There are several big theories that could reveal what to expect from Top Gun 3. Several four decades since he debuted his most iconic role in Tony Scott’s Top Gun, Tom Cruise returns as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell on the big screen via Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick. In the sequel, the daredevil pilot comes to terms with how his personal and professional lives have panned out.
At this point, there’s still no concrete plan for Top Gun 3. Kosinski’s Top Gun sequel could effectively double as the end of the franchise, considering that leaves Mitchell in such a great place, both professionally and personally. That being said, given Top Gun: Maverick’s impressive success, it’s unlikely that Paramount will not take advantage of the franchise’s popularity by building it to become their next sustainable franchise. With that, it’s safe to say that it’s only a matter of time before Top Gun 3 is officially ordered. Luckily, there is a string of possible premises and conflicts that the proposed threequel can tackle.
8
Maverick Dies In Top Gun 3
Coming into Top Gun: Maverick, there were theories that it would see the end of Maverick. That obviously doesn’t happen, with the sequel leaving Mitchell living his best life. This doesn’t mean, however, that he is cut to live a long life moving forward. Top Gun: Maverick makes it clear that he remains a daredevil, always wanting to push the limits of his and his plane’s capabilities. Given this, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that he ends up meeting his demise in Top Gun 3.
7
Charlie Returns In Top Gun 3
Maverick’s original Top Gun love interest, Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, didn’t return in Top Gun: Maverick. Kelli McGillis has claimed that she wasn’t invited back to reprise the role, and Kosinski previously revealed that he was very careful about not leaning too much on nostalgia for the sequel. That being said, Charlie could still make a return to the film series in Top Gun 3, which would create an interesting conflict with Maverick’s past and present romances coming together.
6
Maverick & Charlie Have A Secret Son
The paternal relationships have been an ongoing theme in the Top Gun franchise. In the original 1986 film, Maverick was bogged down by his dad’s tainted image in the Navy. In Top Gun: Maverick, he deals with how the death of Goose impacted Rooster. Given these, there’s a chance that Top Gun 3 continues this trend by revealing that Mitchell secretly fathered a son with Charlie. Not only will this pose a new compelling narrative for Maverick, but it also the threequel to effectively revisit his romance with Charlie even if the movie doesn’t bring back McGillis’ character.
5
Maverick Finally Retires In Top Gun 3 (& Is Replaced By Rooster or Hangman)
Despite being given a safer, yet still fulfilling job as a TOPGUN instructor. That being said, it’s difficult to imagine that Maverick stays and keeps the job, considering how vocal he has been about not being a teacher. If Mitchell ends up surviving the events of Top Gun 3, however, the best send-off for the character is to see him finally retire. With a loving partner and a relationship with Rooster mended, it’s arguably the best swan song for the character.
4
Maverick & Penny Get Married In Top Gun 3
In Top Gun: Maverick, Mitchell reconnects with his old flame, Penny Benjamin. The character was mentioned in the original Top Gun film, but she didn’t make any physical appearance. Regardless, the sequel efficiently laid out the pair’s backstory, making it very easy to root for them. Top Gun: Maverick ends with them fully rekindling their romance. Assuming that they will be able to sustain their relationship moving forward, Top Gun: Maverick can open with their wedding.
3
Maverick Finally Gets His Naval Promotion
Despite his flying capabilities, not to mention his impressive record, Maverick remains a lowly Navy Captain in Top Gun: Maverick. His inability to let go of the past and fear of being grounded have held him back for years. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky had been backing him up for year, but now that his former flying partner is gone, Mitchell is truly on his own. Luckily for him, his latest stint with TOPGUN, which resulted in a successful tricky mission, gets him back to the Navy’s good graces. With his professional image restored and his direct superiors impressed, Maverick may finally be able to climb the organization’s ladder.
The Top Gun franchise tends to not have any explicit bad guys. Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick follows its predecessor’s suit and keeps Maverick’s enemy vague. However, Top Gun 3 can go against the grain and delve deeper into the conflict introduced in the 2022 sequel. Despite the Navy’s successful mission, it would be interesting to see the fallout from their dangerous endeavor when their enemies retaliate for blowing up their base. This will keep Maverick at the center of storytelling as he will likely be tapped to be involved alongside Rooster and Hangman’s elite TOPGUN batch of pilots.
2
Penny’s Daughter Wants To Become A Pilot In Top Gun 3
The introduction of Penny comes with the debut of her teenage daughter, Amelia. Not much has been revealed about her, but it’s clear that she is fond of Maverick and is interested in planes as well. With Mitchell already coming to terms with Rooster’s chosen path as a fighter pilot like his dad, Amelia could be the daredevil flyer’s next mentee in Top Gun 3. For what it’s worth, the pair already has a fun dynamic, and it will be curious to see how that develops overtime.
1
Top Gun 3’s Villain Is Cain From Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick may have likely introduced the villain for Top Gun 3 in Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain, played by Ed Harris. The character only appears briefly at the start of the film, although his tense conversation with Maverick was prominently featured in the marketing for the blockbuster. He is best positioned, however, to be the bad guy in the proposed threequel simply because of his ideological difference with Mitchell and everything that the TOPGUN Academy stands for. Unlike Maverick and his allies, Cain believes that fighter pilots will soon be obsolete, and it’s the daredevil flyer’s challenge to prove him wrong.