Tom Cruise has officially committed to a third installment of the “Top Gun” franchise, with Paramount announcing his return alongside producer Jerry Bruckheimer during the studio’s CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas.
The sequel to director Joseph Kosinski’s 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick was first revealed to be in the works in 2024, with screenwriter Ehren Kruger — who co-wrote Maverick with Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie — attached to the project.
“Top Gun: Maverick” grossed $1.5 billion at the global box office against a $170 million budget, giving movie theaters a badly needed boost while many venues were still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The film’s success was so significant that Steven Spielberg praised Mr. Cruise at the 2023 Oscars nominees luncheon for helping save Hollywood.
Variety reports that “Maverick” also served as a career breakthrough for several younger cast members, including Miles Teller and Glen Powell, both of whom are confirmed to return for the threequel alongside Mr. Cruise.
Mr. Cruise first debuted the character of Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the 1986 original, returning 36 years later for the sequel. “Maverick” also marked the final film appearance of co-star Val Kilmer, who died in 2025.
No release date or plot details have been announced.
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