Jordan Karlesson
Fans of Top Gun, one of the biggest movies of the 1980s, waited a torturous 36 years for a sequel that no one knew for sure might happen. Now, as if the summer’s release of Top Gun: Maverick wasn’t enough of a gift, comes news that at least one more sequel is on the way.
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At first blush, it seemed ludicrous for Hollywood to even considering making a sequel to Top Gun, an action-packed but nonetheless macho movie. And roping in Tom Cruise (now 60 years old) to reprise his Maverick character, 36 years later? Perish the thought. We didn’t need another Space Cowboys.
On that note, highly esteemed producer Jerry Bruckheimer expressed a sentiment felt not only by all the makers of the Top Gun sequel, but by fans as well.
“We had been working for years to try to get the second one made — it took such a long time,” Bruckheimer told RadioTimes.com on Friday.
But as we now all know, Top Gun’s sequel finally — magically, even — came to fruition after the litany of production delays, COVID and other issues. As a sentimental bonus, the makers managed to bring back a slew of original cast mates in addition to Cruise.
“I can’t tell you what the future is going to bring,” Bruckheimer added. “If you’d asked me in ’86, ‘Do you think you’ll have a sequel out in a few years?’ I’d have said maybe. But it took 30-something years to do it!”
‘Top Gun’ in Uncharted Waters
Studio execs may still be baffled as to how Top Gun: Maverick reigns as 2022’s most financially successful film so far. Thus far, its receipts are $1.4 billion worldwide and $691.2 million in the U.S., according to Box Office Mojo.
Talk about a Goose that lays golden eggs.
The icing on the cake is Top Gun: Maverick earned almost universal approval among critics, whereas only about half of them liked the original.
Bruckheimer explained how challenging it is to make Top Gun movies — but he didn’t give a definitive answer to RadioTimes.com.
Three months ago, Glen Powell (a.k.a. Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin) gave a more straightforward answer to the question Top Gun fans want answered directly.
