Meg Ryan originally played Goose's wife in the first "Top Gun" movie, but Carole Bradshaw ( Meg Ryans character in the movie) didn't appear in the sequel. Meg Ryan "Top Gun 2" absence and theories about whether she would secretly appear were big talking points ahead of the release of the film. The reason for Meg Ryan not returning was potentially tied to the fact that she has stepped away from big Hollywood roles. The actress, known mostly for her starring roles in movies like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Sleepless in Seattle", hasn't retired from acting but has appeared in only a few projects in the last few years. "Top Gun's" Meg Ryan hasn't been in any film since 2016's "Ithaca", which she also directed and produced.

Even without appearing in the sequel to "Top Gun", Meg Ryan's Carole Bradshaw made the movie better. The fact that Rooster(her son in the movie) lost not only his dad at a young age but also his mom more recently made his arc in "Top Gun: Maverick" all the more poignant. It also added fuel to his tension with Maverick, as it's revealed that Maverick blocked Rooster's application at Carole's request before she passed as she didn't want her son to die in the same manner as her husband. Without Meg Ryan, "Top Gun: Maverick" certainly lost a meaningful character, but she was still able to impact the story for the better and helped make the sequel the huge success that it was.

More Info: screenrant.com