Top Gun: Maverick (May 27, 2022)

Tom Cruise is getting ready to head back to the Danger Zone — and he’s bringing an old friend along for the ride.

Sources tell Variety that Joseph Kosinski — who directed Cruise in “Oblivion” — is the front-runner to direct “Top Gun 2” for Paramount and Skydance Pictures. While no official offer has been made, several insiders believe one is imminent.

Paramount had no comment.

Cruise met with potential helmers prior to and while filming “Mission Impossible: 6” in London to ensure the “Top Gun” sequel was ready to go after production wrapped. Even with Cruise and Kosinski having previously worked together on the 2013 sci-fi action film, sources say it was Kosinski’s vision the sequel’s direction that officially won him the job.

“Oblivion” was a huge hit for Cruise and Kosinski bringing in $286 million worldwide and only seemed like a matter of time before the two worked again.

Cruise recently confirmed to a British talk show that the sequel was moving forward and would hopefully shoot at the start of next year.
“Its happening,” the 54-year-old actor added. “You’re the first people I’ve told. It’s going to happen.”

The thought of making a follow-up to the 1986 pic that made him a bonafide star has been on Cruise’s agenda for some time. The project has gained momentum in recent years, especially after “Jungle Book” scribe Justin Marks was tapped to pen latest draft.

Skydance CEO David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the original, will produce with Cruise.

This latest project will be set in a world of drone technology and fifth generation fighters and explore the end of an era of dogfighting which made the original film so exhilarating. Other plot details are vague but Val Kilmer has gone on record that he was asked to come back to reprise the role of Iceman opposite Cruise’s Maverick.

While Cruise has worked with a wide range of directors over the years, he’s never afraid of reteaming with past helmers if previous relationships work out. After a successful shoot on Universal’s sci-fi pic “Oblivion,” Cruise was close to joining Kosinski on his racing pic “Go Like Hell” at Fox as iconic car designer Carroll Shelby.

The film ultimately fell a part but Cruise made it clear of fond he was of working with Kosinski and was open to future ventures.

Kosinski’s recently wrapped the firefighter action pic “Granite Mountain” starring Miles Teller and Josh Brolin with Sony releasing this fall. Cruise can be seen next in “The Mummy” which bows on June 9.

Tom Cruise has revealed the title for the “Top Gun” sequel: “Top Gun: Maverick.”

In an interview with Access Hollywood, he said, “I didn’t want a number,” he said. “You don’t need a number.”

He also teased the film in the interview, saying, “Aviators are back, the need for speed. We’re going to have big, fast machines. It’s going to be a competition film, like the first one … but a progression for Maverick.”

kernel_thai wrote:Im thinking Maverick is a often drunk air traffic controller in this  

Top Gun 2 is heading back to the "Danger Zone" with Kenny Loggins. The long-awaited sequel to the 1986 Tom Cruise classic recently kicked off production. Cruise is back in the pilot's seat as Maverick, but one question on the minds of many fans was whether or not Loggins would return to help out with the movie's soundtrack. It sounds like that's going to happen, as he's going to put a new twist on "Danger Zone" with a younger artist.

TMZ caught up with Kenny Loggins at the airport recently and asked him about potentially revisiting his classic 80s hit for the upcoming sequel. Loggins played it coy at first saying, "I certainly hope so," but then proceeded to dish some additional details. Here's what he had to say about it.

"I met Tom Cruise on Fallon and I asked him that question. He said 'Of course we have to use Danger Zone.' So I'd probably do it maybe as a duet with a young act. I'd like to work with, well there's young and then there's young...we have some feelers out there. Some pretty cool rock acts. The rockers that I'm interested in are male."

To be clear, Kenny Loggins wasn't saying he isn't interested in female rockers, but it's just that the ones being looked at to possibly collaborate with for this new take on Danger Zone are male. The singer/songwriter added, "Maybe do it his way or their way, depending on if its a band or a solo artist. So we'll reinvent the song, to a point. That's what I'm hoping to do." He wouldn't reveal any of the artists they're reaching out to right now, so it's really anyone's guess as to what contemporary act may be putting their stamp on Top Gun 2.

Danger Zone anchored the original Top Gun soundtrack when it was released in 1986. The single reached number two on the Billboard singles chart and the Top Gun soundtrack went on to become the highest selling soundtrack of the 80s and remains one of the highest selling movie soundtracks ever to this day. It's synonymous with the movie and it would be tough to imagine them doing the sequel without featuring the song in some way. Fans can only hope this new version turns out better than the Fall Out Boy Ghostbusters theme did.

Production on the sequel, officially titled Top Gun: Maverick, just got underway last week, with Tom Cruise sharing the first photo on social media to announce that filming was underway. The movie is being helmed by director Joseph Kosinski, who previously collaborated with Cruise on Oblivion and also is known for directing Tron: Legacy. So he has some experience bringing classic movies from the 80s back to life. Kenny Loggins also said, "I'd also love to do a walk on in the movie but that probably won't happen." Certainly someone could make that happen, right? Top Gun: Maverick arrives in theaters on July 12, 2019. This news comes to us courtesy of TMZ.

WyldeMan wrote:The rockers that I'm interested in are male."

To be clear, Kenny Loggins wasn't saying he isn't interested in female rockers, but it's just that the ones being looked at to possibly collaborate with for this new take on Danger Zone are male.

joey con carne wrote:This part of the article annoyed me. What’s wrong with saying he isnt interested in working with female singers for this collaboration? People are so fucking sensitive these days.

“BOYCOTT KENNY LOGGINS AND TOM CRUISE AND TOP GUN. THEY HATE WOMEN. #METOO #IMRETARDED”

No, assholes, he has an artistic vision for his god damn song and that vision includes a male singer. He doesn’t hate women. People are stupid these days. And you know that is why that explanation is in the article. It is to prevent retarded folks from jumping to conclusions.

Tom Cruise has found his co-pilot.

Sources tell Variety that “Only the Brave” star Miles Teller has been tapped to play the son of Goose and Maverick’s new protege in Paramount and Skydance’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” the sequel to the 1986 Cruise classic. In the original pic, Goose, played by Anthony Edwards, was the co-pilot to Cruise’s Maverick.

Last week, it was reported that Cruise tested with Teller, Glen Powell and Nicholas Hoult for the role.

“Oblivion” helmer Joe Kosinski is directing the film. Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the first film, will produce with Cruise and Skydance CEO David Ellison.

This latest project will be set in a world of drone technology and fifth generation fighters, and will explore the end of the era of dogfighting. Val Kilmer will reprise his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the sequel, which is set to release on July 12, 2019.

Teller, who received a BAFTA nomination for Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash,” is also known for his roles in “Project X,” “That Awkward Moment,” and “War Dogs.” He most recently starred in the dramas “Thank You For Your Service” and “Only The Brave.” Teller just finished shooting the Amazon series “Too Old to Die Young” with “Drive” helmer Nic Refn directing.