Top Gun 3: release date, plot, cast and everything you need to know

Following the success of Top Gun: Maverick, audiences are eager for the potential release of Top Gun 3 to return to the skies.

The first two Top Gun films, featuring a cast of Naval pilots in the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program and led by the legendary Tom Cruise, have become cherished blockbuster hits.

Maverick revived the franchise after almost 40 years of dormancy following the original 1986 film.

What is the release date for Top Gun 3?

Top Gun 3 has been confirmed to be in development, though its exact release date is still unknown.

According to a January 2024 report by Variety, Paramount has approved the third installment, with Top Gun: Maverick co-writer Ehren Kruger set to write the script.

According to the announcement about the film, the studio is also contemplating bringing Maverick director Joseph Kosinski back to helm the aviation adventure.

Although announced, it will probably be a while before Top Gun 3 is released, given that Cruise is currently busy filming Mission: Impossible 8 (MI8).

And let's not overlook director Joseph Kosinski's packed schedule. Kosinski is currently focused on his upcoming project, an untitled Formula 1 racing film starring Brad Pitt. This Apple TV+ original is currently in production and expected to premiere around 2025.

Considering these various factors, Top Gun 3 is unlikely to arrive anytime soon. It's projected to be released approximately three to six years from now, between 2027 and 2030.

Who is in the cast of Top Gun 3?

At present, only three actors have been linked to the Top Gun 3 cast, though none have been officially confirmed.

So far, Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Glen Powell are anticipated to return to their roles from Top Gun: Maverick as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, and Jake "Hangman" Seresin, respectively.

Powell and Teller's characters Hangman and Rooster emerged as the breakout stars of Maverick, playing prominent roles as the film's leading students at the Top Gun school.

Jennifer Connelly, known for her role as the charming Penny in Maverick, expressed her readiness to return for Top Gun 3 if invited. When asked about the possibility of the sequel by Entertainment Tonight, Connelly replied, "I'll be there. I'm ready."

Other potential returnees may include Monica Barbaro as Phoenix, Lewis Pullman as Bob, Jon Hamm as Cyclone, and other members of the Maverick Top Gun school.

What is the plot of Top Gun 3?

Audiences can anticipate another airborne mission alongside Tom Cruise's Maverick and other Top Gun pilots.

Miles Teller, star of Top Gun: Maverick, expressed his desire for a potential third Top Gun film focused on his character in an interview with Screen Rant, suggesting he would love to see "a Top Gun: Rooster."

"I'm trying to get a 'Top Gun: Rooster.' I've been pitching it. We'll see what happens. I don't know. I think it's interesting. Obviously, everybody was begging Tom to do a sequel right after the first one came out. I think this movie puts a nice bow on it; it really kind of wraps it up, but we'll see. I'm available."

While Rooster is expected to play a significant role in Top Gun 3, it's improbable that a film in this high-flying franchise would be released without centering on Tom Cruise's iconic character.

This implies that while supporting characters may remain consistent across movies, the narrative consistently revolves around Cruise's skilled pilot.

There is no confirmed release date yet for Top Gun 3.