Top Gun 3gets a new update from director Joseph Kosinski, who reveals how the film handles the return of Tom Cruise’s Maverick. The second installment in theTop Gunfranchise was a major hit in 2022, leading to a confirmation thatTop Gun 3is in development. Cruise is expected to return in the film alongsideMaverickstars Miles Teller and Glen Powell.
During a recent interview withGQ, Kosinski confirms thatMaverick will remain a key focus inTop Gun 3, explaining that the third outing will follow the character as he experiences an “existential crisis.“Though the director is careful not to give too much away, he teases that the film explores some significant themes. Check out his comment below:
I think we’ve found a way to do it, not only in the scale of what we’re proposing, but the idea itself of the story we’re telling. We’re thinking much bigger than… It’s a really existential crisis that Maverick has in this, and it’s much bigger than himself. It actually… I’m trying to describe it without giving anything away. [Laughs.] It’s an existential question that Maverick has to deal with, that would make Maverick feel small, I think, as a movie, compared to what we’re talking about.
When pressed about the size of Maverick’s role in a third movie, Kosinski confirms that Cruise’s character won’t take a backseat to the newcomers introduced in the 2022 hit. While Maverick will remain a central figure inTop Gun 3, the director seemingly confirms thatthis next installment will be Maverick’s final outing:
Yeah, there’s still more story to tell for him. There’s one last ride. So we’re working on it now. Ehren Kruger, who wroteF1, is writing the script. 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.
What This Means For Top Gun 3
Maverick Could Face A Major Threat
What Maverick’s existential crisis looks like is not clear, butthe most recent film could feature hints about what’s to come. The late Val Kilmer reprised his role as Iceman in theTop Gun: Maverickcast, and this character’s death marks one of the movie’s most emotional moments.
Maverick grappling with a world in which he is no longer needed (and proving why he is) could be what Kosinski is referring to.
Iceman’s death could metaphorically represent the end of an era for fighter pilots, especially asunmanned drones become prominent features of modern warfare. Maverick grappling with a world in which he is no longer needed (and proving why he is) could be what Kosinski is referring to.
ThoughTop Gun 3sounds like it will be the final outing for Maverick,Kosinski notably doesn’t say that it will be the final installment in the franchise.Maverickintroduces characters like Teller’s Rooster and Powell’s Hangman, and this new generation could potentially carry aTop Gun 4and beyond.
Top Gun: Maverickreviewswere glowing from critics and the film grossed a staggering $1.495 billion at the box office, meaning additional films beyond the third are likely not off the table.
Our Take On Maverick’s Existential Crisis In Top Gun 3
Maverick Suggests The Film Is In Good Hands
If there was one particularly surprising aspect ofMaverick, it’s that the film handled its more emotional subject matter with a great deal of grace. The Iceman scenes in the film were remarkably effective, andMaverick’s character journey doesn’t get lost amidst the jaw-dropping action sequences. These strengths suggestTop Gun 3could end up finding success as it attempts to tap into this emotion once more.
As forTop Gun 3being the end of the runway for Maverick, this could be for the best. Cruise is now 62 years old, and the film, if it does happen, is still years away from actually being released.If a fourth movie were to happen, Cruise could be pushing 70, meaningTop Gun 3serving as a grand farewell is probably a wise choice.
