Tom Cruise on ‘Top Gun’ sequel: I know you’ve waited 34 years, unfortunately it’ll be longer

'Maverick,' release has also been pushed ahead because of coronavirus

Instead of a summer's adventure, the film will now be a cosy Christmas watch. Maverick, the highly anticipated sequel to the Eighties classic, has now been shifted from its slated release date, June 24, to December 23, 2020.

In a recent and disappointing tweet, leading star Tom Cruise made the announcement. "I know many of you have waited 34 years. Unfortunately, it will be a little longer. Top Gun: Maverick will fly this December. Stay safe, everyone." he said on Thursday.

I know many of you have waited 34 years. Unfortunately, it will be a little longer. Top Gun: Maverick will fly this December. Stay safe, everyone.

— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) April 2, 2020

The film is joining a long and growing list of spring and now summer releases to be reshuffled. According to the Daily Mail, this release is the latest victim to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic with cinemas worldwide remaining shuttered.

The Paramount film will see Cruise reprise his role as gung-ho Air Force pilot Maverick, but the studio is pushing the film back a full six months in hopes of maximizing potential profits.

The strategy makes sense, as Maverick comes with a production price tag of over $150 million and therefore needs to make a substantial impact in ticket sales in order to become profitable.

However, due to the uncertainty surrounding the re-opening of film theaters, all film studios have been scrambling to reorganize their release dates. Surplus films are either being pushed back, relegated to online digital releases, or being left undated altogether.

Another example is A Quiet Place Part II — which was originally scheduled by come out in March — is now hitting theaters on September 4.

Both films are sequels to immensely popular films, leading fans to wonder if they'll even see the light of day. Paramount is also moving The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run, from May 22 to July 31.

Meanwhile, the studio's sci-fi fantasy film The Tomorrow War, previously slated for a Christmas release, is now undated in order to make room for the Top Gun sequel.

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