While promoting The Mummy, Cruise confirmed Top Gun 2 is "definitely happening" and will begin filming sometime next year.
It seems that day has come, with Variety magazine revealing that the frontrunner to helm the sequel is Joseph Kosinski, who directed Tom in the sci-fi hit "Oblivion".
"It's true", Cruise said matter-of-factly when asked if "Top Gun 2" was in the works, leaving the hosts almost speechless.
It was the top grossing film stateside in 1986, raking in $356.8 million globally.
Cruise recently confirmed to a British talk show that the sequel was moving forward and would hopefully shoot at the start of next year. Still got the moves!
Yes, all things considered, Kosinski strikes this writer as decent a choice for Top Gun 2, a sequel whose sizzle-and-flash levels are likely to run very high.
Kilmer tweeted Wednesday, "friends said it's official - #TOPGUN2 was announced today. You asked me, and so I'm telling you it is going to happen".
Cruise revealed no further details regarding Top Gun 2, which has always been a goal for Cruise and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. In a 2015 interview with Collider, film producer David Ellison confirmed "Top Gun 2" was in the works and that Cruise would return as Maverick.
Kilmer's cancer battle also left him looking gaunt and frail, so it remains to be seen whether he will, in fact, be tapped to reprise his role as the Iceman for the next installment of the story. The movie also starred Val Kilmer, Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, Tom Skerrit and Kelly McGillis.