Top Gun 3 Plot Revealed by Maverick Director Joseph Kosinski

And while the film is still in early development, Kosinski just dropped the first real hints about the plot — and it sounds like Maverick's next mission isn't about enemy jets, but something way heavier.

Speaking to GQ UK, Kosinski confirmed that a script is in the works, with F1 writer Ehren Kruger currently hammering it out. And yes, Tom Cruise is very much onboard.

Here's the tease:

"It's a really existential crisis that Maverick has in this, and it's much bigger than himself... an existential question that Maverick has to deal with, that would make Maverick feel small, I think, as a movie, compared to what we're talking about."

Translation: less "missiles away," more "what does it all mean?"

Kosinski added,

"There's still more story to tell for him. There's one last ride. We'll only do it if we feel like we've got a strong enough story."

So, no drones this time. No beach football montage confirmed (yet). But the idea seems to be a Top Gun finale that goes big, personal, and possibly kind of philosophical. Bold move.

Meanwhile, Kosinski also joked about a potential crossover between F1 and Cruise's other racing flick, Days of Thunder. Yes, that Days of Thunder. Apparently, he's got a soft spot for the idea of Cruise's Cole Trickle going head-to-head with Brad Pitt's Sonny Hayes.

"We find out he and Sonny Hayes have a past... maybe crossed paths. I heard about this epic go-kart battle on Interview with the Vampire that Brad and Tom had, and who wouldn't pay to see those two go head-to-head on the track?"

There's no official Days of Thunder sequel on the books yet, but Cruise is said to be developing one behind the scenes — because of course he is. So whether it's jets or NASCAR or existential dread, the Tom Cruise legacy sequel machine is very much alive and well.