Paramount has officially confirmed that Top Gun 3 is in development, cementing the return of one of cinema’s most iconic franchises after the phenomenal success of Top Gun: Maverick. During the studio’s 2026 presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Paramount executives revealed that a script is underway and that the project is moving forward as a direct sequel to the 2022 blockbuster.
The announcement follows multiple reports over the past two years indicating that a third film was likely, but this is the first time the studio has formally confirmed the new chapter in the saga.
Tom Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer reunite
At CinemaCon, Paramount co‑chair Josh Greenstein confirmed that Tom Cruise will return as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, and that legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer is once again on board to produce Top Gun 3. Greenstein described the screenplay process as “progressing smoothly”, indicating that the creative team is actively shaping Maverick’s next mission.
This confirmation aligns with earlier comments from David Ellison, CEO of Skydance, who had signalled that Top Gun would remain a priority franchise following the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.
Script development and creative team
Paramount has confirmed that Top Gun 3 is currently in the script development stage, with work on the screenplay officially underway. According to industry reports, screenwriter Ehren Kruger – who co‑wrote Top Gun: Maverick – is returning to collaborate on the script for the third film.
Earlier coverage suggested that Joseph Kosinski, director of Top Gun: Maverick, is expected to helm the threequel, although the studio has not yet issued a formal directing announcement in its latest updates. For now, Paramount is emphasising the strength of the core creative nucleus: Cruise, Bruckheimer and returning writers who helped craft Maverick’s last mission.
Cast: who’s expected to return
While Paramount has not yet released an official cast list, several key indications point to the return of fan‑favourite pilots from Top Gun: Maverick:
- Industry coverage confirms that Tom Cruise is locked in as Maverick.
- Miles Teller (Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw) has repeatedly expressed interest in returning and has revealed in interviews that he has been in talks with Cruise about Top Gun 3.
- Glen Powell (Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin) hinted in 2024 that he had “a date” for Top Gun 3, fuelling speculation that his character will play a major role in the new story.
- Recent reports from U.S. outlets suggest that Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman and Miles Teller are “likely” to reprise their roles, although formal contracts have yet to be publicly announced.
Until Paramount issues a full casting announcement, these returns should be considered probable but not officially confirmed, with Cruise and Bruckheimer currently the only fully locked‑in names. For reference, the ensemble of Top Gun: Maverick can be explored via its cast page on IMDb.
Production status and timeline
According to multiple reports from CinemaCon and trade press, Top Gun 3 has now moved beyond the pure “development” phase and is described as being in active production planning, with scripting in progress and the project firmly placed on Paramount’s slate.
- Paramount executives have reiterated that a script is in progress and that the third film will be a direct successor to Top Gun: Maverick.
- Producer Jerry Bruckheimer had previously cautioned that it would be “a while” before audiences saw Top Gun 3, stressing that the creative team wanted to ensure the story truly justified a return to the skies.
No official release date has been announced yet, and plot details remain under wraps, with the studio choosing for now to focus on confirming Cruise’s return and the active status of the script.
Why Top Gun 3 matters for the franchise
The decision to push ahead with Top Gun 3 is directly tied to the extraordinary performance of Top Gun: Maverick, which became one of the biggest box‑office hits of the decade and reintroduced Maverick to a new generation of moviegoers. The sequel’s combination of practical aerial stunts, emotionally grounded storytelling and legacy characters created a model for event‑level, character‑driven blockbusters that Paramount is eager to revisit.
With Cruise and Bruckheimer reunited, a returning writer in Ehren Kruger and strong indications that key younger pilots like Rooster and Hangman will be back, Top Gun 3 is positioned as both a continuation of Maverick’s emotional journey and a further expansion of the TOPGUN universe for future stories.
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