A brand new sequel will see Pete “Maverick” Mitchell’s return in High Gun 3, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer saying Tom Cruise had appreciated a proposed storyline for the brand new movie.
After stories mentioned {that a} third set up within the High Gun saga is within the works, following 2022’s massively profitable High Gun: Maverick, that challenge is now confirmed, together with Tom Cruise returning as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Selection reported together with different publications. Paramount studios made the official announcement in the course of the annual CinemaCon presentation, with Jerry Bruckheimer additionally again as producer.
Bruckheimer beforehand mentioned in 2024 that Tom Cruise appreciated the storyline that was being ready for the following one. “We pitched Tom a narrative he appreciated. However he’s a really in-demand actor and he’s obtained a variety of films lined up, so we now have to attend and see,” mentioned Bruckheimer.
High Gun: Maverick additionally featured among the many new characters Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of Maverick’s Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) and finest buddy Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. Within the story, Maverick had returned to the well-known Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island to highschool a bunch of younger fighter pilots for a daring mission.
‘High Gun 3’ Formally within the Works With Tom Cruise Returning
— Selection (@Selection) April 16, 2026
These pilots are coaching for an upcoming mission to destroy a Uranium enrichment plant out of the country, defended by “fifth gen fighters” represented by Su-57s. High Gun: Maverick grossed $1.5 billion on the international field workplace, in opposition to a $170 million funds for the manufacturing.
High Gun’s realism
U.S. and Western battle films are largely practical when it comes to tools, setting and artwork path, primarily owing to the shut ties between the navy, business and film makers. This enables permissions to shoot on and use precise navy tools like jets, tanks, warships, navy bases and plane carriers to be acquired simply.
Second is the lead in graphic design, laptop know-how and total monetary sources, bringing them nearer to real-world navy affairs. Nonetheless, as is the norm about symbiotic relationship between a movie business and nationwide politics, each the High Gun films had their share of propaganda, and invariably some technical errors/inauthencies, which one won’t anticipate in a movie created in cooperation with the U.S. Navy.
A number of the inaccuracies have been listed in a 2019 article titled “79 Cringeworthy Errors in ‘High Gun’” for Army.com by former F-14 RIO and journalist Ward Carrol. Amongst them was the well-known fly-by with Maverick buzzing the air visitors management tower, which in actual life would have possible resulted in speedy revocation of his flight standing.
One other main one was utilizing F-5 Tigers to symbolize Russian MiGs, which might nevertheless be justified as entry to the legendary fighters was not attainable with the Chilly Warfare nonetheless three years away from ending. It’s a special matter that the U.S. navy obtained Su-27s and MiG-29s from former Soviet nations, Ukraine being one in every of them.
Different technical flaws ranged from rank insignia on uniforms inconsistent with officers’ billets and sophistication to instrumentation and cockpit format within the pilot and RIO seats. Some maneuvers have been additionally not correct, significantly the inverted photograph of the MiG because the design of the F-14 wouldn’t have allowed that within the first place. As an example, its vertical stabilizers would have stabbed into the MiG’s high fuselage, given how shut the cockpits have been.
High Gun: Maverick and High Gun 3
High Gun: Maverick was a field workplace hit, resoundingly receiving the stamp of approval from followers of the unique movie. Notably, the makers integrated the late Val Kilmer’s real-life most cancers into his character Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, and his relationship with Maverick evolving into mutual respect, skilled and private, hit nearer to dwelling.
The largest fictional component was the Darkstar Hypersonic Plane, which was particularly designed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division for the movie. As the unique one, this film too couldn’t escape some technical inaccuracies.
Amongst them is the ultimate strike mission, exhibiting the location defended by Chilly Warfare-era S125 Neva/Pechora (SA-3 Goa) missiles regardless of the presence of fifth gen fighters. A location like that may have a layered built-in air protection, like S-300s and Buk-M1s (for medium vary) and S-400s as a long-range theater-level anti-air battery.
We’re removed from figuring out what real-world adversary plane will likely be integrated in High Gun 3. Inaccuracies apart, the film is bound to be an thrilling watch, for pilots, audiences, and aviation nerds alike.
Lt. Pete Mitchell was a Navy Captain in High Gun: Maverick. Time will inform which new function he’ll assume within the new movie, perhaps lastly getting promoted to a Rear Admiral and passing the torch to “Rooster.”
