Tom Cruise confirms Jennifer Connelly as female lead in Top Gun 2

Tom Cruise has revealed who the female lead will be in the long-awaited sequel to Eighties classic Top Gun.

The actor revealed that Oscar-winning actor Jennifer Connelly will appear alongside him when he reprises the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell a whole 32 years after the original was released.

Cruise, who was promoting new Mission: Impossible film Fallout, told Entertainment Tonight: “When you see the film, you’ll see why she’s perfect for it. She has such a very talented, very vibrant, and... we’re just going to have a great cast. [It's] gonna be a lot of fun.”

Connelly's previous credits include A Beautiful Mind and Darren Aronofsky film Requiem for a Dream.

Production on Top Gun 2 - subtitled Maverick - is in full swing with Whiplash star Miles Teller also set to appear with Joseph Kosinski - who directed Cruise in 2013 sci-fi Oblivion - on directing duties.

Original star Val Kilmer will also return playing the role of Tom “Iceman” Kazansky.

Sky News reports that Connelly' will play a single mother who runs a bar near the airbase. Kelly McGillis played the female lead in the1986 original which is now considered a cult classic.

Top Gun: Maverick will be released in cinemas ion 2019.