Top Gun 3 Hits Turbulence as New Update Grounds Tom Cruise Sequel

Let’s talk Top Gun 3, because—surprise!—there’s movement, but don’t throw on your aviators to celebrate just yet. This new update is more of a headwind than a tailwind.

The Basics: ‘Maverick’ Is Back… Sort Of

Paramount officially let slip at CinemaCon: Top Gun 3 is happening. Tom Cruise is onboard to play Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell once more (no shock there, the guy barely seems to touch the ground these days). Ehren Kruger, who helped write Top Gun: Maverick, is handling the script. Jerry Bruckheimer’s producing again, because of course he is.

The Director Dilemma

Now for the turbulence: Joseph Kosinski, the director who took Top Gun: Maverick supersonic at the box office, probably isn’t coming back. Why? Scheduling. Kosinski’s calendar is chaos at the moment—he’s locked in for an Apple UFO thriller and that Miami Vice reboot for Universal.

Here’s where it gets complicated: The Miami Vice reboot depends on Michael B. Jordan’s schedule. Jordan has his own movie (a Thomas Crown Affair remake, of all things) to direct for Amazon before he jumps into the pastel suits with Austin Butler. Miami Vice is tentatively marked for August 2027, so don’t expect Kosinski to just drop everything for Top Gun 3.

According to Matthew Belloni at Puck, the producers are basically preparing as if Kosinski’s a no-go, even though that’s not 100% official yet. They’re putting out feelers for other directors, so expect some behind-the-scenes movement there.

"So the studio and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have begun approaching talent agencies for directors, should Kosinski bow out as anticipated," Belloni wrote.

Cruise Control

As for Cruise, he hasn’t said what his next movie is. He’ll be busy schmoozing through press junkets for Digger, that black comedy from Alejandro G. Inarritu, later this year. But Paramount’s made it very clear they would like nothing more than to have him slide into the Top Gun 3 cockpit next.

Returning Cast: The Familiar Flight Crew

So who else might we see? Miles Teller and Glen Powell are both rumored to come back. Teller’s got the Rooster mustache on standby, and Powell would return as Hangman, which would reunite the “new class” from the last film.

Quick Recap: Where We Left Off

• 2022: Top Gun: Maverick lands and blows the doors off the box office—$1.5 billion worldwide
• Six Oscar nominations (won Best Sound, so at least someone enjoyed it with the volume cranked to max)
• For the 40th anniversary, both Top Gun movies are getting a one-week theatrical run starting May 13. One week to see Cruise defy aging on the big screen, again.

The Bottom Line

Top Gun 3 is very much a thing, but don’t expect it to come together at warp speed. There’s a real chance the next director won’t be Joseph Kosinski, even though he delivered a billion-dollar hit last time. Meanwhile, Cruise is in demand, the supporting cast is set to return (probably), and Paramount is clearly hoping lightning literally strikes twice. If you’re a fan, best keep the patience dial turned up—your next dose of shirtless beach football might be a ways off.