“Top Gun 3” Officially in Development, Paramount Confirms
The fans of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell have reason to rejoice: Paramount has announced that the third installment of the “Top Gun” saga is in development.
The third installment of Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise as the pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, is officially in development, Paramount Pictures studio announced on Thursday at the American cinema professionals’ event, CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
The co-director of Paramount Films, Josh Greenstein, stated that “Top Gun 3” is “officially in development” and its screenplay is “well advanced.”
Released in 1986, the first installment propelled Tom Cruise to stardom, and its sequel grossed 1.5 billion dollars worldwide in 2022, as Hollywood was recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The actor, 63, was not present at Paramount’s presentation, but he appeared in a video shown at the event. In the video, he is seen standing on the iconic Hollywood studio water tower, declaring: “The future looks bright from up here.”
30 Films Annually
Additionally, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison announced at the event a 45-day theatrical window for the group’s films before their streaming release, amid tensions related to its merger with Warner Bros.
“Once we merge with Warner Bros, we will produce a minimum of 30 films per year,” he promised, before exclaiming: “Long live films!”
Paramount Skydance had announced in February the acquisition of its competitor Warner Bros for $111 billion, ending a long-standing battle with Netflix.
Hollywood fears a decrease in film production investment with this acquisition, which could have cascading effects in an industry that employs tens of thousands of people, particularly in California. (ats)
