Tom Cruise confirmed for Top Gun 3, but star's schedule delays takeoff

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer says Tom Cruise "really" likes director Joseph Kosinski’s "wonderful" idea for the plot.

Tom Cruise's involvement in the third instalment of the blockbuster franchise, Top Gun, has been confirmed, but due to his packed schedule, an exact release date remains uncertain. 

Paramount, as reported by Variety in January, is in the development phase of "Top Gun 3," enlisting Ehren Kruger, co-writer of "Top Gun: Maverick," to pen the screenplay.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has told sources that determining when Cruise will have availability for filming the third "Top Gun" movie is currently unknown.

Bruckheimer, known for producing both the original 1986 hit Top Gun and the successful 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick, shared with PEOPLE magazine that they are actively developing Top Gun 3. "We pitched Tom a story he liked. But he's a very in-demand actor and he's got a lot of movies lined up, so we have to wait and see," Bruckheimer, aged 80, mentioned.

Top Gun: Maverick achieved significant success, grossing nearly $1.5 billion worldwide upon its 2022 release. It dominated the domestic box office that year and currently ranks as the fifth highest-grossing movie in the U.S. and the 12th highest worldwide. Building on this triumph, a third film is reportedly in the works with Tom Cruise reprising his role as Maverick, joined by Miles Teller as Rooster and Glen Powell as Hangman.

Bruckheimer, in an interview with Screen Rant, expressed that director Joseph Kosinski has a "wonderful" idea that Cruise "really" likes.

Addressing speculation about Powell potentially taking the lead, Bruckheimer affirmed that Cruise will continue to lead the team. He also discussed the challenges of scheduling around Cruise's commitments.

Screen Rant also reported that, similar to the sequel, the third instalment is likely to center around a new mission, drawing Maverick and his fellow Top Gun pilots back into action.