“Top Gun” actor Barry Tubb is suing Paramount Pictures for using his image in the film’s critically-acclaimed sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick,” without his permission or paying him, according to court records.
Tubb, who plays Henry “Wolfman” Ruth in the original “Top Gun,” filed the suit Feb. 21 in the Central District of California. Tubb claims he contractually gave Paramount limited permission to use his image for various purposes, but only for “Top Gun” in 1986, not any sequels, court documents show.
“The scope of that permission did not include the use of his Image in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, which was released in May 2022 to a worldwide audience and became one of the highest grossing movies that year and its cumulative take will make it one of the highest grossing movies of all time,” according to the suit.
Dennis Postiglione, Tubb’s attorney, told USA TODAY in an email that his client “does not wish to comment beyond what’s stated in the lawsuit.”
“He’s confident that the legal system will produce a just result in his case,” Postiglione said.
When a 22-year-old Tubb signed the contract with Paramount for “Top Gun” on June 5, 1985, movie sequels were “virtually non-existent” so the thought of a follow-up film wasn’t being contemplated by either party at the time, according to the court documents.
Paramount Pictures did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Tubb is demanding a jury trial and for Paramount to pay him no less than $75,000 in damages, court records show.