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Tom Cruise swoops into Cannes, igniting film festival with jets and star power

Tom Cruise swoops into Cannes, igniting film festival with jets and star power

The actor is in the city to promote the long-awaited Top Gun: Maverick movie sequel.
19 May, 2022

Tom Cruise rolled into the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday — jet planes in tow — cranking up festivities with action, star power and autograph signings on the red carpet.

Fans greeted him with whoops and hollers and the French Air Force aerobatic team Patrouille de France flew overhead, spraying the sky with coloured smoke trails in red, white and blue.

Cruise was in the city to promote the long-awaited Top Gun: Maverick movie sequel, which was held back for two years because of the coronavirus pandemic. A big ticket draw, it has added considerable buzz to the world's largest film festival as it marks a splashy return for its 75th anniversary edition.

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

In a tuxedo and black bowtie, the American star worked the crowd lined up along the red carpet, signing photos and posing for selfies.

He posed with fellow actors Jennifer Connelly and Miles Teller, clapping festival director Thierry Fremaux on the back when the jets flew over head.

Cruise had arrived earlier in the day, stepping out of a black car to the chants of "Tom! Tom!"

Some fans had been camping out since breakfast.

"I was like, 'I must see him, absolutely, one way or another!'" said Oriane Holz, 22. She held up a sign asking for tickets to the screening of the film.

Katy McNulty, 46 and Joanne Routledge, 52, had been on the road since before dawn. The pair were up at 3am and travelled from the north of England to Scotland, taking a plane from Edinburgh to Nice, and then a train to Cannes to arrive in time for Cruise's appearance.

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

What were they angling for?

"A selfie with Tom because we promised them at work that's what we'll deliver and they told us we wouldn't," said Routledge.

Stan Hamilton, an American student learning French in Cannes, said: "Me and my father watched Top Gun when I was a child. I wish he could be here with me now."

Comments

DragonsDen May 19, 2022 01:10pm
looking old finally.
Recommend
Johnw May 19, 2022 02:10pm
Can't believe this X generation icon still hasn't lost any of the market value despite ageing.
Recommend
SAk May 19, 2022 03:20pm
Pure nostalgia. There will never be another Tom Cruise.
Recommend
Say no to celebrity worship May 19, 2022 04:46pm
Take my breath away.
Recommend
NYS May 20, 2022 12:44am
Old is gold! dapper Tom appearance ,his ovation béen by jets cool
Recommend
time_travel May 20, 2022 10:11am
Top gun
Recommend