Scheduled for a December 2020 release, Top Gun 2 will hopefully explain what exactly happened to Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise)'s father. Tony Scott's original 1986 classic, Top Gun, uses a familial tragedy to underline the protagonist's motivations, but also to properly account for his grief over a friend's sudden death. 34-years later, Top Gun: Maverick has a good opportunity provide closure for both Maverick and audiences in general.
Top Gun references Maverick's backstory within the first 15 minutes, as Tom "Stinger" Jardian (James Tolkan) tells Cruise's character that "You need to do it better and cleaner than the other guy." By the end of the first act, Maverick has been portrayed as a reckless yet skilled aviator who is "completely unpredictable." However, Mike "Viper" Metcalf (Tom Skerritt) knows that Maverick's father, Duke, was one of the best military aviators, and also that the general public doesn't know the specifics of his untimely death - which remains "Classified" information. To Maverick, "It's a big mystery" why his father disappeared in an F-4 on November 4, 1965 - 20 years prior to the events shown in Top Gun.
The fate of Duke Mitchell will be important for several reasons in Top Gun: Maverick. In the original film, Cruise's character does indeed receive some clarity when Viper attempts to console him after Goose's (Anthony Edwards) death. In fact, Viper takes a huge risk by revealing "Classified" information about Duke's death, most notably the fact that he flew a V-51 and saved three planes before succumbing to his wounds during battle. Viper also tells Maverick that "You feel responsible for Goose, and you have a confidence problem.” Ultimately, Maverick saves the day and bonds with Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, (Val Kilmer); a concept that will thematically link to Top Gun: Maverick, as there have been rumors that Iceman may die in the sequel. And therein lies the template for the primary conflict: Maverick will be forced to reckon with Iceman's death while training the son (Miles Teller as Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw) of the late Goose, all the while remembering his own father.
In Top Gun: Maverick, a subplot involving Duke Mitchell will theoretically expand the narrative beyond the primary American setting. If Maverick's father passed away in 1965 while flying an F-4, then he presumably fought during the early stages of the Vietnam War. Just as Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods went back in time for expositional sequences involving Stormin' Norman Holloway (Chadwick Boseman), Top Gun: Maverick could strengthen its plot with a similar sequence that explores the specifics of Duke's mission. After all, the F-4 was used frequently during the Vietnam War.
Top Gun ends with Maverick accepting Goose's death, which allows him to thrive in both his personal and professional life. The same concept will seemingly apply to Top Gun: Maverick, as Cruise's character will need to deal with Iceman's death and thus become a model of support for Goose's son, Rooster, and the rest of his students. An extended Vietnam War sequence could disrupt the overall pacing of Top Gun: Maverick, but not necessarily if it's done effectively early on, and then again during the climax. There will be a nostalgic aspect to Top Gun 2, but a sequence explaining the legacy of Maverick's father, Duke, could make it much more impactful, and maybe even inspire future aviators, like the original Top Gun.
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