Tom Cruise Teases Top Gun 3: Maverick, Jets, Cool Music

Tom Cruise has offered his first public update on Top Gun 3, telling viewers that Maverick will be part of the sequel — alongside the elements fans expect from the franchise.

Speaking on the Jennifer Hudson Show while promoting his new movie Digger, Cruise said Maverick will be in Top Gun 3, along with fighter jets and cool music. It was his first comment on the project since his return was officially confirmed.

That confirmation came in April 2026, when Paramount Pictures announced Top Gun 3 during its presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, with Cruise officially returning as Maverick.

The sequel has been in the works for a while: it was first reported in January 2024 that Top Gun 3 was in development. Christopher McQuarrie has confirmed he is returning to co-write with Ehren Kruger; the pair co-wrote Top Gun: Maverick and earned Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay alongside Eric Warren Singer, Peter Craig and Justin Marks.

On screen, Miles Teller has been reported to return as Rooster and Glen Powell as Hangman. Director Joseph Kosinski reportedly won't be back, as he is busy with the Miami Vice movie and other projects.

The bar is high: Top Gun: Maverick (2022) took nearly $1.5 billion at the box office and picked up six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Screen Rant noted Cruise's remarks as the latest word on the film.