Miles Teller teases the possibility of a future Top Gun sequel involving his character, Rooster, from the new film Top Gun: Maverick. Teller, who joins the high-flying exploits of the fighter jet squad in the new adventure, has starred in Hollywood hits including Whiplash and Divergent. The talented young actor has a mixed history with franchise films, but has seemingly struck gold with his role in Top Gun 2.
Top Gun: Maverick, which releases in theaters this week, has had fans waiting almost 40 years for the continuing adventures of Tom Cruise’s Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. The long-awaited follow-up finally hits cinemas after years of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Cruise returning to his iconic role to lead a new generation of aviators. Teller joins the fleet as Rooster, a hotheaded young ace serving under Maverick’s leadership. Rooster is no stranger to the world of jet-flying, being the son of Anthony Edwards’ Goose from the original movie.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Teller opens up about the potential future of the franchise, and whether Rooster could be the next central hero. He is posited the question of a Top Gun 3, after which he reveals he's trying to get a movie about his character made. While it’s certainly a hot prospect and could be in the cards if Top Gun 2 is, as expected, a box-office smash, Teller is quick to clarify that the new movie “puts a nice bow” on the story of the '80s original. Check out the full quote below:
I'm trying to get a Top Gun: Rooster. I've been pitching it. We'll see what happens. I don't know. I think it's interesting. Obviously, everybody was begging Tom to do a sequel right after the first one came out. I think this movie puts a nice bow on it; it really kind of wraps it up, but we'll see. I'm available.
Helping Teller's case is that his new film is set to be one of the biggest films of the summer movie season. Fans old and new are expected to flock to see the Top Gun: Maverick jet stunts, many of which were performed for real with help from experts. The finished film is finally opening after several pushbacks, with those who’ve already seen it claiming it surpasses the original. The super-sequel even received a standing ovation at Cannes, which, while not exactly irregular for the festival, is a great sign of its quality.
Whether the Top Gun franchise could continue beyond Maverick remains to be seen. Teller’s comments prove he is already actively pitching a follow-up, and Rooster may be the obvious character to take up the torch in the future. The possibility all lies on the audience reception to Top Gun: Maverick, and whether fans are hungry for more. Either way, there’s plenty more fun to be had with Maverick, Rooster, and the rest of the gang as they get the 2022 blockbuster season rolling.
