‘Top Gun 3’ takes off: Tom Cruise will return in the new installment confirmed by Paramount

This Thursday, April 16, Paramount Pictures confirmed the development of Top Gun 3 during its presentation at CinemaCon 2026, in Las Vegas. The studio is betting again on one of its most successful franchises and is preparing the return of Tom Cruise along with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, responsible for the previous two installments.

The announcement came from the studio's co-directors, Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Greenstein stated: “Top Gun 3 is officially in development with a fairly advanced script, bringing back Tom Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer.” The project had begun to take shape in 2024, when screenwriter Ehren Kruger (who worked on Top Gun: Maverick) was hired to write the story. Two years later, the script already shows significant progress. For now, Paramount did not announce the director. However, previous reports indicate that the studio is looking for the return of Joseph Kosinski, responsible for the second installment. There is also interest in reuniting part of the recent cast, with names like Miles Teller and Glen Powell, who played the new generation of pilots. Also, producer David Ellison, current owner of Paramount, had already indicated in 2025 that the third installment was among the studio's priorities.

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From Eighties Classic to Global Phenomenon

The saga Top Gun debuted in 1986 with the story of pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a talented and challenging aviator within the U.S. Navy. The character, played by Cruise, achieved iconic status in commercial cinema. Decades later, Top Gun: Maverick resumed the story with the protagonist at a different stage of his life. The film presents him as an instructor of younger pilots, on a high-risk mission that also confronts him with the past, especially with the son of his deceased friend “Goose”. The premiere of the sequel was key in a critical period for the industry: the post-pandemic stage, when many movie theaters were still facing the economic consequences of the absence of an audience. In that context, the film starring Tom Cruise grossed nearly 1.5 billion dollars at the box office worldwide. Although Paramount's statement at CinemaCon is somewhat ambiguous about Tom Cruise's involvement in Top Gun 3, sources from TMZ confirmed that he would indeed return in his role as Maverick.

Tom Cruise, a Central Figure at CinemaCon

Although the renowned interpreter did not go on stage during the announcement, his presence stood out within Paramount's presentation. According to Entertainment Weekly, the actor headed a promotional video directed by Jon M. Chu, which reviewed the studio's history and presented its vision for the future. In the clip, recorded at the iconic water tower of Paramount studios, the actor offered a narration that connected different eras of the company. "Like all great journeys, this one began with a dream," he states in the video. "Paramount Pictures has been the heart of great films, cultural references that endure from generation to generation."

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The clip also included images of several Hollywood figures, in a visual review of some of the studio's most recognized productions. Taking advantage of Cruise's fame with high-risk stunts, the closing of the material showed the actor at the top of the structure. "The future looks pretty good from here," he said in the video.