Miles Teller reveals he had jet fuel in his blood while filming Top Gun: Maverick

Top Gun: Maverick - Miles Teller as Rooster
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Miles Teller has opened up about a medical emergency he experienced while filming Top Gun: Maverick – and the surprising response from his co-star Tom Cruise.

Teller recalled not feeling well as he landed after doing some aerial exercises in a jet. "So we landed, I'm just like, 'I'm not feeling too good,' the actor explained on Late Night with Seth Meyers (via Yahoo!). "And I was really hot, and I just started itching like crazy. So I get out of the jet, and I'm just covered in hives, like, head to toe."

He went to the hospital and had some blood tests done. "My bloodwork comes back, and I have flame-retardant, pesticides, and jet fuel in my blood," Teller continued.

"So then I go to set the next day, and Tom's like, 'So, how did it go, Miles? What did they find?' Teller recalled. "I was like, 'Well, Tom, it turns out I have jet fuel in my blood.' And without even skipping a beat, Tom just goes, 'Yeah, I was born with it, kid.'"

Teller plays Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw in Top Gun: Maverick, the son of Goose (Anthony Edwards), Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Cruise)'s best friend. The sequel to 1986's Top Gun is set to reach the $400 million mark at the US box office and marks a record-breaking release for Cruise as his biggest movie ever. The movie also stars Jennifer Connolly, Jon Hamm, and Glen Powell and saw Joseph Kosinski take over the director's chair. 

Top Gun: Maverick is in theaters now. If you've already seen it, fill out your watch list with our picks of the most exciting upcoming movies.

Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. 

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