Top Gun: Maverick might be getting a sequel. At least, that's according to comments made by Glen Powell, who plays Lt. Jake "Hangman" Seresin in the film.
Top Gun: Maverick soared to the top of the box office and managed to stay there for several weeks. Its box office haul was huge, and it was nearly 2022's highest-grossing movie had it not been dethroned by Avatar: The Way of Water. Still, second place is far from a bad finish, especially when the film is a sequel to a 36-year-old movie. Hopefully, that doesn't mean the studio takes another 36 years to make a sequel.
At the Golden Globes, Variety stopped Powell and asked him about a potential Top Gun: Maverick sequel. Powell gave a diplomatic response to the question, avoiding a direct answer but being cautiously optimistic. He said, "Above my pay grade! It feels like it's less vague than it was at one point, so we'll see."
With Top Gun: Maverick being one of the biggest box office movies of 2022, there's little reason to think that a potential third film wouldn't justify itself financially. However, other factors could be holding up such a production. First would be the actors' contracts, which would likely need to be renegotiated because the stars of the second film would probably be able to negotiate higher salaries. Another concern is if the film has a storyline worth telling. Word of mouth could sink a sequel if the story does not work.
Still, with Top Gun: Maverick breaking Paramount Plus streaming records, there's little possibility that the thought of a third film isn't in executives' minds. The time to strike when the iron is hot is. The film was a veritable phenomenon last year, which translates into a solid foundation for a dedicated fanbase.
Even China tried their hand at a Top Gun: Maverick copycat, though that venture didn't succeed. It seems like the Top Gun franchise lends itself to success. Whether that be because of its casting, aerial dogfights, or some other quality, it's easy to say another sequel is warranted. What's harder to gauge is whether executives will go for it or if they're content with leaving the second film as is.
Top Gun: Maverick is streaming on Paramount Plus.
Source: Variety/Twitter