Christopher McQuarrie Says "Top Gun 3" Story Is Already In the Bag

Dan Lalonde
May 26
2 min read

The original Top Gun is easily in my top ten films of all time. Luckily we won't have to wait another thirty six years for the third film in series like we did for the second.

Top Gun 3 is no longer a question of “if” but “when,” according to Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning director Christopher McQuarrie. During a new episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McQuarrie confirmed that the story for the highly anticipated third installment has been cracked.

Asked if Top Gun 3 was harder to crack than Top Gun: Maverick, McQuarrie replied, “No, it’s already in the bag.” He added, “I already know what it is.” He credited co-writer Ehren Kruger with sparking the idea: “We had one conversation about it, and the framework is there.”

Despite Top Gun: Maverick setting a high bar with its blend of high-octane action and heartfelt character arcs, McQuarrie insists that cracking the sequel wasn’t difficult. “The truth is, none of these are hard to crack,” he said. “It’s not about action or scope. It’s the emotion.”

That emotional core—particularly the reconciliation between Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Rooster (Miles Teller)—is what McQuarrie and Cruise are aiming to preserve in the next film. “It’s about finding the right emotional balance,” he emphasized, ensuring that audiences continue to feel connected to the characters.

Paramount confirmed development of Top Gun 3 in early 2024. Ehren Kruger is set to write the script, with Joe Kosinski expected to return as director. Teller and Glen Powell are also anticipated to reprise their roles.

With the story ready, fans can expect another adrenaline-fueled chapter that aims to fly as high emotionally as it does in the sky.