Warning! SPOILERS for Top Gun: Maverick.
After Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell has no story left. It took more than three decades for the sequel of Tony Scott's cult classic film Top Gun to happen. The wait has proven to be worth it as Top Gun: Maverick has become a critical and box office success for Paramount. Beyond Maverick, however, the potential Top Gun sequels should finally let go of Maverick.
Top Gun: Maverick focuses on its titular character as he struggles to move forward in both his personal and professional life. The film sees him still as a lowly Navy captain, despite his exceptional flying skills and impeccable record. Thanks to Tom "Iceman" Kazansky's (Val Kilmer) involvement in Top Gun: Maverick, Maverick returns to TOPGUN to train a new crop of pilots for a highly dangerous mission. In the end, he is recruited to be its team leader for what seems to be his final mission. Luckily for him, he and the rest of his subordinates not only achieved their goal but also returned home safely.
Surprisingly, Top Gun: Maverick ends on a high note. Prior to the film, there was reasonable expectation that the sequel will see Cruise's character die. That doesn't happen thanks to Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Miles Teller). Despite the movie's happy ending, the Top Gun sequel essentially wraps up Maverick's story. After flying his final mission and with his reputation in the Navy restored, Mitchell has no compelling personal arc left enough to carry the story of Top Gun 3. As Iceman said, it's time to let go. Maverick should follow the advice, give up flying, and find another avenue to serve the Navy - either as a leader or TOPGUN instructor. Whatever Paramount plans on doing with him, he should no longer be the center of attention in the threequel. The focus should shift to his subordinates — either on Rooster or Hangman (Glen Powell), or maybe both.
Just because Maverick no longer has any story left in Top Gun: Maverick doesn't mean that he should have died in the sequel. There are several benefits to his survival. Firstly, the Top Gun sequel had a feel-good ending, similar to the original film. This plays a big part in the movie's rewatchability factor as it's always satisfying to see a triumphant story. Secondly, it allows Paramount to keep Cruise in future Top Gun follow-ups. As the franchise transitions to its younger pilots, they still need a mentor type of character, similar to Viper (Tom Skerritt) from the first film. With Iceman gone, Maverick is the only remaining character from that original TOPGUN batch who can still factor in the movie series. The only difference now is that instead of being the lead of the narrative, Cruise plays more of a supporting character.
It's difficult to imagine Paramount not actively developing Top Gun 3 at this point. Considering Cruise's love for moviemaking and passion for this franchise, chances are that he would be willing to do anything to keep it going after Top Gun: Maverick. In any case, he will remain involved anyway through producing the movies.
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