Top Gun 3 Happening?
Back in October, Hollywood insider Matthew Belloni broke the news that Tom Cruise will ultimately decide whether Top Gun 3 gets the greenlight. Still, considering Top Gun: Maverick completely obliterated the box office over the summer to become the highest-grossing film of the year, it should come as no surprise to anyone that discussions of a third entry in the hit action franchise have been taking place. In fact, according to ScreenRant, director Joseph Kosinski hinted at the possibility of another sequel during Deadline’s Contenders LA3C panel.
Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer talked about the grueling filming process of Top Gun: Maverick and the limits the actors pushed themselves physically in order to make the film as realistic as possible. Each of the stars was required to participate in a brutal training course so they would be prepared to shoot the movie’s stunts in real-time. After discussing the taxing training process, Kosinki shared his thoughts on Top Gun 3, where he teased the possibility of a third installment in the explosive franchise.
Considering it took 35 years to get Top Gun: Maverick, it’s quite possible fans could spend another three decades waiting for Top Gun 3. According to Kosinski, it all comes down to finding a story that’s worth being told. “Is there another story that is compelling enough that we need to go back? It seems to me at the end of this film that Maverick has some gas left in the tank,” he said.
Given the box office success of Top Gun: Maverick, it’s no surprise that Kosinski is open to Top Gun 3. The second entry, which was released May 27, 2022, earned a massive $1.4 billion globally. The film had the second-highest opening of the year, pulling in an estimated $126.7 million in its debut weekend. It also had the smallest second-weekend drop ever for a film with a $100 million opening.
While it certainly sounds like there’s potential for a Top Gun 3, it likely won’t see the light of day for quite some time. In addition to finding a truly captivating story to tell, Tom Cruise will have to determine if a third entry looks to be a good decision for the overall series. At the moment, he’s tied up with Paramount Pictures’ long-running Mission: Impossible franchise, with the two-part entry Dead Reckoning currently in development.
Although the wait for Top Gun 3 could prove to be a long one, fans can currently relive Top Gun: Maverick in all its glory on the big screen for a limited time. As a holiday treat, Paramount Pictures re-released the record-breaking picture in select theaters from December 2 through December 15. The film is also available to watch on home entertainment, and it’s scheduled to arrive on Paramount+ on December 22.
Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Charles Parnell, and Danny Ramirez. So far, none of the cast has commented on the possibility of Top Gun 3, but now that Kosinski has broken his silence, it’ll be interesting to see if any of the stars follow suit. In the meantime, don’t miss your chance to see them on the big screen during Maverick’s re-release.
