Top Gun 3: what's the estimated release date of the film as Tom Cruise & Glen Powell cast in Maverick sequel?

Paramount has officially confirmed the production of Top Gun 3, following the success of Top Gun: Maverick, the 2022 sequel that grossed $1.5 billion at the box office and earned six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Given its remarkable performance, it comes as no surprise that Paramount is already in the early stages of planning a second sequel. Ehren Kruger, the co-writer of Maverick, known for his work on projects like Scream 3, The Ring, and the Transformers franchise, is currently crafting the script for this new instalment.

Paramount aims to replicate the winning formula that contributed to Maverick's immense success, with director Joe Kosinski expected to return, and stars Glen Powell and Miles Teller set to reprise their roles as Hangman and Rooster.

Who is in the cast of Top Gun 3?

Tom Cruise, whose films have grossed more than $11 billion worldwide, is confirmed to return as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. His role as Maverick in Top Gun (1986) was one of his earliest leading parts and was a launchpad for one of the biggest careers in Hollywood. 

Since Top Gun, the star featured in hugely successful movies like the Mission: Impossible franchise, Minority Report, Jerry Maguire, and Jack Reacher, and 36 years after his first outing as Maverick he returned in the 2022 sequel.

Glen Powell and Miles Teller are also confirmed to reprise their roles as aviators Jake 'Hangman' Seresin and Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw. Rooster is the son of Goose, a friend of Maverick who was killed on a mission in the first film.

It has not yet been confirmed if the other supporting cast who appeared in Maverick will return in the next film. Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm are among those who could reprise their roles. Val Kilmer, who played Iceman in the original film, returned for a cameo in Maverick, but his character was killed off.

What is Top Gun 3 about?

The plot of the third Top Gun film is currently under wraps, and the script may not have even been written yet. Much will depend on which cast members return, but it is expected that the next film will begin to move the focus onto a younger character to grow the franchise.

When is the release date of Top Gun 3?

A release date for Top Gun 3 has not yet been confirmed, and with production yet to begin, it is unlikely to be released until 2025 at the earliest. Maverick was filmed over a year-long period from May 2018 to April 2019 with plans for a July 2019 release.

However, production overrun due to the complicated action sequences and further delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the film was not released until May 2022.

Assuming that production is not delayed on Top Gun 3, the film could be ready for a cinematic release 15 months after production begins. Should production get underway in the first half of this year, Top Gun 3 could hit cinemas by autumn 2025.