Tom Cruise is gearing up to thrill fans with ‘Top Gun 3’ and ‘Days of Thunder 2’ ideas!
Tom Cruise, the daredevil of Hollywood, is strapping himself back into the cockpit—and the driver’s seat—for what promises to be another high-octane chapter in his storied career.
According to a recent report from Deadline, the indefatigable star is actively working on ideas for not one but two sequels: Top Gun 3 and a follow-up to the 1990 racing drama Days of Thunder.
It’s a move that feels both inevitable and audacious, a testament to Cruise’s relentless drive to keep pushing the boundaries of blockbuster cinema. But what does this mean for a film industry caught between nostalgia and the need for something new? Let’s buckle up and take a closer look.
For those who’ve followed Cruise’s trajectory, these projects are less a surprise than a natural extension of his brand. Top Gun, released in 1986, wasn’t just a movie; it was a cultural jet stream, propelling Cruise into the stratosphere of stardom with its cocktail of aerial bravado, Ray-Ban cool, and unapologetic patriotism.
The 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, proved the formula still soars, grossing over $1.4 billion worldwide and earning critical acclaim for its blend of old-school charm and cutting-edge spectacle. Cruise didn’t just star in it—he was its beating heart, performing real stunts in real fighter jets, a middle finger to the CGI era that lesser action stars lean on.
Then there’s Days of Thunder, a 1990 Tony Scott-directed speedster that paired Cruise with Nicole Kidman and a fleet of NASCAR machines. It didn’t hit the same heights as Top Gun—critics found it loud but shallow, and its box office topped out at $157 million globally—but it’s since gained a cult following for its sheer, unadulterated Cruise-ness.
The man loves a vehicle, whether it’s a jet or a stock car, and he’s never been shy about putting himself in the driver’s seat, literally and figuratively. That these two films are now in his creative crosshairs speaks volumes about his instinct for what still revs an audience’s engine.
Per Deadline’s Justin Kroll, Cruise isn’t just slapping his name on these projects—he’s knee-deep in their development, collaborating with writers and producers to shape the stories. This isn’t a passive cash grab; it’s a passion play. At 62, Cruise remains a singular force in Hollywood, a producer-actor who doesn’t delegate the hard stuff.
For Top Gun 3, he’s reportedly brainstorming ways to top Maverick’s visceral thrills, while the Days of Thunder sequel offers a chance to revisit a world he’s long been fascinated by—racing, risk, and redemption. As Kroll notes, these ideas are still in the early stages, but Cruise’s track record suggests he doesn’t float concepts he’s not serious about turning into reality.
This hands-on approach is vintage Cruise. Remember Maverick? He didn’t just fly the planes—he insisted on training his co-stars to do it too, ensuring every frame pulsed with authenticity. If Top Gun 3 takes flight, expect more of that lunatic commitment.
And for Days of Thunder 2, one can imagine him roaring around a track, fine-tuning the script between laps. It’s this blend of showmanship and sweat that keeps him relevant, even as the industry around him shifts.
So why now? The easy answer is money—Maverick’s haul proves there’s gold in those old call signs. But there’s more at play here. Hollywood’s been stuck in a reboot rut for years, churning out sequels and remakes faster than you can say “IP.” Cruise, though, has a knack for making the familiar feel urgent.
Maverick wasn’t just a victory lap; it was a love letter to practical filmmaking, a reminder that real stakes still matter in an age of green screens and multiverses. If Top Gun 3 and Days of Thunder 2 follow suit, they could jolt a sleepy box office awake.
Audiences, too, are primed for this. Nostalgia’s a hell of a drug, and Cruise knows how to dose it right—think Maverick’s beach volleyball nod to the original, updated just enough to dodge parody.
A third Top Gun could lean into that sweet spot, balancing legacy with fresh faces (Miles Teller’s Rooster, anyone?). Meanwhile, Days of Thunder 2 has a chance to redeem its predecessor’s promise, maybe even tapping into NASCAR’s enduring appeal in a way the first film never quite managed. Both projects could ride the wave of Cruise’s late-career renaissance, where he’s less a movie star than a one-man genre.
But there’s a risk. Lean too hard on the past, and these films could stall out as relics—pretty to look at but empty under the hood. Cruise’s challenge is to keep them moving forward, to find stories that justify their existence beyond “because we can.” If anyone can pull it off, it’s him—he’s spent decades proving he’s not afraid to crash and burn, only to walk away from the wreckage grinning.
Tom Cruise dreaming up Top Gun 3 and Days of Thunder 2 isn’t just news—it’s a statement. In an era where franchises often feel like corporate checklists, he’s out there chasing the rush of creation, risking his reputation on projects that demand everything he’s got.
Whether these sequels soar or spin out, they’ll be unmistakably his, fueled by the same maverick spirit that’s defined his career. For now, we wait, engines idling, for the green light. But if history’s any guide, Cruise isn’t here to coast—he’s here to burn rubber and break sound barriers, all at once.
Source Deadline
