Top Gun 3 with Tom Cruise: Director Joseph Kosinski has apparently made up his mind
There had been speculation about the filmmaker's return
"Top Gun 3" is a done deal—with Tom Cruise. However, one question remained: Will director Joseph Kosinski return as well? Now it seems the decision has been made: Kosinski will not be directing the third installment, as reported by Puck News. The director reportedly does not have the necessary time for "Top Gun 3" due to other projects, such as the "Miami Vice" reboot.
It was only recently confirmed at CinemaCon that Tom Cruise will be back on board. The same goes for blockbuster producer Jerry Bruckheimer. As for the choice of director, however, no name was mentioned. Consequently, speculation continued as to whether Joseph Kosinski might ultimately take the helm. After all, he had already directed the predecessor, "Top Gun: Maverick"—and landed a massive hit. But since Kosinski apparently isn't returning, speculation is now rife as to who will take the director's chair instead.
Top Gun 3: Search for a successor to Joseph Kosinski
A logical choice in many respects would be Christopher McQuarrie, as reported by MovieWeb. McQuarrie is already involved in the film series as a screenwriter. He is well-versed in filming elaborate action sequences and has also directed several films with Tom Cruise, including the latest installments of the "Mission: Impossible" series. However, only McQuarrie himself likely knows whether he has the time or is willing to direct "Top Gun 3." In any case, "Top Gun 3" has been in development for some time now. Ehren Kruger joined the project as a writer two years ago. He also co-wrote the screenplay for "Top Gun: Maverick" alongside Christopher McQuarrie and Eric Warren Singer.
Top Gun: Maverick was a huge success
The first film in the aviation action series was released back in 1986. The original film, "Top Gun," was directed by Tony Scott. Lead actor Tom Cruise took on the role of top pilot Pete Mitchell for the first time. With worldwide box office receipts of $357 million, "Top Gun" became a cinematic hit. Just how successful the sequel would become 36 years later, however, was quite astonishing. "Top Gun: Maverick" grossed nearly $1.5 billion—a massive financial success. Expectations for the planned third installment are likely to be correspondingly high.
Tom Cruise's return is likely to be a huge relief for everyone involved in "Top Gun 3." After all, the film series is primarily associated with the Hollywood star—Cruise is the face of "Top Gun." And a return was by no means a given. Since "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" is considered the conclusion of the other major action franchise starring Tom Cruise, it could just as easily have been the case that he would have taken a general break from action films afterward. Especially in light of his upcoming film: As the lead actor in "Digger," audiences will soon see the Hollywood star from an unusual angle. According to Variety, in Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new directorial effort, he plays an "insane, cat-loving billionaire with a big belly, a comb over and a thick southern accent." Audiences will soon be able to see for themselves: "Digger" hits theaters on October 2, 2026. Despite his cinematic foray into more unusual territory, however, his planned return in "Top Gun 3" shows that Cruise hasn't given up on the action genre just yet.
Joseph Kosinski clearly has a knack for box office hits
Aside from Cruise, however, one should not underestimate the importance of Joseph Kosinski when it comes to the success of the "Top Gun" series. With "Top Gun: Maverick," he directed the most financially successful film of Cruise's career. Last year, he further cemented his status as a successful director with the racing drama "F1." With a worldwide box office gross of $634 million, he not only delivered another blockbuster—he also gave another veteran Hollywood star the most financially successful film of his career: Brad Pitt.
