Top Gun 3 gets a new update from director Joseph Kosinski, who reveals how the film handles the return of Tom Cruise’s Maverick. The second installment in the Top Gun franchise was a major hit in 2022, leading to a confirmation that Top Gun 3 is in development. Cruise is expected to return in the film alongside Maverick stars Miles Teller and Glen Powell.
During a recent interview with GQ, Kosinski confirms that Maverick will remain a key focus in Top 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 in Top Gun 3, the director seemingly confirms that this 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 wrote F1, 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, but the most recent film could feature hints about what’s to come. The late Val Kilmer reprised his role as Iceman in the Top Gun: Maverick cast, 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 as unmanned 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.
Though Top Gun 3 sounds like it will be the final outing for Maverick, Kosinski notably doesn’t say that it will be the final installment in the franchise. Maverick introduces characters like Teller’s Rooster and Powell’s Hangman, and this new generation could potentially carry a Top Gun 4 and beyond.
Top Gun: Maverick reviews were 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 of Maverick, 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, and Maverick’s character journey doesn’t get lost amidst the jaw-dropping action sequences. These strengths suggest Top Gun 3 could end up finding success as it attempts to tap into this emotion once more.
As for Top Gun 3 being 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, meaning Top Gun 3 serving as a grand farewell is probably a wise choice.
Source: GQ
