Among all the immense success that continues to soar in with Tom Cruise's long-awaited, record-breaking aviator sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022), one would think it's all but written in stone that a third installment in the series is a given. However, per a report from CBR, Top Gun producer Jerry Bruckheimer has not pulled the launch trigger on the concept of another Top Gun just yet.
When Bruckheimer was approached at the BAFTA Awards by Variety about both the success and future of Top Gun, the producer was essentially cautiously optimistic. The main conflict in his words is Tom Cruise's insanely busy shooting schedule with his ongoing Mission Impossible franchise, which is currently in production on both the penultimate and finale installments of the series. Given Cruise's near-Herculean commitment to his role, and all the otherwise-'impossible' stunts that go along with it, Bruckheimer insists that now simply isn't the time.
"He's in the middle of shooting Mission Impossible, he's got a lot of very difficult, hard stunts he's doing...It's not the time to take attention away from what's important to him right now."
While it all certainly makes sense, it still clearly leaves the window of opportunity open for Top Gun turning into a trilogy. Even director Joseph Kosinski especially added to the rumor mill by saying:
"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's not settling down."
Fans can only wait anxiously as the current film Top Gun: Maverick continues to build upon its staggering success. The sequel reignited hundredfold the fandom of the first film that came to theaters 36 years ago. Tom Cruise reprised his role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and Val Kilmer also returned as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky along with newcomer Miles Teller as Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw. The movie has received widespread critical and audience acclaim, and has been nominated for a whopping 134 awards worldwide. It was praised for its exceptional cinematography, harnessing the power of top-of-the-line IMAX technology with 6K full-frame cameras. Several streaming companies also reportedly tried to get streaming rights to the film from Paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic, but all were declined on Cruise's orders. He was determined to have the film debut exclusively in theaters, which by now is definitely understandable.
Where Will Cruise Go Next After Top Gun and Mission Impossible?
With the Mission Impossible franchise winding down in the next two to three years, it begs the million-dollar question of what Tom Cruise will tackle next. The series has both carried and well-established the actor as a timeless, bedrock fixture in Hollywood action filmmaking. As of now, there are very, very few directors who come close to Cruise's insane dedication to genuine action theatrics. It undoubtedly leaves fans itching to know what Cruise will choose next to take under his wing.
Retirement is definitely nowhere on the actor's radar yet, and another director has actually hinted at a potential collaboration on a huge, new project with Cruise. Per a report from British GQ a few months ago, director and longtime friend of Cruise Christopher McQuarrie disclosed that the two have spoken about a "gnarlier" project currently in the writing process, but overall it's "still under wraps".