The highly anticipated sequel to Top Gun: Maverick is officially in the works, with co-writer Ehren Kruger taking charge of the script, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Joe Kosinski, the director of the blockbuster hit Maverick, is set to return to helm the new installment. Aside from Cruise, Top Gun 3 will find Miles Teller and Glen Powell reprising their roles.

This development comes hot on the heels of Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent announcement regarding Cruise’s deal to star in and produce movies for Warner Bros. However, it’s important to note that this pact is nonexclusive. Cruise, who played a leading role in such films as Top Gun, The Last Samurai and the Mission: Impossible series, will occupy an office on the Warner Bros Discovery lot in Burbank, as have stars such as Clint Eastwood and Frank Sinatra.

Cruise’s recent film ventures have predominantly been with Paramount, although no formal deal was in place. While some may interpret this news as a strategic move in the competitive world of Cruise-related headlines, insiders reveal that plans for the Top Gun sequel have been quietly progressing since late fall.

Fans eager for the new Top Gun installment should temper their expectations, as Cruise is currently immersed in the production of the eighth Mission: Impossible film. This commitment will likely keep him occupied until its scheduled release in May 2025. Additionally, given the history of development for Maverick, it’s safe to assume that it will be some time before the new Top Gun movie takes flight.

Across his five-decade career, Cruise’s films have earned more than $12 billion globally, with the 2022 release of Top Gun: Maverick, grossing nearly $1.5 billion, according to measurement firm Comscore. His most recent film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One brought in a more earthbound $568 million in worldwide box office proceeds.

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