A sequel to 1980s hit Top Gun is reportedly headed for production with Tom Cruise potentially joining the cast.

'Top Gun' Sequel

The Top Gun sequel, which has long been rumored, could finally be getting off the ground. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed back in March that he was hoping to get the project underway and that there was already a concept for the film in place. One thing holding production back at the time was Cruise’s availability.

“The concept is, basically, are the pilots obsolete because of drones? Cruise is going to show them that they’re not obsolete. They’re here to stay. It’s just getting to the starting place," Bruckheimer told The Huffington Post. Fortunately for Tom, he’s very busy, so you have to find a slot he can fit into and get a budget that Paramount feels they can make the picture.”

“We’ve been trying to get that movie made for thirty years, and I think we’re getting closer and closer,” Bruckheimer added at the time. “Don [Simpson] and I tried to develop something, we didn’t succeed. Cruise took over, and he tried to develop something, and he didn’t succeed. Now we’re back at it.”

Several months later, Bruckheimer has a screenwriter for the project in Justin Marks, who penned the script for the upcoming The Jungle Book movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Marks had hinted at the news over the weekend on Twitter.

Paramount and Skydance will be making the Top Gun sequel, which is nearly three decades in the making. Bruckheimer and Skydance’s David Ellison will be producing alongside executive producer Dana Goldberg.

The original Top Gun (1986) starred Cruise, Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards as young flyers in the Navy – Maverick, Iceman and Goose. Kelly McGillis played Cruise’s character’s love interest Charlie.