Top Gun 3 officially in development, makers confirm; Tom Cruise to return as Maverick

HOllywood superstar tomcat sail may be transforming into a pot-bellied senior in his upcoming take, Digger, but he isn't quite an through with(p) with charming audiences yet. The famed actor is set to return to one of his most iconic roles - pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in the next instalment of the Top Gun franchise. Paramount Pictures confirmed on Thursday that Top Gun 3 is in development with Tom leading the cast.Tom Cruise to return in Top Gun 3The announcement came at Paramount's panel at the ongoing CinemaCon in Las Vegas, an annual week-long summit at which Hollywood studios present their biggest upcoming movies to theatre owners and press. During the presentation, Paramount film co-head Josh Greenstein said Top Gun 3 was “officially in development with a script well underway.” He added that Cruise would be returning to the franchise, as will producer Jerry Bruckheimer.A special video presentation marked the arrival, but in the absence of the star himself. Tom Cruise was not present at the presentation, but did narrate a film used to open the event, which focused on the studio's commitment to releasing films on the big screen. At the end, Tom, sitting atop the water tower on the studio's lot, says, “The future looks great from here.”Following the end of the Mission: Impossible films, in which Tom Cruise famously played spy Ethan Hunt, Top Gun is the only active film franchise the 63-year-old stars in.About the Top Gun filmsThe original Top Gun film, released in 1986, was a milestone in Hollywood aviation dramas. It was not only a huge box-office success, but it also became part of modern pop culture. It also helped a then 24-year-old Tom Cruise rise to superstardom, particularly in America. Directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, the film also starred Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, and Tom Skerritt. Made on a $15-million budget, Top Gun made over $350 million worldwide.The sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, saw Tom Cruise's character, now in his 50s, train younger pilots at the academy. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film featured the return of Val Kilmer, alongside Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, and Ed Harris. Maverick made close to $1.5 billion at the box office, becoming Tom Cruise's biggest hit.Legendary director Steven Spielberg publicly credited Tom Cruise with helping bring moviegoers back to theatres after the COVID-19 pandemic with the long-awaited sequel.