The skies are calling once again, as Top Gun 3 has officially entered development. Following the massive global success of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, which soared past $1.5 billion at the global box office and earned critical acclaim, director Joseph Kosinski is set to return with another high-flying chapter.
While promoting his upcoming F1: The Movie, Kosinski offered fresh details on the much-anticipated third installment. Speaking to ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, he confirmed that Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote Maverick, is currently writing the new script.
“Ehren Kruger is writing the script as we speak,” Kosinski said. “It’s a big idea that I spent almost a year developing — working with some friends at the Navy and Lockheed. And yeah, Ehren’s into it now, so we’ll see how it comes along.”
The director acknowledged that Top Gun: Maverick ended on a note that many believed wrapped the story perfectly. However, the vision for the third film was too compelling to resist.
“It was about coming up with an idea that — again — felt like a new challenge. Something that opens up the story in a way you just can’t let go. And I think the idea is so ambitious. That’s what’s exciting to me,” Kosinski added.
Tom Cruise is also confirmed to return as Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. In an interview on Australia’s Today show, he commented on ongoing discussions for future projects, including the next Top Gun film.
“Yeah, we’re thinking and talking about many different stories and what we could do and what’s possible,” Cruise said. “It took me 35 years to figure out Top Gun: Maverick, so all of these things we’re working on, we’re discussing (sequels to) Days of Thunder and Top Gun: Maverick.”
Christopher McQuarrie, co-writer of Maverick and a longtime collaborator of Cruise, will also be involved in the upcoming film. He revealed during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that the foundation for the story came together smoothly.
“I already know what it is. It wasn’t hard,” McQuarrie said. “I thought it would be, and that’s a good place to walk from. You walk into the room going, ‘Come on, what are we going to do?’ and Ehren Kruger pitched something, and we had one conversation about it. The framework is there, so it’s not hard to crack (it).”
While a release date for Top Gun 3 has yet to be announced, the development of the script and the return of the core creative team are promising signs for fans awaiting another adrenaline-filled mission.