The Future of Top Gun: Maverick - Who Will Replace Maverick in Top Gun 3?

The Successor to Maverick

Even though Top Gun 3 is not officially moving forward yet, one actor with a movie coming out this month has a chance to prove his status as the best possible franchise replacement for Maverick. After Top Gun: Maverick grossed almost $1.5 billion globally, a sequel seems almost like a question of when, and not if. While many of the blockbuster sequel's stars have expressed interest in returning, creating a franchise succession plan for Maverick should be a focus of the next film.

Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick.

Tom Cruise, who played Maverick in 1986's Top Gun and in the 2022 sequel, turned 61 this year. While he may seem immortal considering the stunt work and risks he takes in his movies, Cruise won't be able to play Maverick forever. Paramount Pictures, who own the rights to the franchise, should be very invested in continuing the Top Gun story, and one 2023 holiday movie might confirm that one Top Gun: Maverick alum is ready to assume the role of leading man.

Glen Powell as Ben and Sydney Sweeney as Bea in Anyone But You

In Top Gun: Maverick, Glen Powell played Jake 'Hangman' Seresin, a cocky F-18 pilot who is a candidate for the film's primary mission. While his brashness and redemptive arc in the film was one of the highlights, Powell's character was primarily a supportive role. He was much more of a part of the film's smashing success rather than the cause of it. Powell leads the cast of Anyone But You, releasing on December 22, and will be just his second leading role since 2018's Netflix film Set It Up and could go a long way to determining whether audiences react well to him as a leading man.

Glen Powell as Hangman sitting down and looking wistful in Top Gun: Maverick.

Glen Powell's Potential as the Franchise Successor

Anyone But You sees Powell star opposite Sydney Sweeney in a romantic comedy, a genre far removed from Top Gun. What Paramount will surely be looking for is how global audiences react to Powell's charm, charisma, and ability to carry an entire story through a movie. Much of Tom Cruise's worldwide popularity is not due just to his death-defying stunts, but his ability to be as compelling in one-on-one conversations as he is when flying a jet. Powell held his own against Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, and now has a chance to prove his ability to one day replace him.

Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick

Between Miles Teller's Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw and Powell's Hangman, Powell is the best replacement for Maverick whenever the storied Captain decides to hang up his wings. Teller carried a lot of the emotional weight of Top Gun: Maverick as the son of Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, Maverick's former flight officer partner who is bitter about his father's death. The best possible outcome for Top Gun 3 would be for Powell to assume the leading role and have Teller continue as his flight partner, creating a synergy with the first Top Gun film.

Glen Powell as Hangman Playing Pool in Top Gun Maverick

Before coming to the aid of Rooster and Maverick in the ending scene of Top Gun: Maverick, Hangman proved he has the cockiness, talent, and unimpeachable persistence to be the next great pilot in the Top Gun program. His only flaw was the I-don't-need-anyone attitude that was a hallmark of Maverick's character in Top Gun before learning to rely on a wing-man. Hangman's journey through his first film proved he has what it takes to step up whenever Top Gun 3 moves forward.

Rooster and Hangman looking sideways in Top Gun Maverick

The Outlook for Top Gun 3

Despite everything that is known about a sequel to Top Gun: Maverick, nothing has been officially announced in terms of a green light for Top Gun 3. Paramount Pictures has been silent in terms of any official word on a move forward for a sequel or any plans for future production. There have been conversations between actors and crew of the movie since Top Gun: Maverick soared to popularity two summers ago, but the studio has remained silent. The recent SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes might have played a role in that, but more likely it is due to the schedules of the parties involved.

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In addition to finalizing Mission: Impossible 8, Tom Cruise is developing his movie that will shoot in outer space. Miles Teller is a global superstar now and is working on an animated movie and a romantic action film slated for 2025. Glen Powell has worked on Anyone But You since Top Gun: Maverick wrapped filming and also is a part of Twisters, a follow-up to the popular 1996 disaster film. Top Gun 3 is more likely to happen than not at this point, but Paramount will likely accommodate whatever schedules they need to, so they can capitalize on 2022's global box office phenomenon.

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