Tom Cruise has confirmed rumours that a sequel to 1986 classic Top Gun is in the works, with filming to begin “probably in the next year”.
He revealed the news while on a promotional tour for his upcoming film Mummy, telling Australian morning show Sunrise, “It is definitely happening.”
“It’s true. It’s true,” he said. “I’m going to start filming it probably in the next year. I know. It’s happening. It is definitely happening ... you’re the first people that I’ve said this to.”
In January 2016, producer Jerry Bruckheimer tweeted a photo of himself with Cruise, saying: “Just got back from a weekend in New Orleans to see my old friend Tom Cruise and discuss a little Top Gun 2.”
“We’re trying to figure it out,” Cruise clarified in a subsequent appearance on the Graham Norton Show.
The sequel was hinted at again in April this year during an “Ask me anything” on Reddit, when Val Kilmer – who starred in the original film with Cruise and Kelly McGillis – was asked by a user whether he would be doing Top Gun 2. “Hell yes,” he replied, “and what a hoot it will be.”
Just got back from a weekend in New Orleans to see my old friend @TomCruise and discuss a little Top Gun 2. pic.twitter.com/vA2xK7S7JS
— JERRY BRUCKHEIMER (@BRUCKHEIMERJB) January 26, 2016
Kilmer was also asked if the on-screen rivalry between his character Iceman and Cruise’s character Maverick was present off-screen as well.
“[Cruise] was a sweetheart,” Kilmer replied. “We were all quite rowdy me and all the real flyboys and the actors, so I actually felt a little sorry for him cause we all had time to play and date the cute extras and zoom around San Diego in muscle cars, but Tom was always in some scene and never got to play with us.”
Top Gun, an action and romance film about a squad of fighter pilots, grossed $356m after its 1986 release, and has since become something of a cult classic.
