Christopher McQuarrie has confirmed that the plot for Top Gun 3 is essentially complete. In a recent podcast interview, the acclaimed director said the story came together almost effortlessly, thanks to a pitch by Ehren Kruger.
While he remains noncommittal about directing the film himself, McQuarrie acknowledged that he’s immersed himself in understanding Tony Scott’s style—the director of the original Top Gun. As for making the film, he noted that the emotional core will be the real driver of success, not just high-octane action scenes.
Beyond Top Gun 3, McQuarrie also teased serious discussions about a Les Grossman spinoff. The character, originally from Tropic Thunder, is still being actively developed in collaboration with Tom Cruise.