Tom Cruise’s Tweet Indicates Beginning Of Production For ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Tom Cruise tweeted a picture on Wednesday that has fans eagerly awaiting the sequel to the 1986 blockbuster, Top Gun, which raked in $356.8 million in box office sales.

Pictured as his character Maverick, Cruise used #Day1 to caption the “Feel The Need” photo.

Top Gun takes place in the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School, where young Maverick’s overconfident, impulsive behavior puts him at odds with other pilots. He looks to become the top fighter pilot while also trying to win the beautiful instructor Charlotte Blackwood’s (Kelly McGillis) attention.

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The highly anticipated sequel will be in theaters July 12, 2019, so fans will have to wait another year to see Cruise return to the role that made him a household name. Until then, fans can watch Cruise’s next film, Mission: Impossible — Fallout, which is to be released on July 27.

Reportedly, the movie is set to begin filming this summer, ahead of schedule. Tony Scott, the director of the original movie, will be replaced by Joseph Kosinski, who directed the films Tron: Legacy (2010) and Oblivion (2013) among others.  

However, the production will still be seeing familiar faces. German composer Harold Faltermeyer, who created music behind Top Gun, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer are returning for the sequel.

The photo also sparked friendly Twitter banter between the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Air Force started the tiff by mocking Maverick’s Navy jet, as seen above. Less than two hours later, the U.S. Navy tweeted back, “Remember, boys, no points for second place.”

Additionally, the Air Force Space Command account joined in on the fun, tweeting a picture of a rocket.