The 61-year-old action star first played the character in 1986\u2019s Top Gun and returned in 2022 for Top Gun: Maverick<\/a>, which was a massively successful box office hit grossing $1.496 billion worldwide.<\/p>\n Now, Variety<\/a>reports that Paramount have announced that Cruise and producer Jerry Bruckheimer will both return to the franchise.<\/p>\n Top Gun: Maverick screenwriter Ehren Kruger is already at work on a script, while it has previously been reported that the studio plans for director Joseph Kosinski to return and for Cruise to reunite with his co-stars Glen Powell<\/a> and Miles Teller<\/a>.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s no surprise that Paramount would look to repeat the success of Top Gun: Maverick, the news caused some eyebrows to be raised in Hollywood as Cruise signed a new deal with rival studio Warner Bros. in 2024. The two companies are currently in the midst of a high-profile merger, which has been opposed by some actors and directors.<\/a><\/p>\n Cruise will develop and star in films for Warner Bros, but the contract is non-exclusive so the star can continue working on Top Gun 3 at Paramount regardless of the status of the merger.<\/p>\n As well as being a commercial hit, Top Gun: Maverick was also nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. At the time, Steven Spielberg said he was \u201cencouraged\u201d to see the blockbuster on the shortlist along with Avatar: The Way of Water.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really encouraged by that,\u201d said the legendary ET director. \u201c[But] it came late for the film that should have been nominated a number of years ago, Christopher Nolan\u2019s The Dark Knight.<\/p>\n \u201cThat movie would have definitely garnered a Best Picture Nomination today, so having these two blockbusters solidly presented on the top 10 list is something we should all be celebrating.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776416291_426_newFile.jpg\")
Tom Cruise in \u2018Top Gun: Maverick\u2019 (Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n