'Top Gun' Sequel to Put Maverick in the Pilot's Seat Again

Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise (Everett Collection)

If you’re feeling the need for some speed, then you’re in luck: During the Berlin press day for Terminator Genisys last week, Skydance Productions’ David Ellison and Dana Goldberg provided some intel on the status of the sequel to the 1986 fighter-ace blockbuster Top Gun. Among the tidbits: That Top Gun 2 would take place in modern day; that it would involve Maverick, the hotshot, hot-dogging Navy pilot character that helped make Tom Cruise one of the biggest stars in the world; and that it would revolve around the increased use of unmanned drones in military aviation.

“Justin Marks is writing the screenplay right now,” said Ellison (via Collider). “He has a phenomenal take to really update that world for what fighter pilots in the Navy have turned into today. There is an amazing role for Maverick in the movie and there is no Top Gun without Maverick, and it is going to be Maverick playing Maverick.”

“I think this is a movie that should be in 3-D and in IMAX, and again something that you can shoot practically,” Ellison went on. “When you look at the world of dogfighting, what’s interesting about it is that it’s not a world that exists to the same degree when the original movie came out…. It is very much a world we live in today where it’s drone technology…. So it’s really exploring the end of an era of dogfighting and fighter pilots, and what that culture is today.”

This isn’t the first sequel to almost get airbourne: Back in 2010, original Top Gun director Tony Scott was working on a follow-up that also would’ve involved the return of Maverick and, potentially, Cruise. (Scott passed away in 2012.) There’s no word yet on whether Cruise will sign up for this new attempt. So for now, we’ll just have to hold on to that lovin’ feeling a little bit longer.

Watch the original ‘Top Gun’ trailer: