Paramount Pictures Officially Confirms Top Gun 3 with Tom Cruise Returning as Maverick

Paramount Pictures officially confirmed "Top Gun 3" during its CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas, announcing that Tom Cruise will reprise his role as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and that producer Jerry Bruckheimer will return to the franchise. The studio confirmed that screenwriter Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote the 2022 sequel with Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, is already working on a script. Director Joseph Kosinski, who helmed "Top Gun: Maverick," has not yet officially signed on, though multiple reports indicate the studio intends for him to return. No other cast members from the previous film have confirmed their involvement, though reports suggest Paramount hopes to reunite Cruise with co-stars Miles Teller and Glen Powell. The announcement came during a broader presentation by Paramount chief executive David Ellison, who outlined an ambition to release 30 films per year under the studio's expanded banner.

The original "Top Gun," directed by Tony Scott, was released in 1986 and established Tom Cruise as a major Hollywood star. A sequel took more than three decades to materialize: "Top Gun: Maverick" arrived in 2022, earning $1.5 billion at the global box office from a production budget of $170 million. The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won the award for Best Sound. Steven Spielberg credited Cruise with saving the theatrical business following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Top Gun: Maverick" also marked the final film appearance of Val Kilmer, who played Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in both the original and the sequel and died on April 1, 2025.

1.5 (billion dollars) — Top Gun: Maverick global box office gross

The confirmation caps years of speculation and behind-the-scenes maneuvering. Bruckheimer told People magazine in 2024 that the story had been pitched to Cruise and received a positive response, but that scheduling remained an obstacle given the actor's packed slate.

„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.” — Jerry Bruckheimer via The Guardian

Cruise himself addressed the project in an Australian talk-show appearance last year, describing ongoing creative discussions without committing to specifics.

„We're thinking and talking about many different stories and what could we do and what's possible. It took me 35 years to figure out Top Gun: Maverick. So, all of these things we're working on, we're discussing Days of Thunder and Top Gun: Maverick.” — Tom Cruise via Rolling Stone

Ellison, who produced "Maverick" through his company Skydance Media before merging it with Paramount in 2025, has publicly described "Top Gun 3" as a top priority and stated he would remain in business with Cruise for as long as the actor wished to make films together. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ellison noted he had collaborated with Cruise on ten films over the course of their partnership.

Warner Bros. deal raises questions, but Cruise stays free

The announcement generated attention in Hollywood partly because of Cruise's concurrent contractual relationship with a rival studio. Cruise signed a non-exclusive deal with Warner Bros. in 2024 to develop and star in films for that company. The non-exclusive nature of the contract means he remains free to continue work on "Top Gun 3" at Paramount regardless of the status of the ongoing merger between the two studios. Paramount is in the process of acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal valued at 111 (billion dollars) — Paramount's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a transaction that has drawn opposition from some actors and directors in the industry. Ellison used the CinemaCon presentation to reaffirm his goal of releasing 30 films per year under the combined Paramount-Warner banner. Other titles mentioned in the upcoming slate include a "Scary Movie 7," a "Call of Duty" adaptation by Taylor Sheridan, a new film from Damien Chazelle starring Cillian Murphy, and a horror project set in the "Longlegs" universe.

Cruise previews Iñárritu film before returning to the cockpit

Before "Top Gun 3" moves into production, Cruise's next theatrical outing will be "Digger," a dark comedy directed by Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, which was also previewed at CinemaCon this week. Attendees at the presentation remarked that Cruise was unrecognizable in the role of a billionaire who causes an environmental disaster. Cruise did not appear on stage during the "Top Gun 3" announcement itself but did participate in the broader Paramount presentation through a video filmed on the studio's Melrose Avenue lot, directed by Jon M. Chu. In the video, Cruise provided voiceover celebrating the history and legacy of Paramount while dozens of major stars highlighted the studio's past hits. The clip concluded with Cruise seated atop the studio's iconic water tower. No release date or production timeline for "Top Gun 3" has been announced.