Top Gun 3 is on the horizon and fans are exploding in excitement to see the cultural phenomenon take over the world for the third time. Based on the 1983 article Top Guns by Ehud Yonay, the first film in the eponymous franchise was such a sensation that it boosted an 8% increase in Navy recruitments the year it came out, as per reports by the Australian Associated Press. It was also touted for its great visual effects and store-bought adrenaline-like soundtrack, despite receiving mixed reviews.
Top Gun: Maverick came out in 2022 and managed to snag a nomination for six awards at the 95th Academy Awards (including Best Picture), winning Best Sound, and receiving numerous other accolades. The film also grossed $1.4 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise’s career. With this much success, it was only inevitable that the franchise would spawn another movie to replicate the glory of Christmas past. Top Gun 3 is reported to be under development and Tom Cruise would not be the only actor returning for the sequel.
Top Gun 3 is in development with 2 other stars set to return alongside Tom Cruise
According to reports by Puck in their What I’m Hearing newsletter, Top Gun 3 is in development at Paramount. Tom Cruise will take the throne as Pete Mitchell and two other stars will also make a return to the series. Glen Powell and Miles Teller, who had played prominent supporting roles as Hangman and Rooster in the 2022 sequel to Top Gun: Maverick, will be seen alongside Cruise in a much more significant manner.
Writing for Puck, Matt Belloni says that the script for Top Gun 3 is being cooked by Maverick co-writer Ehren Kruger, with Joseph Kosinski potentially gearing up to direct the whole saga. Kosinski might also be producing alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and David Ellison.
How does Top Gun 3 fit into Tom Cruise’s cinematic ventures beyond Paramount?
Cruise is beginning a new partnership with Warner Bros., and that begs the question of whether it will affect his deal with Paramount in any way. However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief as his deal with Warner Bros. is not exclusive, therefore making him free to take on Top Gun 3 without any conflict. However, the Puck report did suggest that Tom Cruise might take up Top Gun 3 only after wrapping up Mission Impossible 8.
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Also Read: WB is Giving Tom Cruise His Own Office after He Agrees to Abandon Paramount
It comes as no surprise that a star with the stature of Tom Cruise would have a jam-packed schedule. Multiple outlets have already mentioned that Cruise might not be available to take up a project with WB until 2025 or 2026 due to a tight schedule. But when he is free, there are hopes for Edge of Tomorrow 2. There are also strong rumors floating around that WB has big plans for Cruise and might put him up to the task of spearheading a potential action blockbuster.
Although there is no information about when Top Gun 3 will be released, Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick are available to be enjoyed on Paramount+.
Frequently asked questions
Who is returning for Top Gun 3 besides Tom Cruise?
Tom Cruise is set to reprise Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, but he is not the only face coming back. Reporting indicates Glen Powell, who played Hangman, and Miles Teller, who played Rooster, are both expected to return, this time in much more significant roles than they had in the 2022 hit Top Gun: Maverick.
What is the development status of Top Gun 3?
According to reporting cited from Puck’s newsletter, Top Gun 3 is in development at Paramount, though no release date has been announced. Ehren Kruger, a co-writer on Top Gun: Maverick, is attached to write, while Joseph Kosinski is potentially gearing up to direct, with Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, and David Ellison producing.
When might Tom Cruise actually make Top Gun 3?
The Puck report suggests Cruise might only take up Top Gun 3 after wrapping Mission: Impossible 8, given his packed schedule. The article notes his non-exclusive Warner Bros. arrangement would not block the Paramount project, though scheduling could keep him tied up before he can fully commit to the Maverick sequel.
