According to Deadline, the sequel to the 1986 hit Top Gun now has a release date. Paramount Pictures announced that Top Gun 2 would roll out in theaters on July 12, 2019. Tom Cruise reprises his starring role as Maverick. Jerry Bruckheimer reprises as producer.

In the original 30+ years ago, Maverick was a hot shot fighter pilot in training to refine his flying skills, but coming in to the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School with an arrogant and reckless attitude. In the sequel, Maverick is now a flight instructor teaching flight skills to the new top guns.

Joseph Kosinski (Tron Legacy) is attached to direct, re-teaming with Cruise whom he directed in the sci-fi Oblivion. The screenplay is by Peter Craig and Justin Marks, along with Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz.

The sequel has been a long time coming. Several years ago, the original director, Tony Scott, was planning to helm, however his death from an apparent suicide in 2012 shelved the project. Lucky for Top Gun fans everywhere, franchises are getting a renewed spotlight under Paramount Pictures’ new chief Jim Gianopulos. We will keep you posted as more news develops.