - Tony Scott was working on "Top Gun 2" before jumping to his death. A so-called source close to the project reveals that the filmmaker met Tom Cruise as late as Friday and the two were touring a Naval air station in Nevada as part of their research for the planned action movie.
Plans for the "Top Gun"sequel were confirmed in May this year. At the time, Paramount Motion Picture Group president Adam Goodman said, "Jerry Bruckheimer would produce, with Tony Scott returning to direct. All parties are moving ahead. We've hired Peter Craig to write the script."
"Top Gun 2" was not the only directing project on Tony's plate. The brother of Ridley Scott was showing interest in serving behind the lens for 20th Century Fox's "Narco Sub", Fox's "Lucky Stripe" and Warner Bros' "The Wild Bunch" remake.
A studio insider, who allegedly met with Tony for lunch two weeks ago, tells The Hollywood Reporter, "Studios have to compete for directors who are in demand, and Tony was in great demand. Hyper-qualified directors are really rare."
The original "Top Gun" was released in 1986 and became the highest-grossing film of the year. The success of the movie launched Tony to his fame and placed him among Hollywood's A-list of action directors of the era.
Tony and Tom remained friends since then. "Tony was my dear friend, and I will really miss him," the actor said in a statement following the director's death. "He was a creative visionary whose mark on film is immeasurable. My deepest sorrow and thoughts are with his family at this time."
Also in the wake of Tony's passing, his brother Ridley decided to halt the production of "The Counselor", which has Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz among its star-studded cast, for the week. The "Robin Hood" helmer has reportedly traveled from London, where the movie is filming, to Los Angeles to be with the late helmer's family.
Tony jumped off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 19 at about 12:30 P.M. local time. His body was found at about 4:30 P.M. and sent to the county coroner's office. The 68-year-old filmmaker left a suicide letter at his office.
