Top Gun 3: Is Maverick OUT? Hangman TAKES OVER?!

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While Glen Powell’s success following the release of Top Gun: Maverick might hint towards a possible Top Gun 3, it doesn’t automatically mean that the series should follow this path. By the time the ending of Top Gun: Maverick was shown, it was clear that any sequel would face significant challenges. Despite the long wait of 36 years for Top Gun: Maverick to hit the big screen, the delayed sequel exceeded expectations, proving worthwhile despite the odds against it. The story of Maverick in Top Gun: Maverick was further developed, showcasing one of Tom Cruise’s finest performances on screen.

In a more mature and insightful role as Maverick, portrayed by Tom Cruise, there was a blend of charm and sorrow. The climactic scene between Cruise and the late Val Kilmer in Top Gun: Maverick stood out, despite being an indoor conversation devoid of high-flying stunts. This moment, filled with their engaging banter, surpassed the thrilling action sequences, underscoring the sequel’s focus on character growth rather than just visual spectacle. Critics commended this decision, as Top Gun: Maverick not only surpassed the original film critically but also commercially.

Maverick Could Retire In Top Gun 3 (Thanks to Glen Powell’s Hangman)

Powell Could Replace Cruise As The Face of the Franchise

The primary concern with the standalone narrative of “Top Gun: Maverick” was that it left viewers puzzled about what the plot of “Top Gun 3” might entail. Unlike the original movie, many storylines were left unresolved in “Top Gun: Maverick,” and the long gap between sequels transformed these unfinished threads into tragic mysteries. For instance, Maverick’s relationship with Charlie seemed to have a promising future but ended off-screen at an undetermined moment, his career in the Navy was halted due to his reputation for speed and disdain for authority figures, and he never truly moved on from Goose’s death or the guilt associated with the accident.

In a nutshell, all three incomplete tales were concluded within the finale of “Top Gun: Maverick”. By the movie’s end, Maverick found himself in a blissful romance with Penny, overcame his grief regarding Goose by saving Rooster, Goose’s son, from peril, and earned the esteem and admiration of the Navy’s high-ranking officials. Maverick’s storyline appears to have reached its conclusion in Top Gun: Maverick, possibly paving the way for his retirement from the Navy and taking on a mentorship role for upcoming pilots, should there be more stories to tell about this character.

It appears that the role traditionally played by Tom Cruise’s character, Maverick, in “Top Gun: Maverick” might experience a shift, given Glen Powell’s meteoric rise to stardom since the movie’s release. This development, which once seemed unlikely, now seems more plausible. Following the box-office smash hit “Twisters” of 2024, it’s possible that Powell could assume Cruise’s position as the franchise’s leading man in “Top Gun 3”. His character, Hangman, was a constant thorn in Rooster and Maverick’s sides throughout the sequel but managed to steal the spotlight by ultimately saving them during the finale.

Retiring Maverick Could End His Top Gun Story Perfectly

Top Gun: Maverick Left Maverick With A Happy Family

The shift from Maverick to Powell as the central character in the Top Gun franchise could come across as an unexpected move, but given Powell’s impressive career trajectory since the release of Top Gun: Maverick, it certainly seems justifiable. In fact, following the success of his 2023 romantic comedy, Anyone But You, which raked in a staggering $220 million on a mere $25 million budget, and the summer blockbuster hit Twisters in 2024 that grossed an impressive $370 million, Powell has been making waves in Hollywood.

In the upcoming film lineup, Powell is set to star in director Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s satirical dystopian sci-fi novel “The Running Man”. Given his successful career trajectory post-“Top Gun: Maverick”, this isn’t surprising. Powell has spent more than a decade honing his craft in various supporting roles across both big and small screens. His impressive performance as the lead in Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man”, a Netflix sensation that he co-wrote, also garnered significant critical praise.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I must admit that the prospect of Maverick retiring as a teacher in Top Gun 3 is quite appealing. After all, Maverick’s rebellious, carefree persona was a defining characteristic in the earlier Top Gun films, making it intriguing to see him step into the role of an instructor in Top Gun: Maverick. Should Maverick decide to make teaching a full-time career, it would present a humbling challenge for Tom Cruise’s character, compelling him to grapple with his advancing years, mortality, and legacy.

Top Gun 3 Is More Likely To Retire Maverick With Two Replacements

Miles Teller’s Rooster Was Already Positioned To Replace Cruise

The lack of success of director Joseph Kosinski’s lesser-known film “Spiderhead,” particularly when compared to Miles Teller’s performance in “Top Gun: Maverick,” suggests that a third installment wasn’t guaranteed to follow the same path. Teller, who has consistently impressed critics since his breakout roles in “The Spectacular Now” (2013) and “Whiplash” (2014), played Rooster in “Top Gun: Maverick.” Despite his talent, Teller’s career had experienced several box office flops prior to the release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” which may have influenced the decision-making process for a potential sequel.

2015’s “Fantastic Four”, 2016’s “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” and “Bleed For This”, as well as 2017’s “Only The Brave” and “Thank You For Your Service”, all flopped at the box office. Since his last major release, “Top Gun: Maverick”, Val Kilmer has only been seen in 2025’s “The Gorge”, a moderately successful critical hit that premiered exclusively on Apple TV. Therefore, it seems more likely that Top Gun 3 might opt for Powell over Teller as the leading actor, given Kilmer’s history of being a consistent box office draw.

It’s quite risky to consider Powell as a replacement for the successful movie “Top Gun: Maverick,” given that his previous major flop occurred just a few months prior to it. The aviation drama “Devotion” shares similarities with “Top Gun: Maverick,” but unfortunately, it failed at the box office despite positive critic reviews. This suggests that both potential successors for the Maverick role have questionable box office performances, but Powell’s history makes him a more reliable choice.

Top Gun 3 Shouldn’t Retire Maverick Despite Powell’s Success

The Top Gun Franchise Is About Tom Cruise’s Character

If Powell’s stellar box office performance didn’t have that one unfortunate exception, it would still be challenging to replace Maverick in Top Gun 3. The Top Gun series is not primarily about planes or the flight school; it’s more about Cruise’s character development. However, this doesn’t rule out the possibility of him taking a less prominent role. But, the idea of transitioning his character into an Iceman-like figure might be difficult to execute effectively. Even after Top Gun: Maverick, it’s hard to envision Top Gun 3 focusing on anyone other than Cruise’s main character.

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2025-04-22 17:55