Top Gun 3 Could Be Tom Cruise’s “Last Ride” as Maverick, Says Director

Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski has shared an update on the plot for Top Gun 3, teasing in an interview with British GQ that it will be the final chapter for Tom Cruise’s character, Maverick.

Speaking to the magazine, Kosinski described the plot of the sequel as revolving around an “existential crisis” for the veteran pilot. “It’s an existential question that Maverick has to deal with, that would make Maverick feel small,” he explained.

When GQ writer Jack King pointed out that Top Gun: Maverick felt like a baton-passing film, Kosinski said there is “still more story to tell”: “There’s one last ride. So we’re working on it now.”

He also confirmed Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote Top Gun: Maverick, is writing the script for the new film. “Like all things, it takes a while to work things out, and we’ll only do it if we feel like we’ve got a strong enough story,” Kosinski added.

This new update comes after Top Gun: Maverick writer and producer Christopher McQuarrie said last month that the “framework” for the script had been set.

Top Gun 3 was initially reported to be in development in January 2024, with Miles Teller and Glen Powell expected to reprise their roles from the previous movie. At the time, Kosinski was reported to be on board as a producer and potential director.