Buckle up, Top Gun fans—Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is gearing up to soar again. Tom Cruise dropped some exciting hints about Top Gun 3 while promoting Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, confirming that the high-flying sequel is in the works. After the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, which raked in nearly $1.5 billion and became Cruise’s biggest hit ever, fans have been itching for news on the next chapter. Here’s what Cruise’s latest comments tell us about Top Gun 3 and why it’s got us pumped.
Maverick’s Return Is a Go
Cruise, now 62, isn’t slowing down. While chatting about his latest Mission: Impossible flick, he gave a hopeful update on Top Gun 3, saying he’s “thinking and talking” about the project with the creative team. “We’re working on many different stories and what could we do and what’s possible,” he shared, hinting at active discussions about where to take Maverick next. Paramount confirmed the sequel back in 2023, with Cruise set to reprise his role as the fearless naval aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The studio’s not rushing things, though—probably because Maverick took 36 years to get right, and they want this one to hit just as hard.
The trailer for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning might be stealing the spotlight right now, but Cruise’s Top Gun 3 tease has fans buzzing. He’s been clear that he doesn’t want to churn out a sequel just for kicks—it’s gotta have a story worth telling. Actor Jay Ellis, who played Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch in Maverick, backed this up, saying Cruise is a “stickler” for making sure the audience gets a ride worth their ticket. Sounds like Maverick’s next mission is being crafted with care.
What’s the Plan?
Details on Top Gun 3 are still light, but we know a few things. Joseph Kosinski, the director who made Maverick a visual and emotional banger, is back, either directing or producing. Ehren Kruger, one of Maverick’s writers, is working on the script, and big names like Miles Teller (Rooster) and Glen Powell (Hangman) are expected to return alongside Cruise. The team’s taking their time to nail the story, with Ellis hinting they’re “still working on the script” to make it epic. Filming could kick off later this year or early 2026, which means we might not see Maverick back in theaters until 2027 or later.
The big question is where the story goes after Maverick’s near-perfect ending. Top Gun: Maverick wrapped up with Maverick training a new generation of pilots, reconciling with Rooster, and finding some peace. One theory floating around is that Maverick might shift to a full-time teaching role, grappling with aging and his legacy while passing the torch to younger hotshots like Rooster or Hangman. Another idea is that the film could dive into Maverick’s grief over losing Iceman, played by the late Val Kilmer, whose emotional cameo in Maverick stole hearts. Either way, expect more jaw-dropping aerial stunts—Cruise doesn’t do CGI shortcuts, so those F-18s (or maybe F-35s?) will be the real deal.
Why It’s a Big Deal
Top Gun: Maverick wasn’t just a box-office monster; it was a love letter to fans, blending 80s nostalgia with modern stakes. It earned a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, an Oscar for Best Sound, and proved Cruise is still the king of blockbusters. But it also set a high bar. Cruise has said he turned down Top Gun sequels for decades because he wanted to chase other challenges, like A Few Good Men and Jerry Maguire. It took 35 years to crack Maverick’s story, so his commitment to Top Gun 3 shows he believes there’s more to Maverick’s journey.
The buzz around Top Gun 3 also comes at a time when Cruise is juggling a packed slate. He’s wrapping up Mission: Impossible, working on a new film with Alejandro Iñárritu, and even talking about a sequel to his 1990 NASCAR flick Days of Thunder. Yet his passion for Top Gun shines through—he’s not just phoning it in. With Kosinski’s knack for real-deal aerial cinematography and a cast of rising stars, Top Gun 3 could keep the franchise’s hot streak alive.
What’s Next?
No release date’s set for Top Gun 3, but with filming potentially starting soon, we’re hoping for more news at events like Comic-Con or D23. In the meantime, Cruise is lighting up screens in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, out May 23, 2025. Want to get in the Top Gun mood? Stream the original and Maverick on Paramount+ for all the dogfights and beach volleyball you can handle.
Source: YouTube
