Can you believe it’s been just a heartbeat since Top Gun: Maverick took our breath away, and already there are talks of a third flick starring Tom Cruise’s naval aviator Maverick? While fans had to wait 36 years for Top Gun: Maverick after the release of Top Gun, a third movie in the series may arrive much sooner.
Yes, Jerry Bruckheimer, the iconic producer who’s had his finger firmly on the pulse of this franchise (co-produced the first earlier two flicks), recently fueled the excitement. Amidst the promotion of his latest project, Young Woman and the Sea, Bruckheimer has alluded to what he terms as a “terrific” Top Gun: Maverick sequel.
A script has been written for the third installment of the adored action franchise, the 80-year-old producer has revealed. Plus, Bruckheimer further added that the task at hand is to get Cruise and the other actors back for the film.
Jerry Bruckheimer Drops Top Gun 3 Update: Will Tom Cruise Return as Maverick?
Excitement is mounting as news of a possible Top Gun 3 begins to circulate. According to Puck News, screenwriter Ehren Kruger of Top Gun: Maverick is penning the next installment in the franchise. The third flick will reunite Tom Cruise with his Top Gun: Maverick co-stars Miles Teller and Glen Powell.
Jerry Bruckheimer, the celebrated producer behind the iconic franchise, recently hinted at the project’s progress during the promotion of his latest film, Young Woman and the Sea.
While fans are eager for the return of Maverick and the gang, Bruckheimer cautioned that the project is still in its early stages (via GamesRadar):
We had preliminary stuff. We’re not there yet. [There’s] ways to go.
Despite the challenges of bringing another Top Gun film to life, Bruckheimer expressed optimism about the future of the series. With Cruise’s busy schedule working on other movies, he currently has a lot on his plate. Bruckheimer recently told THR that the timing of Top Gun 3 is heavily dependent on Cruise’s availability:
I think we have a terrific story. It’s just [a question of] how do we get everybody together and how do we get it done. Tom’s very busy. He’s got a lot of movies lined up, and he’s a very in-demand actor. So we’ll have to get a good screenplay, and hopefully, he’ll like it as much as we will.
Also, hopes are high as director Joseph Kosinski has a solid idea for the next flick, which has already received a nod of approval from Cruise himself.
Top Gun 3: Tom Cruise Endorsed Joseph Kosinski’s ‘Wonderful’ Sequel Plan
Jerry Bruckheimer disclosed to Screen Rant that Tom Cruise is a huge admirer of Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski’s “wonderful” concept for the next chapter in the story. This was discussed during a meeting regarding the potential for Top Gun 3.
Though everything seems fairly promising, it might be some time before Maverick soars through the skies in Top Gun 3. As he races around in Mission: Impossible 8 and saves the world, Cruise’s schedule will determine when the third Top Gun is made. Bruckheimer admitted:
It will be Tom Cruise. Tom is amazing. We spent time with him. We have a story. Joe Kosinski had a wonderful story idea for it, and he [Tom Cruise] said I really like that, so we’re developing it. But you never know when it’s going to get made because Tom is so busy. He’s doing Mission: Impossible right now, he’s got a picture after it. Hopefully, we’ll get a screenplay that he loves, and we’ll be back in the air again.
Since Top Gun: Maverick neatly wrapped up the story and left a few clues as to where another sequel might go, it is currently unknown what Top Gun 3 will be about. At the box office, the highly acclaimed film received over $1 billion in revenue globally (The Numbers). With a 96% ‘certified fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the legacy sequel was also overwhelmingly well-received by critics. Unsurprisingly, the studio was eager to embark on another project after such success.
While the wait may be long, it seems that Top Gun 3 is slowly but surely making its way into reality. With the star power of Tom Cruise and the creative minds behind the project, it’s safe to say that this potential sequel has the potential to be something truly special!
You can now stream Top Gun: Maverick on Paramount+.
