LOS ANGELES — Tom Cruise is rumored to be reprising his role as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in a third installment of the hit film franchise, “Top Gun.” The 61-year-old action star first portrayed the character in 1986’s “Top Gun” and returned in 2022 for “Top Gun: Maverick,” which grossed $1.496 billion worldwide. Paramount has now reportedly commissioned “Top Gun: Maverick” screenwriter Ehren Kruger to begin work on a third film.
Additionally, sources have stated that director Joseph Kosinski and Cruise’s co-stars Glen Powell and Miles Teller are expected to return for the sequel. Although it may not come as a surprise that Paramount wants to replicate the success of “Top Gun: Maverick,” eyebrows were raised in Hollywood because Cruise recently signed a deal with rival studio Warner Bros. Nevertheless, Cruise’s contract with Warner Bros. is non-exclusive, allowing him to continue working on “Top Gun 3” at Paramount.
“Top Gun: Maverick” was not only a box office success, but it was also nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The film’s nomination was received positively, with director Steven Spielberg expressing his encouragement at seeing blockbusters like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” represented in the shortlist. Spielberg also mentioned that Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” was a film that should have received a Best Picture nomination years ago.
Film critic Clarisse Loughrey, in a four-star review for The Independent, described “Top Gun: Maverick” as a true legacy sequel. She stated that the film went beyond the nostalgic elements commonly found in such productions and showcased a smarter, subtler, and humanistic approach.
At this point, it remains to be seen when production for “Top Gun 3” will commence and what new elements the film will bring to the franchise. However, with Cruise’s iconic portrayal of Maverick and the success of the previous installments, fans of the series will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting its release.