Paramount aims to reignite the Top Gun franchise with a third installment, currently in the works. Ehren Kruger, co-writer of Top Gun: Maverick, is crafting the script for this new chapter, and there are indications that Maverick’s director, Joe Kosinski, will also return to helm the project. Reports suggest the plan is to bring together Tom Cruise with his next-generation co-stars Miles Teller and Glen Powell.
This development follows shortly after Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that Cruise had entered into a deal to both star in and produce films for them, although this agreement is not exclusive. Cruise’s recent projects have predominantly been with Paramount, even though he didn’t have an exclusive deal with them. While some might interpret this Top Gun update as a strategic move amid the Cruise headlines war, the reality is that the sequel has been quietly in development since late fall. Attempts to reach Paramount for comment were unsuccessful.
In 2022, Maverick significantly exceeded expectations at the box office, amassing a global revenue of $1.5 billion. This success led Steven Spielberg to attribute Cruise with rescuing the theatrical industry, which had suffered due to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Maverick followed Tony Scott’s Top Gun from 1986, a film that played a pivotal role in establishing Cruise as an emerging movie star.
The release of the new Top Gun installment is not imminent. Cruise is presently engaged in the production of the eighth Mission: Impossible film, scheduled for release in May 2025. Considering the time it took for Maverick to materialize after years of development, the new Top Gun movie is likely to follow a similar timeline. Nevertheless, this recent development reinforces a clear trend: Cruise remains a highly sought-after star, and studios will continue competing for his time and attention in the years ahead.