Paramount Pictures has officially confirmed that a third installment in the Top Gun franchise is in development, with Tom Cruise set to reprise his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The announcement was made during the studio’s presentation at CinemaCon, the annual exhibition industry trade convention held in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Josh Greenstein, co-chair of Paramount Pictures, stated that the sequel to “Top Gun: Maverick” will reunite Cruise with producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The confirmation marks the first official word on the project since the merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media in 2025, which David Ellison, chief executive of the newly formed entity, identified as a priority for franchise development.
While no additional cast members have been confirmed to return alongside Cruise, the film will continue to follow the character of Maverick, a role Cruise has portrayed since the original Top Gun debuted in 1986. The 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, achieved global box office success, grossing approximately $1.5 billion and earning six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote the script for Top Gun: Maverick, is currently developing the screenplay for the third film. Christopher McQuarrie, who also contributed to the writing of the 2022 sequel, has indicated that a core concept for the story is already in place, describing it as a “big idea” that emerged from collaborative discussions with Cruise and the writing team.
Director Joseph Kosinski, who helmed both the original Top Gun and its sequel, has not yet been confirmed to return for the third installment. However, in 2025, Kosinski expressed enthusiasm for continuing the story, noting that he had spent nearly a year developing concepts with input from Navy personnel and Lockheed Martin engineers.
The announcement comes amid ongoing developments in the franchise’s legacy. In early 2026, Val Kilmer, who played Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the original film, passed away at age 65. Similarly, James Tolkan, known for his role as Lieutenant Commander Rick Heatherly in both Top Gun films, died in March 2026.
Jerry Bruckheimer, reflecting on the enduring appeal of the series, previously noted in 2025 that the challenge of creating a sequel lies in balancing audience expectations with fresh storytelling. He emphasized that Cruise’s involvement remains contingent on scheduling availability due to the actor’s extensive commitments across multiple projects.
As Paramount moves forward with development, industry observers note that the studio aims to build on the success of recent franchise revivals, including entries in the Star Trek and Yellowstone universes, following its strategic merger with Skydance. No official release date or production timeline has been announced for Top Gun 3 as of the CinemaCon confirmation.
For ongoing updates on the Top Gun franchise and related entertainment news, readers are encouraged to follow official statements from Paramount Pictures and verified entertainment industry sources.