The character of Penny’s daughter, Amelia, in Top Gun: Maverick wasn’t a particularly important one, but the role almost went to a completely different actress before being recast. Taking place several decades after the original movie, Top Gun: Maverick employed a whole new cast of characters — and actors to play them — alongside Tom Cruise’s titular protagonist, with Penny (Jennifer Connelly) serving as his new love interest. Penny’s daughter, Amelia, appears in several scenes, often causing trouble for the new couple who want to keep their relationship quiet.
The role in Top Gun: Maverick isn’t huge, but Amelia’s importance to Maverick and Penny’s story could prove to be much more vital in the future if Top Gun 3 happens. Her father doesn’t seem to be in the picture anymore — though one theory suggests Penny’s ex-husband is an established Top Gun character — but Amelia’s dynamic with Maverick seems to be leading toward some kind of father figure role. Audiences could be seeing a lot more of Amelia in the future, and things could have been totally different for the character if the original actress cast, Thomasin McKenzie, had remained available.
Thomasin McKenzie Dropped Out Of Top Gun 2 For Another Movie
Thomasin McKenzie was originally cast to play Penny’s daughter, Amelia, in Top Gun: Maverick, but the actress was forced to step down after another opportunity became available to her. This project turned out to be the Netflix drama Lost Girls, an intense thriller about a Long Island-based serial killer who famously targeted young sex workers. McKenzie’s exit from Top Gun: Maverick was necessary for her to fully commit to this other project, although it meant that she unfortunately missed out on such a popular movie.
Why Thomasin McKenzie Quitting Top Gun 2 Made Sense
Although it might seem like a poor decision in hindsight to quit one of the highest-grossing movies ever, the decision actually served a larger purpose for Thomasin McKenzie’s career as a whole. After projects such as Jojo Rabbit and Last Night in Soho, the actress was quickly becoming a rising star with plenty of fame and influence. Taking such a minor role in Top Gun: Maverick might have been fun, but it wouldn’t have tested her abilities and brought her into the spotlight in the same way that Lost Girls did.
McKenzie’s career has been moving in exciting directions ever since her breakthrough appearance in The King, and the character of Amelia simply would’ve been a step down for her. The role ultimately went to Lyliana Wray, and she was undeniably a better fit for the character. Not only is she five years younger than McKenzie, who probably would’ve been too old for this role, but her fairly unknown status made Amelia a much more interesting character as audiences weren’t distracted by a familiar face. Top Gun: Maverick would’ve been a fun opportunity for McKenzie, but Lost Girls was the smarter and wiser choice.
