Top Gun 3 is happening, but when it will actually come out has just become a big cause of concern for me after a couple of updates about Tom Cruise’s successors. When Top Gun: Maverick came out, it had been three and a half decades since Tony Scott’s original Top Gun came out in 1986 and catapulted Cruise to a different level of stardom. The sequel convinced me that good things are worth waiting for. I loved it so much that Top Gun: Maverick was the only movie that I watched three times in the theater since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

Despite this, I’m still holding out hope that Top Gun 3 won’t take nearly that long to come out. What can I say? I can be impatient (hence why I’m not a fan of streaming shows, since they have oddly long breaks, but that’s a different article). At least, Paramount has officially ordered the threequel, and I can’t blame them, considering Top Gun: Maverick‘s $1.49 billion haul. Currently, the company is looking at what could be its next big action franchise, especially if Mission: Impossible is indeed ending. Cruise’s schedule has been mainly holding it up, however.

Top Gun 3’s Complicated Release Date Explained

Cruise’s Schedule Is Currently Jampacked

There have been updates about the progress of the project, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently saying that they have ideas, but cautions that it’s up to Cruise how and when they move forward. It has been two years since Top Gun: Maverick was released, and if it was any other film with a sequel already confirmed, the threequel should at least be preparing for production right now. Unfortunately, that can’t happen because Cruise is currently busy filming the untitled Mission: Impossible film.

Cruise is reportedly developing a new action franchise with frequent collaborator, Christopher McQuarrie, a musical, something with Tropic Thunder ‘s Les Grossman, a possible Edge of Tomorrow sequel, and a space-set project with director Doug Liman.

Beyond that, however, the actor has other projects lined up. Cruise is reportedly developing a new action franchise with frequent collaborator, Christopher McQuarrie, a musical, something with Tropic Thunder‘s Les Grossman, a possible Edge of Tomorrow sequel, and a space-set project with director Doug Liman. I am excited about many of these endeavors, but they may be significantly delaying his return as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Having all these moving pieces for its lead actor and primary creative force makes planning the release date for the threequel complicated.

Glen Powell & Miles Teller’s New Updates Makes It More Difficult To Do Top Gun

Powell & Teller’s Schedules Will Also Have To Be Considered For Top Gun 3’s Release Date

Despite theories about him being sidelined in the next film in the burgeoning franchise, it has been confirmed that Top Gun 3 will still be about Maverick. But it would be unwise to think that there would be no expectations for the threequel to continue Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw and Jake “Hangman” Seresin’s story. With that in mind, I am concerned that Miles Teller and Glen Powell’s recent career updates will make getting Top Gun 3 off the ground more difficult.

Between Powell’s recent popularity surge after the success of Netflix’s Hit Man and Teller booking An Officer and A Gentleman remake, it’s safe to say that they will also be busy with their respective projects in the next couple of years.

Initially, Paramount only had to cater to Cruise’s schedule, but not anymore. Between Powell’s recent popularity surge after the success of Netflix’s Hit Man and Teller booking An Officer and A Gentleman remake, it’s safe to say that they will also be busy with their respective projects in the next couple of years. The studio would be lucky if Cruise’s schedule lines up with his contemporaries, but what if it doesn’t? Then Top Gun 3 would be further delayed compared to if it was only catering to one actor’s work roster.

Considering the lack of certainty in Cruise’s schedule based on all the endeavors he is reportedly working on, it would be unfair to ask Miles and Hangman to hang back and just wait until Top Gun 3‘s filming starts. Powell has finally been getting his career due, and it would be unwise for him to slow down right now. Meanwhile, Teller is stepping into a high-profile project, playing one of Richard Gere’s most memorable characters.

Why Top Gun 3 Can’t Happen Without Hangman & Rooster

Hangman & Rooster Are The Next Generation Of Pilots That Can Front The Top Gun Franchise

While Cruise’s Maverick will be the primary protagonist of Top Gun 3, it cannot happen without both Rooster and Hangman. If Paramount is looking to take advantage of Top Gun‘s popularity and continue it for years to come, it needs to start a transition between its legacy character and his rightful successors. Top Gun 3 is the perfect time to start this process after the ending of Top Gun: Maverick where Mitchell is back in the Navy’s good graces. As much as I would want Cruise to continue playing the role, he unfortunately cannot do it forever.