Top Gun 3 Hits Rough Skies as Joseph Kosinski Reportedly Exiting Sequel

Paramount officially announced Top Gun 3 with Tom Cruise returning in the lead at this year’s CinemaCon. While the full cast and crew are yet to be confirmed, many assumed Joseph Kosinski, who helmed the 2022 mega-hit, will undoubtedly return to direct the threequel.

Surprisingly, this might not be the case, as new Puck suggests Kosinski may not return to direct the threequel. Considering he has been on an impeccable streak with high-octane blockbusters, having also delivered F1 last year, another major summer hit, his potential absence from the follow-up to his biggest movie does seem startling.

Why is Joseph Kosinski Unlikely to Return for Top Gun 3?

While it’s too early to predict anything concrete, as there have been no official statements regarding Joseph Kosinski’s reported departure from the threequel, reports suggest that his potential exit is not due to creative differences.

Since Top Gun: Maverick‘s success, the F1 director has been notably occupied with other major productions, including the F1 movie, which was a major hit. While Kosinski did conceive the original story for Twisters (2024), the film was ultimately directed by Lee Isaac Chung after Kosinski departed to make F1. As of now, the director is booked to helm a Miami Vice reboot, which is rumored to star Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, and is also involved in a UFO movie for Apple.

Given his busy schedule, it’s not hard to see why he might not be available to take on another blockbuster like Top Gun 3, whose script from Ehren Kruger and Christopher McQuarrie, who co-wrote Maverick alongside Eric Warren Singer, is reportedly nearing its completion.

What Joseph Kosinski’s Exit Could Mean for Top Gun’s Future

Losing Kosinski would undoubtedly come as a hard blow for the Top Gun threequel, as the filmmaker has proven immensely capable when it comes to crafting high-octane rides that keep audiences on their toes.

But this doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom for the threequel. With Jerry Bruckheimer and Paramount reportedly in talks with new filmmakers to take on it, we could see a Mission: Impossible-type situation take shape if the franchise keeps on expanding.

For the unversed, Cruise and co. were initially adamant about bringing Brian De Palma back for the sequel. However, De Palma’s refusal to return eventually led to the hiring of John Woo, leading the franchise in a more action-heavy direction, before later directors like J.J. Abrams and Christopher McQuarrie shaped it into the more auteur-driven series it is today.

Although Kosinski previously stressed that this could be Maverick’s last ride, considering how financially viable the IP has been, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to continue building on the IP even beyond Cruise’s eventual departure.

Then again, any potential discourse surrounding this franchise’s longevity will come down to how the threequel is received. And with Kosinski potentially out of the picture, it’ll be interesting to see who Paramount will pick to fill his shoes.

Who would be your pick to replace Kosinski as the director for Top Gun 3? Comment below!

Top Gun: Maverick is currently streaming on Paramount+ (USA).