Paramount Pictures formally confirmed Top Gun 3 at CinemaCon in April 2026, with Tom Cruise officially returning, Jerry Bruckheimer back as producer, and Ehren Kruger — co-writer on Top Gun: Maverick — handling the script. Cruise could earn another $100 million-plus from the third installment, repeating the unusual deal structure that made him roughly $100 million from Top Gun: Maverick despite an up-front salary of just $13 million — a backend percentage that paid off when the film grossed $1.5 billion worldwide. Top Gun: Maverick is widely credited with single-handedly bringing audiences back to theaters in the post-pandemic era, and Top Gun 3 is reportedly being developed to be a true continuation of the franchise rather than a quick cash-grab sequel.
Top Gun 3 Is Coming Soon
At sea (Mar. 1, 2007) – Capt. Craig “Animal” Williams (front) in a F/A 18C Hornet (front) and Capt. Richard “Rhett” Butler (back) in an F/A 18C Hornet look up for a photo as they fly over USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Capt. Williams, a 22-year Naval Aviator who graduated from the United States Naval Academy, was relieved as Commander, Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) by 21-year Naval Aviator, Capt. Butler, a graduate of the University of Kentucky during an aerial change of command ceremony. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is currently underway in the Pacific Ocean on a surge deployment in support of U.S. military operations in the Western Pacific. Official U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Tam Pham
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Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. (Sept. 25, 2004) – An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the “Black Lions” of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), conducts a high-speed pass at the conclusion of the tactical air power demonstration at the 2004 “In Pursuit of Liberty,” Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. The demonstration showcased multiple F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets displaying various maneuvers and simulated bomb and staffing passes in front of the crowd. The air show, held Sept. 24-26, showcased civilian and military aircraft from the Nation’s armed forces, which provided many flight demonstrations and static displays. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain (RELEASED)
What could be one of the biggest films in decades is reportedly in the works: the third installment of the Top Gun franchise, and likely the last Top Gun film for actor Tom Cruise.
What is definitely known about Top Gun 3 is quite limited, but the project does seem to be moving along. After more than a year of rumor-mill gossip, Paramount Pictures formally confirmed the project at CinemaCon in April, stating that the film is in active development, with a script reportedly underway, and Tom Cruise confirmed for the role.
On the production side of the equation, Jerry Bruckheimer is back, too.
Bruckheimer was one of the main creative forces behind the 1986 original Top Gun franchise. Ehren Kruger, one of the lead writers for the Top Gun: Maverick script, is reportedly handling the script for the third Top Gun installment.
Plot Questions Remain
Perhaps the biggest unanswered question is what the story’s shape will be.
SR-72 Darkstar Lockheed Martin Image.
Some reports have suggested that the studious would like this third Top Gun to feel like a real continuation of the franchise, rather than a quick follow-up film cash cow.
Top Gun die-hards would certainly approve that direction — but the studio is surely also aware of the outsized influence Top Gun: Maverick had on the industry.
That film’s reputation was cemented by its wild post-pandemic popularity, almost single-handedly returning viewers to the silver screen. It also earned a whopping $1.5 billion in worldwide sales. Balancing a solid script against an obvious money-maker will be difficult.
There are, however, some indications that the sequel will continue balancing Maverick’s story with a younger generation of pilots.
The Tom Cruise Factor
Development has reportedly been slow, partially due to Tom Cruise himself.
Several reports have emphasized that he would not move forward with the project if he isn’t satisfied with the story. Cruise’s involvement in the project was a significant feature of the second film, which underwent extensive rewriting before Cruise agreed to move forward. Still, money will no doubt be on Cruise’s mind as well.
The actors made an extraordinary amount of money from Top Gun: Maverick, thought to be around $100 million, depending on the estimates. Cruise’s compensation was very unusual for an actor. Though he took a relatively modest up-front salary, about $13 million.
But Cruise secured a percentage of ticket sales to make up for the relatively low initial payment. Very few stars could secure that kind of deal; however, Top Gun: Maverick came at a unique time.
F-14 Tomcat in Museum with US Flag. Image Credit: National Security Journal.
Before 2022, Tom Cruise had never acted in a billion-dollar film.
But Maverick turned out to be the defining theatrical success of the post-pandemic recovery, particularly in the United States, where it enjoyed unusually strong repeat viewership and strong turnout from older viewers, keen to relive the Top Gun experience. The film was, in essence, a test case of whether large-scale theatrical releases still mattered in an age of increased streaming viewing.
Tom Cruise himself played a significant role in the film’s ticket sales success.
Though Paramount reportedly wanted to move the film to streaming quickly, Cruise pushed hard to keep it in theaters. In the end, his push helped the film make vastly more money than it would have as a mainly online film.
Show Me the Money
For Top Gun 3, Cruise could stand to make even more money — but only if the film performs at the same level.
There are some reports that he could relieve another $100 million-plus payment package. But Tom Cruise’s real earning power is not just from his salary.
Uniquely for the actor, he is more of a producing partner than simply a conventional actor. In the Top Gun and Mission: Impossible films, Cruise is deeply involved in overall production decisions, stunts, release strategies, and marketing. Studios are normally loath to give actors that level of decision-making. But Cruise reliably delivers global box office sales in a way very few actors can.
Audiences Await
What seems likely for Top Gun: Maverick is to rely on the tried-and-true formula that made the first two so widely successful.
Practical aerial photography, real aircraft, and a more grounded tone than many modern action blockbusters.
Both Cruise and Bruckheimer understand that realism, like actors actually enduring G-forces in real jets, genuine cockpit footage, and minimal CGI, are all crucial parts of what made the franchise an enduring success across movie viewer generations.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
