Movies Top Gun actor Barry Tubb sues Paramount over use of his image in sequel Top Gun: Maverick Tubb is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, and is demanding a trial by jury. By Lauren Huff Lauren Huff Lauren Huff is a writer at Entertainment Weekly with over a decade of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry. After graduating with honors from the University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em, Horns!), Lauren wrote about film, television, awards season, music, and more for the likes of The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline Hollywood, Us Weekly, Awards Circuit, and others before landing at EW in May 2019. EW's editorial guidelines Updated on February 23, 2024 12:21PM EST Wolfman is howling at Paramount Pictures over the use of his image in Top Gun: Maverick. Barry Tubb, the actor who played flyboy Leonard "Wolfman" Wolfe in the 1986 movie Top Gun, is suing the studio over what he says is the unauthorized use of his likeness in the hit 2022 sequel. In a complaint filed Wednesday in California court and obtained by EW, Tubb claims that his permission to use his likeness "did not include the use of his image in the sequel." The scene in question features Hangman (Glen Powell) and Coyote (Greg Tarzan Davis) first learning that Rooster Bradshaw (Miles Teller) is actually the son of the late Goose (Anthony Edwards) when they come upon an old photo of Iceman (Val Kilmer), Goose, Maverick (Tom Cruise), and Wolfman. Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, and Barry Tubb in 'Top Gun'. Everett Collection Per the complaint, the image is "a four-shot close-up clearly establishing plaintiff," and "[Tubb's] likeness in the scene is essential in a way that is not incidental." Furthermore, Tubb says the photo is actually an altered version of a behind-the-scenes shot of the original actors, and therefore the alterations "destroyed any purported copyright" to the image. Paramount didn't immediately respond to EW's request for comment Thursday. Tubb's complaint asserts that the studio "never sought consent or authority to use plaintiff's image for any purpose in Top Gun: Maverick and the original contract signed by plaintiff and Paramount did not contemplate use of his image beyond the original Top Gun or in promotions related to Top Gun: Maverick; a sequel not contemplated at the time of the original contract and not released until 2022, almost four decades after the original Top Gun." Barry Tubb in 'Top Gun'. Paramount Pictures It continues: "Plaintiff never agreed to Paramount's use of his image, likeness, and/or identity in the movie Top Gun: Maverick. Paramount's conduct is therefore misleading and deceptive by falsely and fraudulently representing that plaintiff is somehow affiliated with Top Gun: Maverick; was contracted to perform in Top Gun: Maverick; or was hired to promote, advertise, market, or endorse Top Gun: Maverick on behalf of Paramount." Tubb is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, and is demanding a trial by jury. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: Top Gun: Maverick star Lewis Pullman says cast peed in bags while shooting flight scenes Tom Cruise says he 'got emotional' over Val Kilmer's return for Top Gun sequel: 'I was crying' Watch 3-hour version of Top Gun: Maverick shirtless beach football scene