Austin Butler’s work schedule sounds exhausting, but also like he's opened Hollywood’s junk drawer and found nothing but prestige projects. The Oscar nominee has a Lance Armstrong biopic, a Park Chan-wook Western with Matthew McConaughey and, maybe most intriguingly for fans of new action movies, the recently confirmed Miami Vice reboot with Michael B. Jordan and director Joseph Kosinski. The actor has finally broken his silence on joining MBJ for the Miami reboot, and it sounds exciting.

It was reported last year that Butler was being eyed to play the role of Det. James "Sonny Crockett in the latest Miami Vice movie alongside Jordan's Det. Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs. Earlier this year, Butler's involvement was reportedly confirmed. During a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Butler was asked directly if he was looking forward to Miami Vice, and his answer was brief but enthusiastic. The actor did not spill plot details, but responded:

That is the first real temperature check we’ve gotten from Butler on the project, and it sounds like he’s very much all in. The reboot, titled Miami Vice ’85, has already drawn attention because of the talent attached. Kosinski is coming off major crowd-pleasing work with Top Gun: Maverick and F1, while newly minted Oscar winner Jordan has continued building a movie-star/director résumé that makes almost anything he joins worth tracking.

Butler Sounds Especially Excited About Michael B. Jordan

Butler and Jordan were previously paired with Paul Mescal for Vanity Fair’s Hollywood cover, and the magazine also featured the trio in a fun video where they watched iconic movie clips together. So Miami Vice ’85 will give Butler and Jordan a chance to actually share the screen. When asked whether he was excited to reunite with Jordan, he kept the praise coming:

For me, the Butler/Jordan pairing is the real draw here. Miami Vice is a known quantity, but nothing I have a particular relationship with, and that may be true for tons of potential theater goers. The reboot will need more than brand recognition. The original TV series has its own neon-soaked identity, and Michael Mann’s 2006 film has a moody, bruising energy that people still argue about. A new version has to justify itself, and casting two actors with serious screen presence is a pretty good place to start.

Miami Vice ’85 Has Some Serious Style Potential

The reboot's title alone suggests the movie may lean into the period setting rather than try to drag Miami Vice into the present day. That could be a smart move. The 1980s are baked into the franchise's DNA. When I think of Miami Vice, what immediately comes to mind is the music, cars, suits, heat, danger and the kind of cool that looks effortless.

Butler feels like a natural fit for that type of world. He has already shown he can carry a very specific aesthetic without disappearing inside it, whether playing Elvis Presley or bringing quiet swagger to The Bikeriders. Or, starring in another period piece, like Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing. Jordan, meanwhile, has the charisma and physicality to make the action side click. One needn't look further than Jordan's celebrated work in Sinners or the Creed movies to get a sense of his talents.

With Kosinski behind the camera, this reboot also has a chance to feel big and very cinematic. If Miami Vice ’85 is going to work, it probably needs to look expensive, move fast and still have enough character tension under the hood to keep it from becoming a music video with badges.

For now, Austin Butler is wise not to give much away. But between his excitement for his co-star, his praise for the director and the sheer “wait, this could actually rip” potential of the project, Miami Vice ’85 is starting to look like one of the more interesting reboots on the horizon.

When Top Gun: Maverick was confirmed, I was a bit skeptical. Putting out a sequel to a classic ‘80s movie over 30 years after the original is always a risk with audiences, but I remember being pleasantly surprised by the Top Gun follow-up. Top Gun: Maverick toed the line between nostalgic fan service and a new engaging plot perfectly, and it makes me genuinely excited for the prospect of a third Top Gun film. However, given that the sequel upped the ante for cinematic value, I was surprised to learn its final mission is actually "pretty realistic" according to a real-life Navy pilot.

I should never have doubted Tom Cruise, who insists on doing his own insane stunts, when it came to making a realistic Top Gun film. The Mummy actor, director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer were committed to making the aviation sequences as real-looking as possible, working with the Navy and the real-life Top Gun school, and putting their actors through three months of grueling flight training. But it’s one thing for a movie to look real, and it's another to actually be realistic, especially when it comes to Top Gun situations. Retired Marine Corp. fighter pilot Dave Berke broke down the final mission sequence for ScreenRant, comparing it to real-life naval practices:

For those who need a refresher, the plot of Top Gun: Maverick revolves around an extremely difficult, high-stakes mission that brings back the best recent Top Gun graduates, and only one pilot has the qualified field experience to teach them: Tom Cruise’s Maverick.

Two things make the mission near impossible–the narrow flying through a canyon far below the hard deck (the legal limit for how low a jet can fly) to avoid radar missiles, and the blind exit out of the valley pulling max Gs, triggering said radar missiles.

Obviously, the latter is a crazy dangerous stunt that probably is pretty rare in real life, but Berke says the run through the canyon is not far-fetched at all:

Of course, not everything in Top Gun: Maverick is 100% realistic. There had to be some added movie magic in order to achieve the cinematic shock value that allowed it to smash the box offices when it came out in 2022. All in all, Berke says they did a great job considering real technicalities when creating their storyline:

On top of a realistic flying sequence, Cruise made sure his actors had real experience in those F-18 fighter jets. Part of “Tom Cruise Boot Camp” and flight training included ride-alongs with real naval pilots as they pulled off the cool stunts seen in the movie. There was definitely some puking involved, and Miles Teller admitted he thought he might die pulling max-Gs, but the real film shots of Cruise and co. flying in the jets really made a difference in the final cut.

Tom Cruise is seriously the only actor I can think of who is buddy-buddy with the U.S. Navy. I can only hope the Jack Reacher actor brings the same strict regimen and realistic standards to the upcoming Top Gun 3.

There’s been chatter about a Top Gun 3 for years now. After the smash hit that was Top Gun: Maverick, it’s felt like the right move to make. Well, now it’s officially, finally being made, as Paramount announced that the movie is in the works and has a writer. So, now that I’ve had a full day to sit with that news, I’ve thought of four things I need to see happen in Top Gun 3.

It was announced that Top Gun 3 is in the works during Paramount’s CinemaCon presentation (via Variety), and it was confirmed that Tom Cruise would be back as Maverick, while Jerry Bruckheimer will be back as a producer. Along with that, it was revealed that Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote Top Gun: Maverick with Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, would be returning to write the new movie.

So, with all that in mind, I've been wondering what might happen during Maverick's next adventure, and I've realized there are four things I need to see.

I Need An Update On Rooster, Hangman And The Young Pilots From Top Gun: Maverick

One of the biggest highlights of Top Gun: Maverick was the new class of pilots. I loved seeing Miles Teller and Glen Powell as Rooster and Hangman, and it was remarkable to watch them and their co-stars flourish in these parts that have now become defining pieces of their careers.

So, I’d like to see them back. I need to know where they’re at. Are Rooster and Hangman friends? Did any of the young pilots go on to teach at Top Gun? Could any of them work with Maverick? The opportunities feel endless, and I feel like it’d be a missed opportunity to not show us these characters in Top Gun 3.

Thankfully, Powell has given an update that makes me hopeful he’ll be back as Hangman, and Teller has said he’s down for Top Gun 3 as long as he has enough time to get in shape for it. So, it seems like they still feel the need for speed; we just need to hope they get written into the story.

I Need To See Some Kind Of Groundbreaking Airplane Stunt From Tom Cruise

Now, Maverick’s director, Joseph Kosinski, did tease that Top Gun 3 could tackle an existential crisis for Maverick that is “much bigger than himself.” That’s all fine and dandy, and I’m all for a big personal story. However, I also want stunts, and I want big ones.

I’m talking Mission: Impossible level plane stunts. While I don’t necessarily want to see Cruise and co. climbing around the outside of a plane while it’s in the air, I do want a level of innovation and thrill in Top Gun 3 that’s synonymous with Mission: Impossible. They did it for Maverick, so I’m sure they can come up with some wild, crazy, and heartpounding action sequences for this new movie.

Obviously, We Need Some Kind Of Shirtless Sports Montage

First, it was volleyball, then it was football on the beach, so clearly, Top Gun 3 needs some kind of summery, shirtless sports sequence. There's a precedent to maintain. I know a lot of work went into the football scene, and the cast got in tip-top shape for it, and I have no doubt they could do it again.

Maybe this time, they could be playing beach soccer, or potentially they could move the montage to a basketball court. I don’t really care what sport it is; all I know is I want to see the pilots having some fun in the sun.

At Least One Song Needs To Be Sung (Preferably By Rooster And Maverick)

In Top Gun, Maverick and Goose sang “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” in the bar, and we also got the always iconic “Great Balls of Fire” moment. Then, in Maverick, Rooster sang “Great Balls of Fire” again. However, Tom Cruise’s character did not partake in the singing.

So, in Top Gun 3, I’d love to see Maverick and his best friend’s son singing together. It could be “Great Balls of Fire” again. However, it’d also be fun if they found a new song to jam out to. Ultimately, I simply want this new movie to continue to pay homage to what makes Top Gun, Top Gun.

Now, will any of these things happen? I don’t know. However, I do know that Top Gun 3 is preparing for takeoff now, and I’ll be sitting in the theater the day it flies onto the big screen to see if these dreams come true.

It has been roughly six months since Joseph Kosinski’s F1 landed on the 2025 movie schedule and gave Warner Bros. something to be happy about after it made a ton of cash at the box office. If you’re like me and have been wondering what’s next for the movie that had something for Formula 1 newcomers and diehard race fans alike, you’re definitely going to be into what Kosinski has to say about a potential sequel.

When speaking with The Wrap about the Golden Globe-nominated film starring Brad Pitt as a washed-up Formula 1 driver who’s given a second chance on the track and some much-needed redemption, Kosinski teased some new adventures. But that isn’t all, as he also hinted at some plans Pitt has in store, saying:

In case you have forgotten, F1 ends with Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes winning his first Formula 1 race, only to walk away from the sport and try something new. What was he trying, you may ask? Well, the former F1 hotshot left the glitz and glamor of the sport to try his hand at the Baja 1000, a grueling, highly competitive, and dangerous long-distance race in the deserts of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.

With F1 making a staggering amount of money at the box office and being a hit with critics and audiences alike, it seems very unlikely that Warner Bros. and Apple Films will not get back together to make a sequel happen. Considering Pitt already has some ideas pitched, as well as taking into account the large stack of cash he earned the first time around, I doubt it’ll take much convincing for the Hollywood legend to return.

Though Kosinski didn’t elaborate on what Pitt pitched to him for a possible second film, I’m definitely on board for whatever these two put on screen. Just make sure we get to see some of that teased Baja action before going back to the grand prix races of the world.

Joseph Kosinki Is Also Working With F1 Legend Lewis Hamilton

Though Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton had to turn down a role in Top Gun: Maverick, the Scuderia Ferrari driver didn’t make the same mistake when it came to F1. In fact, he made so many contributions that he ended up receiving a producer credit by the time it was all said and done.

Hamilton, who was one of many real-life drivers to show up in some of F1’s intense racing sequences, appears to be working with director Joseph Kosinski and Brad Pitt when it comes to a second movie as well. As Kosinski revealed in the same chat with The Wrap:

What kind of “spitballing” the three were able to talk out is anyone’s guess at this point, but please make this happen. We need this to happen.

If you want to revisit F1 or finally catch it for the first time after missing it in IMAX earlier in the year, you can watch the new movie streaming with an Apple TV subscription right now.

In a world of rumored reboots and sequels, there seems to be one that might see the light of day. Years after Michael Mann’s lukewarm television show-to-movie adaptation of Miami Vice from 2006, Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski has been lined up to direct a new big-screen take on the classic '80s show. Not everything seems to be official just yet apparently. However, Kosinski still has some glowing thoughts to share on the two actors reportedly being eyed for the lead roles -- Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler.

Kosinski recently attended the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards, where he was recognizing the tremendous sound artists that worked on his 2025 movie release, F1. While on the red carpet, Kosinski chatted with Variety about the upcoming Miami Vice film he's been working on as of late. The filmmaker was specifically asked about the prospect of working with Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, and Kosinski has specific reasons for wanting to join forces with the two A-listers:

It was reported just weeks ago that Michael B. Jordan was linked to Miami Vice, with insiders saying he was up for the role of Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs. Jordan is coming off the massive box office success of Sinners, and he's, of course, been a major star in the industry for years now. A massive film like this could be a nice notch on he Creed star's resume, and he could certainly bring charm and charisma to the role of Tubbs. Quite frankly, it's easy to understand just why Kosinski has admired Jordan for so long.

Of course, another great get for the film would be Austin Butler, who's reportedly in talks to take on the role of James "Sonny" Crockett. Butler has more than proven his acting prowess over the past several years, thanks to his roles in films like Elvis (which landed him an Oscar nomination) and The Bikeriders. As Joseph Kosinski said, he's made some interesting choices, and I think he'd be a solid fit for Sonny.

I personally can’t imagine a better creative team to adapt the beloved show. Joseph Kosinski is a hot director right now, coming off major big screen successes in F1 and Top Gun: Maverick. Additionally, Kosinski is known for the incredible technical sensibilities he brings to his features. I'd love to see what he could do with a detective-based IP like Miami Vice. Also, even more interestingly, Kosinski's film will reportedly be set in the '80s, which is when the OG show aired. Needless to say, this could be a very interesting production.

Still, Miami Vice is currently in the early stages of development, so it could be a while until official updates -- including confirmation on the two leads -- are confirmed. Still, I love hearing just how enthusiastic Joseph Kosinski is about it. In the meantime, though, Michael B. Jordan fans can check out Sinners by streaming it with an HBO Max subscription. And, to see Austin Butler's latest film, Caught Stealing, head on over to Amazon to rent it.

Michael B. Jordan is obviously no stranger to success, but it can be said that his career has hit a special new high in 2025. He has been a part of some massive movies, including the Creed trilogy and Black Panther, but his star power was a key ingredient in the blockbuster success of Sinners (a film not based on any existing intellectual property and featuring the actor delivering a phenomenal dual performance). His name has a lot of heat right now, which is why it is not surprising in the least to see that he is in the mix for a lot of exciting projects, with the latest being Joseph Kosinski's upcoming Miami Vice reboot.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Jordan has entered talks to sign on for the new film based on the classic 1980s crime series, and should he end up signing on the dotted line, he will be playing Ricardo Tubbs, one of the two leads (a character previously played by Philip Michael Thomas on the aforementioned TV show and Jamie Foxx in Michael Mann's 2006 movie adaptation). An actor has not yet signed on for the role of James Crockett, Tubbs' fellow undercover detective working for Miami's Metro-Dade Police Department.

The new Miami Vice is being directed by Joseph Kosinski as his follow-up to his own massive 2025 success (a.k.a. F1 starring Brad Pitt), and screenwriting duties are being handled by Top Gun: Maverick co-scribe Eric Warren Singer and Nightcrawler writer/director Dan Gilroy.

It's a new franchise project for Michael B. Jordan, but not the only one he is currently a part of. He is presently directing and starring in a new remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, and his upcoming slate also includes Rainbow Six (a follow-up to 2021's Without Remorse), Creed IV (which Jordan has confirmed as being in the works), and I Am Legend 2 with Will Smith.

The last time we saw a Miami Vice movie, things didn't work out so well, as the project had a budget rumored to be as $150 million (per Slate) and it ended up being a major misfire. Despite featuring the talent of Michael Mann in the director's chair and the star power of Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell (who played Crockett), the film got an underwhelming reaction from critics and it ended up making just $164.9 million worldwide during its theatrical run. Clearly, the hope is that the box office power of Kosinski and Jordan will result in a different fate for the new project.

Universal Pictures has already set an August 6, 2027 release date for Miami Vice, so we can expect that production will start in the middle of next year at the latest. Be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend in the coming weeks for more news about the movie, as once the Michael B. Jordan deal closes, the hunt will be on to find the perfect actor to star opposite him.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains mild spoilers for F1. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

With the film's stars sitting in the driver's seats of the vehicles and exceptional cinematography offering a perspective on speed never seen before on the big screen, F1 is a movie that brims with spectacular racing sequences and has no problem delivering excitement simply by depicting high velocity – but is any racing movie really complete without at least a couple crash scenes? It's basically an expected part of the cinematic experience, but what you may not know is that the accidents in the movie were specifically modeled after accidents that happened in real life.

In a recent episode of the podcast The Big Picture, F1 director Joseph Kosinski digs into the making of the new movie, and while discussing how the crash scenes were filmed, he explained that they are specifically based on actual incidents. He noted that the flashback sequence where the career of Sonny Hayes is derailed was actually inspired by events from the life of one of the consultants behind the scenes of the movie, and it was put together with multiple components. Said Kosinski,

It sounds a bit more complicated that properly nailing Brad Pitt's era-appropriate hairstyle for the sequence.

F1 employed some particularly fancy editing for the crash sequences set at the end of the 21st century, but the scene where Damon Idris' Joshua hits a curb and explodes during the race at the Monza Circuit was entirely produced by the production. Joseph Kosinski said that things actually didn't go precisely as planned while it was being shot, but what ended up happening was even better than the original vision:

More than just spectacle, any crash sequence in any racing movie is included principally to add stakes to the story and showcase how dangerous it is for the drivers of fast cars to do what they do – but in the making of F1, Joseph Kosinski found another side to them as well. While it's true that the drivers are in danger when their cars flip and blow up, the way that the vehicles are designed today make them far safer than they were a couple decades ago. Added the filmmaker,

The crashes in F1 are expertly crafted, and they are one of the reasons why the movie demands to be seen on the big screen. Also starring Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem in addition to the aforementioned Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, F1 is now playing in theaters everywhere – having finished in second place at the box office this past weekend behind the Independence Day holiday weekend debut Jurassic World: Rebirth.

Director Joseph Kosinski's new 2025 movie F1 might not get every detail about Formula 1 racing entirely correct, but it certainly is a film that at least strives for realism. The cinematography and sound design does its best to make the audience feel like they are right on the track with cars driving at triple digit speeds, and a huge part of the production process was having the stars of the movie sitting behind the wheel (with champion Lewis Hamilton offering plenty of pointers). Even the archive video and flashback sequences go the extra mile so to speak, with Brad Pitt's Sonny Hayes sporting a haircut that is very era appropriate and based on Pitt's on style from that time.

CinemaBlend's Jeff McCobb had the opportunity to sit down with Joseph Kosinski earlier this month to discuss the filmmaker's work on the exciting new sports blockbuster, and he asked specifically about an aspect of the movie that got a big reaction during his screening: Brad Pitt's 1980s haircut in the flashback moments. Jeff asked if the style choice was actively looking to get a kind of rise out of the audience, and the director explained,

I'd say he's right to be proud. Not every guy can pull off the feathered look that Brad Pitt sported during his younger years, so it's a solid harkening back to that time. Additionally, it helps audiences recognize the actor on an extra layer, as it was during that era that Pitt was just getting his career going in film and television.

In F1, the flashback sequences – as Joseph Kosinski intended – do indeed serve to provide Brad Pitt's protagonist with some appreciated depth. They further inform the audience that Sonny Hayes was once expected to be one of the most exciting drivers in the sport, but his career was cut short following a devastating crash that left him with injuries that should have prevented him from ever professionally getting back behind the wheel.

Bringing back the 1980s/1990s version of Brad Pitt is just one part of the cinematic magic in F1, which features a collection of outstanding racing sequences in addition to a stellar ensemble cast including Javier Bardem, Damson Idris and Kerry Condon opposite Brad Pitt. The film is now playing in theaters everywhere, having just won the number one spot at the box office this weekend, and if you're planning to see it, it's definitely an experience that needs to be had on the big screen.

It sounds a touch cynical, but not all producer credits carry the same amount of weight. The industry has a hefty history of what are called "vanity credits," which is when a person gets their name on a film despite having very little or possibly nothing to do with the production. It sometimes happens in an effort to adding clout to a project – but in the case of the new 2025 movie F1, that is definitely not an accurate description of the role played by champion driver Lewis Hamilton. More than his presence simply "legitimizing" the Formula 1-centric title, he had a very hands-on role behind the scenes.

CinemaBlend's own Jeff McCobb gained some great insight into Hamilton's presence in the making of F1 when he took part in the film's press day earlier this month. Jerry Bruckheimer spoke to how the world-renowned athlete lent his expertise work in extremely specific ways not just when the film was being finished but when the script was still in development. Said Bruckheimer,

Obviously the demographic that is going to be the most psyched for F1 are the people who love Formula 1 racing, and those people are going to be hyper-aware when something isn't right. That apparently goes as far as the sound of a gear shift in a very specific race, and Lewis Hamilton proved to be an invaluable resource.

Beyond the script, Hamilton also provided his professional perspective in getting F1's stars ready to look like experts behind the wheel. There's an argument to be made that Lewis Hamilton has the influence in status in his sport that Brad Pitt has in Hollywood – and those two forces came together in the making of director Joseph Kosinski's film in a cool way. According to Bruckheimer, the former got to see the latter train prior to the start of production, and he was impressed by what he saw:

Joseph Kosinski has previously said that the making of F1 simply wouldn't have worked if Brad Pitt couldn't do what he can do in the driver's seat of a Formula 1 car... but he was given solace by the ability that Lewis Hamilton recognized.

In a separate interview, Joseph Kosinski also spoke about the legend statuses of both Lewis Hamilton and Brad Pitt, noting that their talents are different but they stem from the same place: they both have a great amount of passion for what they do. Said the director,

Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, and Kerry Condon, F1 is rolling into theaters this weekend – and as I write in my CinemaBlend review of the new release, it's most definitely an experience made for the big screen. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more stories in the coming days from our interviews with filmmakers and stars.

Considering Top Gun: Maverick broke a Memorial Day record for the biggest opening weekend, along with several other records, it was a cinch that a third movie would reportedly be in the works. The question is, how will Maverick’s story continue in Top Gun 3? Its director, Joseph Kosinski, teased what lies ahead for Tom Cruise’s threequel, and I’m pumped!

We already thought that Top Gun: Maverick took it up a notch with Tom Cruise and the cast doing crazy flight training maneuvers. In terms of a “big idea” and a “new challenge” set up for the third movie, Kosinski teased GQ what Top Gun 3 has in store for us without giving too much away:

Wow, now I’m really curious what “existential crisis” Naval Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell will be faced with this time. Each Top Gun movie (both streaming on your Paramount+ subscription) has Tom Cruise's character face a situation that tests his role as a pilot and his own personal growth.

In the first Top Gun movie, Maverick struggled with his reputation as a reckless pilot and the death of his best friend, Goose. The sequel had him reconciling with his past and being there for his Goose’s son, Rooster. Maybe in the third movie, Maverick will finally tell Rooster that interfering with his Naval Academy application was in respect to his mother’s wishes?

At the end of Top Gun: Maverick, our beloved Naval captain passed the torch onto the next generation of pilots, like Rooster, Phoenix, Fanboy, Hangman and more. But despite the young pilots finding their place in the threequel, Joseph Kosinski said more about how Maverick’s story is seemingly still paramount to the upcoming action flick:

“One last ride” is already making me feel emotional. Maybe Maverick will retire from a life of flying and stay firmly on the ground. If we don’t see the Naval aviator anymore, hopefully, this means we can get some spinoff stories of the other young naval pilots down the road.

This makes me feel really happy that a story has been developed for Top Gun 3, as it means the long-awaited threequel is really coming along. Knowing that Maverick will have an “existential crisis” on his hands as well as “one last ride,” I’m ready for the emotions to set in when we have to say goodbye to the iconic flight instructor character.

There is no question that director Joseph Kosinski knows how to shoot things moving super fast. He first demonstrated this expertise about a decade and a half ago with Lightcycles zooming around The Grid in Tron: Legacy, and his collaboration with daredevil Tom Cruise three years ago yielded the wild aerial awesomeness of Top Gun: Maverick. All of this is to say that the filmmaker is a natural fit for a film about Formula 1 racing – a project that offers ample opportunity for Kosinski to make audiences feel like they are moving at extremely high velocity while simply sitting in a comfy chair.

As one would anticipate, F1 is an impressive technical achievement. It repeatedly offers the visceral experience of being strapped to the hood/side/back of one of the title sport’s speedy cars, with inventive cinematography and brilliant sound design working in tandem to create the powerful effect. I can say without any reservation that the film met all my expectations in that respect, as I felt like I could practically smell the burning rubber on asphalt. However, it also falls short in some key narrative and storytelling arenas, which very much hamper the 156 minute epic.

Brad Pitt is using every ounce of his star power playing driver Sonny Hayes, but the movie nonetheless fails to make it over two key hurdles: fast cars and crashes/explosions can’t disguise the fact that the script by Ehren Kruger is excessively trope-ridden and formulaic. For those who don’t know the various rules and regulations of the sport going in to the movie, it provides very little assistance and asks that you figure everything out via context (which I normally wouldn’t ding a film for, but the reality is that I felt confused more often than desirable for an entertaining big screen experience).

If you’re a veteran fan of sports movies, this is a tale you’ll probably recognize: Sonny Hayes is an aging, but still passionate driver looking for any excuse to get behind the wheel, and out of nowhere, he gets a golden ticket. His old friend Ruben (Javier Bardem) has a team that is desperate to win races and in need of a veteran to train hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Sonny is far from the first choice, but he is the first one to say yes.

Things start off rocky as the team fails to synchronize and mistakes are made. But as Sonny and Joshua starts moving in the same direction toward the target goal, personality conflicts are overcome. And with the help of technical director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon) using her knowhow to make the cars work best for the drivers in the tandem driving sport, they start to win.

F1 is basically a collection of sport movie cliches.

I don’t know if anyone has ever tried to calculate a golden “cliché to runtime” ratio, but F1 is certainly a film that goes far beyond what it would be. Stock characters and story can be fine if properly packaged into a breezy 90-minute feature, but the Formula One feature asks for an hour-plus more than that, and it’s too big an ask. Stakes and emotional investment dwindle when the moviegoer is left waiting for next obvious plot development to unfold, and that comes paired with disappointment as you consistently recognize that the work isn’t going to make any effort to try something new.

It can’t be denied that some people find comfort in a movie like this, as it’s a nostalgic throwback to a past era of filmmaking… but if I’m seeking that kind of comfort, I simply go back to watch the titles from the late 20^th century that originated it. Anyone’s desire to see the storytelling evolve and to get something sincerely fresh out of the experience will be wanting (those seeking a similar aesthetic thrill can also find it elsewhere, with recent titles springing to mind including James Mangold’s Ford vs. Ferrari and Neill Blomkamp's Gran Turismo).

If you're ignorant of Formula 1 racing, you may want to read up a bit on the sport before seeing F1.

As for the presentation of the eponymous sport, I will admit to being of two minds. I have vitriol for mindless exposition that gracelessly spoon feeds information to ensure that everyone in the audience understands everything that is going on, and I also understand that Formula 1 has a massive, worldwide fanbase that would be insulted if F1 tried to hold their hand through every racing sequence in the film. All that being said, I am a layman who struggled to fully understand certain mid-race events and found myself disengaged during my screening.

I get it: I would hate any baseball movie that felt the need to explain to me that three strikes equals a strikeout and/or what a home run is. But a little hand-holding isn’t the worst thing. A great baseball movie can get across the mechanics of the game and potentially turn a non-fan into a fan; after watching F1, I can’t say I feel any kind of motivation to learn more about Formula 1 (which offers a kind of disappointment unto itself). Die-hards will love seeing their favorite sport on screen, but newbies like myself are kept at arm’s length and won’t feel regarded as a target audience (a contrast with everything else about it that screams “mass appeal”).

Star power does a lot of favors for F1.

The various characters are as clichéd as the plot – from Kerry Condon’s “the only woman rebelling in a male-dominated field” to Tobias Menzies’ “slimy executive-type offering back-stabbing deals” – and there is exactly nothing unique about the dynamic between the grizzled veteran and egotistical rookie. F1 is a case of actors elevating material, though.

Brad Pitt isn’t exactly developing his range playing Sonny Hayes, but there certainly is a proper exploitation that has made him a star in the last 30+ years, and a great deal of credit is deserved for his work actually getting behind the wheel and driving at three-figure speeds. And while this is certainly a case of “The Brad Pitt Show,” it can be said that Bardem brings a lot of charm as the “good friend who is way out over his skis” and Damson Idris demonstrates impressive confidence as an up-and-coming performer going toe-to-toe with his A-list co-star.

F1 is a movie that seems to have a very clear idea of who it is for, but a consequence is that anyone on the outside of that target won't find much to love. It's a proper big screen experience, as you'll want to feel your chair rumbling from the sound mix and have your entire field of vision dominated by whizzing scenery and blurry asphalt, but thanks to its underwhelming script, its shelf life beyond cinemas is going to be questionable.

Brad Pitt’s F1 has been one of the most highly anticipated theatrical releases of the year, and now the wait is almost over. Critics had the opportunity to screen the Formula One-inspired sports drama ahead of its June 27 release on the 2025 movie calendar, and while F1's first reactions suggested audiences are in for a wild ride, they all agree it's full of sports movie clichés. So, where do they stand on the movie overall?

With Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski at the helm, we’re no doubt expecting an experience worthy of being seen in 4DX or IMAX with intense race scenes (and yes, Brad Pitt and Damson Idris actually did get behind the wheel). According to Ross Bonaime of Collider, it fulfills those expectations and delivers one of the best racing movies ever, despite hitting all the tropes. He rates it 8 out of 10 and writes:

Mae Abdulbaki of ScreenRant agrees, also giving the movie 8 out of 10. The critic says F1 is basically a 156-minute commercial with brands everywhere and a completely unoriginal story, and still, Abdulbaki was riveted by every minute of it, saying:

Clint Gage of IGN admits that F1 “won’t win any awards for originality,” but says the sports movie formula has stayed the same for a reason — it’s pretty hard to mess up. Despite giving in to those tried-and-true tactics, the critic says you can tell everyone had fun making this movie, and that enthusiasm is infectious. Gage gives it a “Good” 7 out of 10 and writes:

Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence gives the movie a B+ for how it captures the adrenaline and danger of being in the driver’s seat. The movie (especially the races) is never boring, Miller says, but you definitely start to feel that 2.5-plus-hour runtime. The critic says:

Witney Seibold of SlashFilm has the least patience for F1’s shortcomings from the reviews I read, rating the film 4.5 out of 10. Like Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, Brad Pitt is a “previous generation’s pretty boy” determined to prove he’s “still got it,” Seibold says. The driving sequences are fun, but the critic says that’s not enough, writing:

The critics seem to agree that F1 goes on a little longer than necessary and doesn’t exactly bring the originality. However, at least for most, that’s hardly a concern. Sports movie tropes are popular for a reason — they make for good movies, and it sounds like Brad Pitt and Joseph Kosinski have succeeded in making one of those. F1 hits theaters on Friday, June 27.

Some movies are practically required to be seen in theaters, and after we all witnessed Top Gun: Maverick a few years ago, it should come as no surprise that Brad Pitt’s F1, the new movie from director Joseph Kosinski, is another one of them. The upcoming sports drama is set to hit the 2025 movie calendar on June 27, and the first reactions to early screenings make me think fans are going to be racing to get their tickets for the biggest screen available.

F1 the Movie tells the story of Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a former Formula 1 driver who retired after a horrific crash. He’s asked to return to the sport to mentor rookie prodigy Joshua "Noah" Pearce (Damson Idris) for the Apex Grand Prix team. Erik Davis of Fandango assures us we don’t have to be racing fans to be glued to this movie. He recommends seeing it in IMAX for the best experience or even in 4DX for the motion seats, tweeting:

The Nerds of Color say this is the epitome of a summer blockbuster, as Joseph Kosinski takes audiences on an absolute thrill ride but doesn’t skimp on the emotional beats. In their words:

Comparisons to Top Gun: Maverick are inevitable, and those who were able to catch an early screening seem to think the movie lives up to that phenomenally high bar. Parth Chaturvedi posts:

Beanz also compares it to Tom Cruise’s highest-grossing movie and says the leading actors are a treat to watch together. The post reads:

In addition to the great casting, with co-stars including Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies and Javier Bardem, as well as many real-life Formula 1 drivers, F1 boasts a score by Hans Zimmer and an impressive soundtrack with the likes of Tate McRae and Roddy Ricch. Tim Chan writes:

It does sound like quite the immersive experience, like audience members will really be put in the driver’s seat, but Drew Taylor of The Wrap also notes its incredible heart, posting:

Many of the first reactions specify that you don’t have to be a Formula 1 fan to enjoy this movie. However, you might find yourself taking an interest in the sport after it’s finished. Maude Garrett said:

With all of the anticipation surrounding the Brad Pitt movie, as well as the trailer’s wild racing scenes and the above reactions, I’m even more pumped for Friday, June 27. Hopefully, we’ll learn even more in the next couple of weeks when critics’ reviews come out.

Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski came together to make Top Gun: Maverick and in the process made one of the biggest movies in recent years. It wasn't the first film the pair had made together, and Cruise likes to work with certain directors again and again. But Kosinski’s follow-up to Maverick, the racing drama F1, stars Brad Pitt instead of Cruise. But this is probably a good thing, according to the filmmakers.

The Mission: Impossible star is no stranger to racing movies, having made the hit Days of Thunder. One can imagine Cruise would have been right at home behind the wheel of a Formula One car, doing all the driving himself. However, Joseph Kosinski admits that, as capable as Tom is, he might have actually pushed things too far. The director recently told GQ…

It’s certainly true that Tom Cruise doesn’t like to be told “No.” The man has fired insurance companies who wouldn’t let him perform certain stunts in movies, so it’s difficult to imagine that he would be ok with drawing a line on his driving in a movie and letting somebody else do any of it.

Brad Pitt still does a great deal of the actual driving that we will see when F1 hits theaters later this summer. But it seems he doesn’t do all of it, which is why the filmmakers seem to be glad they’re not working with Cruise on this one. F1’s action-vehicle supervisor, Graham Kelly, who has worked with Tom Cruise before, indicates that Pitt knows when to draw a line, while Cruise may not. He explained…

This may be the first time I’ve seen filmmakers indicate that Cruise’s desire to do “everything” on screen might not always be for the best. Still, the A-lister has indicated there are plans to make a sequel to Days of Thunder down the road, so the actor who insists on doing it all will likely get his chance to do all the high-speed driving he wants. And he and Joseph Kosinski may still find themselves together again on the almost inevitable Top Gun 3.

Going from high-energy thrills in the air with Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick to the high-energy thrills on the ground with Brad Pitt in the upcoming film F1 might seem like a pretty obvious shift for director Joseph Kosinski. However, the director says the movies could not have been more different.

Kosinski’s work on Top Gun: Maverick does connect to his new film, as Formula One star Lewis Hamilton nearly cameoed in Maverick, and it was due to that the two began to talk, leading to Hamilton becoming a producer of the movie F1. However, the director tells EW that the movies were quite different in another key way. As in Top Gun, they were in the middle of nowhere, while much of F1 was filmed in front of a live audience. Kosinski said…

F1 used a fairly unique, but somewhat obvious, strategy for recreating the look and feel of actual Formula One competitions by filming in the middle of them. This meant they didn’t need to bring in thousands of extras or fake crowds with CGI. However, it also meant that filming was on a fairly tight schedule.

Scenes of F1 would be filmed between the other festivities of the event. This meant everybody was limited in what they could do, as the shoot didn’t want to cause problems with the actual races. If they couldn't get the shot they wanted, they had to move on empty-handed.

During Top Gun: Maverick, the film likely had all the time in the world. If a scene required multiple takes, not an unlikely situation given they were filming scenes with actors actually flying in jets, they could take the time to get what they needed. Here, everybody had to be ready to get it right in one take, because if they ran out of time, it could cause serious delays.

Based on the F1 trailer, this will be a movie full of pulse-pounding action. But it's also likely that pulses were also pounding on the set as everybody dialed and knew they had to do their jobs perfectly to make sure they could get what they needed in the time they had. We’ll all get to see the results when F1 hits theaters next month.

It has been more than 40 years since Miami Vice arrived on the scene and introduced audiences to Don Johnson’s James Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas’ Ricard Tubbs, two of the coolest characters in TV history. The series, which Michael Mann previously remade as a gritty and stripped-down 2006 movie, is about to get the big-screen treatment once again with Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, and I’m stoked to say the least.

Though I can’t wait to see what Kosinski, who is also working on the soon-to-be-released F1 starring Brad Pitt, has in store for the property, I have to admit I’m even more excited about what the adaptation’s screenwriter is bringing to the table. Yeah, I’m talking about Dan Gilroy, who made his directorial debut with the incredible psychological thriller, Nightcrawler. Let me explain…

Joseph Kosinski's Work On Top Gun: Maverick Felt Like A Throwback And Reinvention, And I Think He Can Do The Same Here

Though Top Gun: Maverick wasn’t Joseph Kosinski’s first rodeo, it felt like the director reached new heights when he teamed up with Tom Cruise and mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer for the long-awaited sequel back in 2022. The movie, which felt like both a continuation of the Top Gun franchise but also something new and fresh, showed that the Tron: Legacy and Oblivion filmmaker could honor the past while also looking forward for a major franchise, and I think he can do the same thing with Miami Vice.

You don’t want something too gritty, while at the same time you want to avoid overcorrecting from the dark tone of the 2006 Michael Mann movie, which is going to be no easy task for Kosinski, the rest of the creative team, and the actors who are eventually hired to play two of the most iconic TV detectives of all time.

Kosinski Has Also Shown He's Great With Balancing Action And Character Development, Which Will Be Crucial Here

Throughout his career, Kosinski has shown that he can find the perfect balance between action and character development without sacrificing one for the other, and I think that’ll be crucial in something like Miami Vice. Outside of the original show’s flashy title sequence and all of those wild guest cameos, the series also had a lot of substance to it (especially in that legendary pilot). So, the perfect amount of focus on those various elements that made the drama so great in the first place will be key in the remake.

Not to keep going back to Maverick, but the movie commonly referred to as the blockbuster that saved Hollywood’s ass, best captures Kosinski’s ability to find that balance between action and character development. Whether it was Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Miles Teller’s Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Glen Powell’s Jake “Hangman” Seresin, or smaller characters in the movie, I cared about them all, even when they weren’t pulling off dangerous maneuvers in intense dogfights. You can’t teach that!

But At The Same Time, I'm Even More Excited That Dan Gilroy Is Taking A Spin At The Miami Vice Script

Though I’m stoked to see what Kosinski has in store for this film, the news that got me even more excited was a Deadline report about Dan Gilroy working on the script. According to the report, Gilroy is retooling a first draft by Eric Warren Singer (The International, American Hustle, Top Gun: Maverick), so it’ll be interesting to see how the guy behind movies like Nightcrawler and Velvet Buzzsaw reworks the basic premise of the show-turned-movie.

I’m really eager to see how the combination of those two styles (even more so with Kosinski behind the camera) looks, as it could be perfect for something like this. I’m sure it’ll still have more grit than the iconic ‘80s series on which it’s based, but I don’t think it’ll lose any of that flash or excitement that made the show so much fun to watch. Nothing has been revealed about the Miami Vice plot at this point, but Gilroy’s track record has me incredibly optimistic for what’s to come from this upcoming project.

I Honestly Cannot Wait To See How Gilroy Tackles The Seedier Side Of Miami

Back in 2014, Gilroy gave us one of the best movies about Los Angeles with his intense and utterly terrifying Nightcrawler. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a freelance videographer who starts taking his job way too seriously with an ambitious yet sociopathic mindset, the movie delved into the darker side of the City of Angels and its local news industry. Unrelenting, fast-paced, and entertaining as all hell, this deeply unnerving crime thriller is in a league of its own.

I cannot wait to see how Gilroy’s Miami Vice script tackles the seedier side of South Florida, both in Miami proper and the surrounding areas. When the sun goes down and those neon lights come on, what does his version of Miami look like? What kind of nefarious characters hide in the shadows (and in plain view)? These are some of the questions I keep asking myself, and I can’t wait to see how Gilroy answers them.

I Feel Like We're Getting The Best Of Both Worlds With This Pairing

Honestly, I feel like with Kosinski’s directorial style and Gilroy’s knack for storytelling and making unsavory characters into must-see attractions, we’re about to get the best of both worlds. I mentioned how balance is key multiple times throughout this piece, and that again applies here. These two can help balance one another’s distinct styles, creating a movie that both pays homage to the show while also trying something new in the process.

I don’t know when this movie is coming out, as THR has reported that Kosinski is working on a UFO movie for Apple after his F1 lands on the 2025 movie schedule, so we’ll have to wait and see. However, with these two major players behind the scenes, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a major rollout with some big A-list talent playing Crockett and Tubbs.

People familiar with the work of Joe Kosinski know that he strives for an extra dose of reality in his blockbusters. In the making of Top Gun: Maverick, he didn't simply enlist a fleet of stunt pilots and/or make exclusive use of green screen; he got his actors very comfortable sitting in the cockpits of real jets. This in mind, it will surprise nobody that Brad Pitt does all of his own driving in Kosinski's new racing thriller F1... but adding this special verisimilitude meant hinging the entire film one one thing: Pitt's skills behind the wheel.

As you can see above, the first trailer for F1 has landed online, and in advance of the preview's launch, Joseph Kosinski participated in a virtual press conference earlier this week. The filmmaker spoke to the technical aspects of making the new thriller, and he emphasized that there was an effort to let the stars of the film literally be in the driver's seat. Said the director,

The complication here, of course, is that while an actor may be good at pretending to be other people, they may not actually have the natural skills required to operate a real Formula One car. The real drivers in the sport famously have incredible reaction times that allow them to safely operate the vehicles. Joseph Kosinski couldn't rely on the stars of his movie to perform on that level, but he needed them to posses a particular level of competence.

This required months of training, and the actors notably got the support of Lewis Hamilton, a driver who holds multiple records in the world of Formula One racing and is a producer on the new film:

Intense training was always going to be required to get Brad Pitt and Damson Idris properly prepared for their performances, but Joseph Kosinski noted that Pitt already had some innate skill that made the whole process that much easier. The director continued,

Physically and operationally, motorcycles and F1 cars are obviously quite different, but one can logically understand the link being made here. Not only does one require the aforementioned speedy reaction times to remain safe, but you need a certain level of confidence to kick the engines into high gear. Joseph Kosinski explained that Brad Pitt had both covered.

In F1, Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes – a former Formula One driver who is recruited back into the sport when a friend (Javier Bardem) teams him up with a young talent named Joshua "Noah" Pearce (Damson Idris). The talented ensemble cast also includes Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies and Shea Whigham, and the film, with action that will demand the big screen experience, will be in theaters domestically on June 27.

The world of auto racing is dangerous and crashes and injuries are common. And yet, when attendees watched an F1 racer collapse on the track in Las Vegas over the weekend, it wasn’t another on-track injury. It was just Brad Pitt’s stuntman.

Brad Pitt's upcoming movie, simply titled F1, places Pitt literally in the driver's seat, and the production has been using actual F1 events as locations during the shoot. Anybody unaware of what was going on was potentially worried, or perhaps confused, to see somebody suited up like a racer, with a camera strapped to their face, seemingly collapsing on the track. The Instagram account for the film, which presents itself as a real F1 team, but is a promotional account for the film, posted the incident.

According to People, Pitt didn't collapse to the ground; his stuntman landed on a crashpad. Much like his previous film, Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski mostly uses Brad Pitt himself, as well as co-star Damson Idris, in their racing scenes. It is really them behind the wheel much of the time. However, it seems that not every scene in the film will be Pitt.

While the F1 movie has been filming for a while, it sounds like the scene shot in Vegas over the weekend is from early in the movie. The story will focus on Pitt, a successful F1 racer who leaves the sport after a significant crash and injury. Years later he’s brought back and attempts a comeback. It looks like the collapse shot here may be the injury that happens at the beginning of the movie.

If anybody there wasn’t aware there was a movie being filmed during their race, the whole situation likely seemed surreal. The new F1 film has been seemingly using near-guerilla tactics when it comes to shooting, as the movie has had to film in tight windows to get the shots they need without disrupting the race itself. As one can imagine this requires everybody to really be on their toes and for everything to go just right.

Actual F1 racing star Lewis Hamilton is a producer of the new film and has also been acting as a sort of technical advisor, so it's not just the locations that will give the movie a feeling of authenticity.

How much more filming, at F1 races or otherwise, is left to do is unclear but it likely isn’t much. F1’s release date is coming up in June 2025 so production will need to wrap pretty soon so that post-production can get started. On the plus side, the fact that the movie’s stars have done a lot of the action themselves likely means there won’t be too much need for CGI work since the movie was handled practically. Still, the editing for all the action will certainly be complex.

At this point, it’s hard to claim that Top Gun: Maverick did a single thing wrong. The Top Gun sequel made a billion dollars at the global box office and was nominated for numerous awards. The casting decision as well as bringing in Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski were clearly all brilliant in retrospect. It’s nearly impossible to imagine how the film could have been any better, except it’s possible that maybe it could have been; the movie could have been directed not by Joseph Kosinski but by Ridley Scott, the brother of the late Tony Scott, who helmed the original Top Gun.

It’s not hard to imagine why the producers of Top Gun: Maverick would have asked Ridley Scott if he wanted to direct the sequel to his brother’s massive hit movie. It would have been fitting to keep things in the family as it were. Scott tells THR that he turned the job for the simple reason that Top Gun: Maverick wasn’t his kind of film because he and his brother had very different tastes. Ridley Scott explained…

It’s certainly true that Tony and Ridley Scott did not make a lot of the same sorts of movies. Of all of Tony Scott's great films, the only genre movie he directed was his first feature film, The Hunger, a vampire movie starring David Bowie. After that, while the plots of Tony Scott’s films could be fantastic, they were all set in a modern-day “real” world.

By comparison, while Ridley Scott did direct modern stories (including Thelma and Louise, for which he would get an Oscar nomination for Best Director), the majority of his films are more detached from reality. Ultimately, Ridley Scott decided that the reason he was offered the film, being Tony Scott’s brother, was precisely the reason he didn’t want to do it. Ridley reportedly dismissed the Top Gun sequel after he saw it, perhaps because he was being extra tough on a movie that followed his brother's work.

Scott gets bonus points for praising one of Tim Curry’s best performances, the fantasy movie Legend, a movie in which Ridley Scott directed Tom Cruise previously. It would have been quite cool to see the two reunite once again, and on a movie that had launched the careers of both Cruise and Tony Scott.

Whether Ridley Scott would have made the movie better, there’s no argument that the director who took the job, Joseph Kosinski, did an amazing job. Kosinski is reportedly involved in the now-in-development Top Gun 3, but maybe if there ends up being a reason he can’t do it, somebody else would be interested.

Top Gun: Maverick dropped audiences' jaws, as it took them inside the cockpit of fighter jets with Tom Cruise and its cast. Now, director Joseph Kosinski is building on the movie’s impressive technology with F1. The Brad Pitt-led movie has the actor playing a former Formula One driver who returns to the profession after years of being away from it. During the production, the filmmakers not only closely collaborated with Formula One and its teams, but Kosinski called upon the expertise of Lewis Hamilton. And it sounds like he was critical to the production.

Lewis Hamilton has been hailed as the best Formula One driver the circuit has ever seen, earning over one hundred wins throughout his career thus far. He not only serves as a producer on F1 and appears as himself in the film, but he’s also being credited as a key name in the making of what is quickly becoming one of the most exciting entries on the 2025 movie schedule. Joseph Kosinski recently opened up about the process of recruiting the racing icon for the film: 

It sounds like Formula One fans can expect a detailed (and accurate) look at the driving world, thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s creative input. It's possible that this link-up was due to a collaboration that almost happened several years back. A good friend of Tom Cruise's since 2015, Hamilton was even offered a role in Top Gun: Maverick. However, he chose to turn it down because he felt underprepared to act and didn’t have the time to devote to the training required. So, while the Oblivion helmer didn’t get to direct the Formula Champion in a fighter jet, they were able to work quite closely on this racing epic.

During his joint Deadline interview alongside Joseph Kosinski, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who is also from the Maverick team, shared his own thoughts on making the upcoming movie with Formula One. And he had high praise for the 39-year-old English racer that the creative team consulted with:

F1 was made very much in partnership with Formula One, with Joseph Kosinski also adding that during production, “we’re the eleventh team.” Brad Pitt and co-star Damson Idris trained for the flick for three months, driving cars, first in Formula Three before moving to Formula Two over the course of their preparation. Apparently, Lewis Hamilton was rather impressed with the actors’ abilities as well, calling the pair “natural athletes” that he was “really impressed with.” Check out the first F1 trailer below: 

The film tells the story of Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a former Formula One driver who was big in the '90s before a major accident forced him to retire from the sport. But, when team owner and friend Ruben (Javier Bardem) asks Hayes to come out of retirement to train Damson Idris’ Joshua Pierce, he jumps back into the game. Also among the cast is Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies Kim Bodnia and Shea Wingham. Also, most recently, it was confirmed that Bridgerton fan-favorite Simone Ashley was cast in a role. 

So far, what's been shown of F1 looks absolutely incredible. And, after hearing Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer's thoughts, one would think that the production truly benefited from Lewis Hamilton's insights. It'll be exciting to see the finished production when it hits theaters on June 27, 2025! 

Joseph Kosinski, the powerhouse director behind Top Gun: Maverick, is switching gears from fighter jets to Formula 1 race cars. His latest project set to thrill cinematic thrill seekers is the upcoming 2025 movie release, F1. The Apple Original Films production stars Brad Pitt and promises to merge cutting-edge technology with the intense, high-speed world of Formula 1 racing. Sign me up. 

The director is known for his innovative filmmaking techniques, and this project is no exception. He and his team are leveraging advanced technology that even surpasses what they used in the record-breaking Top Gun: Maverick. The Tron: Legacy director explained to Deadline:

This state-of-the-art approach allows for capturing the electrifying thrill of Formula 1 with unprecedented precision, ensuring that every high-speed moment is documented in cinematic detail.

One of the most striking aspects of the film's production is its integration into live Formula racing events. The Oblivion filmmaker recounted an adrenaline-pumping shoot at Silverstone:

This tight, high-pressure shooting schedule not only adds authenticity but also heightens the emotional intensity of the performances. The first trailer for F1 gives us a look at Pitt suited up and, highlights the exhilarating racing action, and evokes the same thrilling vibes as Top Gun: Maverick in the best possible way.

F1 is also borrowing a page from Top Gun by incorporating experts into its production team. Just as Maverick included naval pilot experts like Frank “Walleye” Weisser, this racing film features seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton as a producer. Hamilton’s expertise has been invaluable, ensuring the movie accurately portrays the sport. The director added:

With a release date set for June 2025, hitting streaming for anyone with an AppleTV+ subscription, excitement is already building. While it's uncertain if F1 will reach the same heights as Tom Cruise’s 2022 billion-dollar hit, the film promises to deliver an adrenaline-charged cinematic experience. Combining star power, innovative technology similar to that used in Cruise’s billion-dollar 2022 hit, and authentic racing action, this Formula 1 film is poised to captivate audiences and leave fans on the edge of their seats. For more on upcoming movies, check out our 2024 movie release schedule. 

When news broke Brad Pitt would be leading a Formula One movie, there were plenty of reasons for fans to be excited. Joseph Kosinski is directing, coming right off of Top Gun: Maverick, and the film will include a supporting cast that includes Tobias Menzies and Javier Bardem. We’ve already gotten a taste of some of the Formula One looks that will be featured in the upcoming sports flick, but we just got a full glimpse into some at Pitt in driving gear and he looks like a perfect fit for the F1 world. And, since it's the week that keeps on giving, there's a new poster for the flick to boot. 

Brad Pitt was photographed walking in the paddock during the previews before the Great Britain F1 Grand Prix. The event was held on the 4th of July at Silverstone Circuit in Newhampton England. The Se7en actor looked cool as can be in full racing gear. The suit looked custom-made, adorned with sponsor logos. Pitt was also rocking the blonde look, with sunglasses fit for both a movie star and a Formula One driver. You can see his look below: 

F1 racers all look cool in the getup, but nobody looks cooler than Brad Pitt in ... well, pretty much anything. He looks suave and confident playing a race car driver, which is the perfect temperament for getting behind the wheel of a sports car. Plot details from the film are still being kept closely under wraps, but we do know that Pitt will be driving for the fictional team APXGP, and will be playing a mentor figure to a young, up-and-coming driver played by Damon Idris.

And if that's not enough, the studio released a first look at the F1 poster today too. Check it out. 

Pitt was in hot water with some F1 fans in the past for seemingly ignoring racer Martin Brundle at an event, however hopefully all the photos showing his commitment to getting the F1 details right in this film will make up for it. Pitt is a producer on the movie as well, so he has a lot of ground to cover to satisfy loyal Formula One fans. 

There are also rumors the Ad Astra star was doing some of his own driving in the upcoming racing film, so Pitt is definitely putting emphasis on authenticity. The multi-hyphenate has a great producing track record, so fans can rest easy knowing F1 is in good hands. 

Speaking of authenticity, this isn’t the first time Pitt has been spotted at a racing event. The movie star has been seen at a number of Formula One events over the course of the last two years. The production team has been determined to feature real racing footage throughout the film, and much of the 2023 F1 season will be featured. 

According to RacingNews, all ten real teams will also be spotlighted and real drivers will be making their on-screen movie debut, including superstar Lewis Hamilton. If these new photos weren’t convincing enough, there’s clearly a lot F1 and AppleTV+ are doing to make sure fans who check out the movie will leave satisfied. 

You can see Brad Pitt in the F1 film when it becomes available for AppleTV+ subscribers in the summer of 2025. For more information on other exciting titles heading to theaters and streaming in the near future, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule. 

It seems being both a friend and collaborator of Tom Cruise has its share of benefits. You not only get to bear witness to some of the spectacular feats he performs on film sets but, if you’re really close to the man, you can even lightly “make fun of him,” like Simon Pegg does. In addition to those benefits though, there’s also Cruise’s famous Christmas cake, which he sends out to those closest to him every year over the holidays. The seasonal treat is practically a legend unto itself at this point, and there are plenty of fans who’d love to try it for themselves. Now, Top Gun: Maverick’s director has added to the lore, as he’s revealed he’s received some pastries from Cruise that top the cake. 

Based on what’s been said, the cake itself is a coconut-flavored confection that’s simply delicious. I’m sure anyone would be hyped to receive such a treat from the Mission: Impossible alum. Though I’d say that the baked goods Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski has received from the A-lister are even sweeter (both figuratively and literally). The filmmaker revealed that “there’s another level of Cruise cake.” This past holiday, Kosinski received a very festive desert, and he chalks that up to the fact that he has children:

I didn’t partake in too many gingerbread houses when I was a kid, if I’m being totally honest. But what the Oblivion director described to Josh Horowitz of the Happy Sad Confused podcast sounds truly impressive. I mean, imagine being a kid and seeing yourself recreated as a figure for such a treat. (Also, I wonder if the figures themselves are edible?) As cool as that culinary creation sounds, it’s actually not even the most impressive baked good the filmmaker has ever received from his frequent collaborator. He was gifted something even cooler when his latest birthday arrived: 

Josh Horowitz went on to ask Joseph Kosinski what many of us are probably wondering at this point – how in the heck do you get yourself on Tom Cruise’s list? Kosinski explained that he doesn’t think there’s any “secret” or “formula” to getting added to the list. He says that at some point, the cake just shows up, and that surprise actually makes it all the more special.

Over the years, many have raved about the iconic cake and what it’s like to get one. Amid the 2022 holiday season fellow Top Gun: Maverick alum Glen Powell gushed about being on the list. The Hangman actor even admitted to having a “Cruise Cake Party,” where he’ll invite friends and family over to try a piece or two. M:I alum Hayley Atwell received the Christmas gift, and she was quite taken with it. That was evidenced by the fact that she revealed the wrapping paper in a social media post. 

Unfortunately, very few of us will know what it’s like to indulge in the savory-sounding cake that Tom Cruise sends out to his friends every year. For now, we’ll just have to live vicariously through those who are fortunate enough to get them. On that note, please excuse me, because I now have a serious taste for a good piece of cake. 

You can check out Top Gun: Maverick (which arguably improves on the original movie) by streaming it with a Paramount+ subscription.

As filming on Tron 3 is currently underway, director Joachim Rønning is building the future of The Grid as we speak. It’s something that’s bittersweet, because while a new sequel to one of Disney’s best sci-fi movies has been long anticipated, it’s not the original concept that director Joseph Kosinski would have been working with on his follow-up to Tron: Legacy. 

However, a new interview confirms that while he’s not involved, Kosinski has spoken with Rønning, and the reason why is something I’ve been thinking since day one. While the filmmaker took part in a Top Gun: Maverick watch-along shared on Happy Sad Confused’s YouTube channel, host Josh Horowitz rather naturally asked about Joseph’s massive directorial debut. Part of the updates that came from Joseph Kosinski included this quote about how much he knows about what some have been calling Tron: Ares: 

Yes, it sucks that the initial incarnation of Tron’s threequel isn’t exactly coming to pass, and I’d still very much like someone to make Ascension’s script available to the fans in some shape or form. At the same time, when Jared Leto accidentally revealed that potential title for Tron 3 upon his casting, I had a strong feeling it wasn’t totally discarded. 

What little we know about Tron: Ares (if that’s its real name) is that Jared Leto’s character is an AI who’s about to make contact with a human race unprepared for his arrival. As you might remember from Joseph Kosinski’s past Tron: Ascension rundown, there was talk of an invasion from the machine world into ours. So right there, the relation between ideas is clear.

That's not only the perfect prelude to an invasion, as it also primes Ares to continue the nasty work CLU attempted to get underway in Tron: Legacy. With that in mind, the Tron 3 cast just might turn out to be a roster of “us versus them” combatants after all. 

Furthermore, what Tron 3’s potential title could be telling us is that this “different point of view” means we’re following our villain’s journey on The Grid. This also stems from the original pitch for Tron: Ascension, as Joseph Kosinski did tease that it would have included a "character exploration" on how Olivia Wilde's Quorra fit into our world. It’s a lot of speculation, but the more I parse out what Mr. Kosinski has told us above, those few details seem to lead to some pretty major ideas.

There’s no clue as to when the world should expect Tron 3/Tron: Ares to cross over into our world. In the meantime, Disney+ subscription holders are more than welcomed to sort through the Tron Timeline in its current form, thanks to both films and a spinoff series currently streaming. 

After the smash hit box office success that was Top Gun: Maverick, it’s no surprise that the latest buzz surrounding Top Gun 3 is capturing the attention of fans and industry insiders alike. While official confirmations haven’t been made, the cast and crew have given plenty of reasons to be hopeful for another installment. Despite details of a threequel being kept under wraps, Glen Powell just revealed he is still in touch with key members of the creative team, and the Top Gun: Maverick gang are maintaining a close knit bond.

Variety recently caught up with Powell while he promoted his new Richard Linklater film, Hit Man, at the Sundance Film Festival. After it was recently reported that plans for a Top Gun 3 are very real and underway, the publication asked the Anyone But You star if there were plans for him to return to the pilot seat. The actor remained coy about any details he may be privy to, but he did confirm that he was still in touch with Tom Cruise, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and director Joseph Kosinski. He said:

“When” does seem to be the major question when it comes to Top Gun 3. The cast all seemed interested in coming back, and the producing team has always been open to the potential for a third Top Gun. Stars like Jay Ellis have assured fans that the cast would be quick to hop on board if there was a movie to come back for. The creative team has always said that for a third film, there would need to be a reason to come back. And if the rumors are to be believed, Tom Cruise and the gang have found it. Cruise and Kosinski have always been candid about remaining in contact, so hopefully these talks have prompted some real movement on the project. 

It almost would seem silly not to try and get Top Gun 3 pre-production in motion as fast as possible. The success of Top Gun: Maverick was record breaking, wowing fans with spectacle and giving audiences a reason to return to theaters after the pandemic. A third film could keep the hype going, and Miles Teller and Glen Powell’s stars have risen even higher since Maverick, so having them return would also be exciting for fans. Of course, Cruise remains the massive draw, so his enthusiastic participation is essential for another high flying adventure to work. 

In addition, the creative team isn’t exactly commitment free. Joseph Kosinski is currently directing the Brad Pitt-led F1 racing film, Apex, and Tom Cruise is still deep in his work on Mission: Impossible 8, which was recently delayed to 2025. Teller and Powell are also seemingly booked and busy after the success of Top Gun: Maverick. However, the interest in Top Gun 3 is strong, and they all had a blast making the previous action flick, so I could also see them all dropping everything to hop back on board when that call comes. Powell seems to think there's a jet waiting for him, so fingers crossed he’s right. 

We will continue following any breaking news regarding Top Gun 3, but in the meantime, fans can revisit Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick now with a Paramount+ subscription. For more information on other exciting titles on the horizon, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule. 

F1 fans were excited when they learned that Brad Pitt would be producing and starring in a Formula 1 racing movie. He will also be joined on the racetrack by stars like Outlander's Tobias Menzies,  Javier Bardem and Snowfall’s Damson Idris. It’s a massive project with Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski attached to direct the movie for AppleTV+. Production has begun on the movie, which is titled Apex. While the movie was filmed at the British Grand Prix, pretty great photos of Pitt and Idris looking badass on set hit the internet

Ever since Formula 1 racing gained in popularity internationally, the push to create a film about the racing league was imminent. Movie stars are attached to the project, as well as high-profile real F1 drivers like all-star Lewis Hamilton. However, despite not being race car drivers themselves, Brad Pitt and Damson Idris look incredibly sharp in their film costumes, and could easily be mistaken for the real thing. You can see one of the pictures from the set below:

Another picture also shows the two looking effortlessly cool as they walk amongst a crowd. They both have very serious looks on their face, teasing an intensity they are going to bring to their characters.

The film in question is set to follow a Formula 1 driver, played by Pitt, who comes out of retirement to mentor a superstar young driver, played by Idris. It’s a tale as old as time when it comes to sports movies, but not many films have attempted to involve the high-speed stakes involved with using F1 vehicles. If Kosinski’s work on Top Gun: Maverick is any indication, audiences should expect big setpieces and impressive stunts. Having real drivers involved also gives the movie a sense of authenticity.

While there is clearly a lot of buzz around the latest project from the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor, it may be a while before it actually becomes available for AppleTV+ subscribers. It was previously estimated to have a late 2024, early 2025 release, however the current 2023 Writers Strike and SAG-AFTRA strike have shut down Hollywood productions, including the F1 racing movie according to Deadline. The timeline for the work stoppage is unknown, but the production pause will likely last until a new fair contract is reached with the writers and actors unions. 

While fans anxiously await for a release date to be announced, hopefully these on set photos will be enough to hold them over. The actors could not look more natural in the racing gear, and I can’t wait to see how they make the classic storyline their own. Filming at the British Grand Prix shows the immersive energy of real F1 events is important to the team, so hopefully this intention shines through when this movie eventually hits theaters and streaming. 

Fans of the Babylon star can see what else is ahead for the Oscar winner by checking out our guide to upcoming Brad Pitt projects. You can also check out Damson Idris giving a star-making performance in Snowfall, which is available now with a Hulu subscription.

The success of co-writer/director Greta Gerwig’s 2023 movie release Barbie feels reminiscent of that moment 15 years ago when Iron Man first put the MCU on the map. Toy-based movies, especially ones based on Mattel products, are now starting to head up in development, and Hot Wheels is the next project that could be revving up at the starting line. 

As this potential major motion picture saw producer J.J. Abrams jump on board last year, a new report from THR has noted that a director is now being sought out for development. If Warner Bros. wants to strike it rich again, there are a couple of parties they should be considering to jump into the Hot Wheels driver’s seat.I have a solid list of competitors for the job, so without any further delay, here’s my lineup of directing talent intended to give this automotive saga the boost it deserves.

The Wachowskis

With Hot Wheels already set up in development at Warner Bros, it’d be nice for someone with a home court advantage to be involved. Not to mention, it helps if whoever’s being considered has experience with the sort of kinetic action and racing drama this Mattel IP will surely inspire. 

On both of those fronts, it feels like a no brainer to enlist Lana and Lilly Wachowski as the brains to bring these toy cars to life. As if decades of working with this particular studio wasn’t enough of a reason to have these talented ladies sign on the dotted line, they’ve practically auditioned for the gig already. 

In the 15 years since its release, the world has found reasons to support Speed Racer, an under-appreciated film that is slowly getting its due. While this isn’t quite the sequel they’d already had planned for that 2008 thrill ride, Hot Wheels is a chance for The Wachowskis to revive their hyper colorful “car-fu” aesthetic for another spin on this new track.

Neill Blomkamp

The more anyone talks about Hot Wheels as a movie, the more opportunities come up for people to doubt just how you’d make a movie based on this lore-less toy brand. It’s a challenge that sees two solid options as a start: either find a real-life story that somehow has a clever tie into the toys, or dive head first into an imaginative pitch. Luckily, director Neill Blomkamp could do both.

In my Gran Turismo review, I celebrated Blomkamp’s efforts to not only tell a grounded true story, but also to honor the Sony PlayStation game to which it was connected. So if there’s a hook in either of those respects, you could see Neill succeeding at making these tiny cars into a big deal. 

In this scenario, I’d personally hope for Neill Blomkamp to go for the more imaginative fiction route. That's thanks to his District 9 sensibilities suggesting some neat racing drama and killer track designs with some sci-fi flare to them. Either case would be a win, as Neill brings the same hunger and precision to either side of the reality spectrum. 

Joseph Kosinski

Looking at the qualifications I feel are required to make this sort of project work, another familiar name popped up in consideration. Thanks to his work on movies like Tron: Legacy and Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski is another gold star candidate to shape this universe into something that’d be a true delight to see.

Maverick feels especially important in this case, as that Tom Cruise blockbuster was a perfect blend of speed, heart and white knuckle suspense. Mr. Kosinski is even brushing up his automotive action chops at the moment thanks to his Formula 1 movie that allegedly has Brad Pitt driving some real race cars. 

As work on that project is more than likely stalled thanks to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes currently in place, Joseph Kosinski might not have room on his dance card for Hot Wheels. Then again, developing this idea to take off as soon as he’s able to complete that Apple original film might be a good move for his future self. 

Lexi Alexander

Speaking of those early Marvel Cinematic Universe days, there’s another creative talent who could very easily make some excitement in the burgeoning world of toy-based movies. Director Lexi Alexander oversaw the underrated Marvel movie Punisher: War Zone, delivering a fresh take on costumed heroes long before the market even knew it needed such a thing.

Hot Wheels is just the sort of project that could use her various sets of skills to its advantage. As an experienced director of television episodes from the Arrowverse, as well as being a veteran stunt performer herself, Ms. Alexander could develop a truly bonkers version of this movie that delivers the thrilling experience that producer J.J. Abrams wants to deliver. 

On the wild chance that Warner Bros could want a harder edged, but still PG-13 movie on its hands, Lexi Alexander is a fantastic choice for that sort of aim. Though even in the realm of safe for network action, her prowess would still be able to wow the crowd while dialing down the carnage.

James Mangold

How do you discuss racing movies without at least mentioning Ford v. Ferrari’s James Mangold? Considering how well received that racing biopic happened to be, I feel like I’d be a fool for not mentioning Mr. Mangold in this line of contention. 

As the Logan director has tackled plenty of blockbusters and indie films in his time, the greatest asset James brings to the table is his ability to work with any era of this landmark brand. If Warner Bros wants a retro Hot Wheels caper, that Ford v. Ferrari and 3:10 to Yuma magic can shine again. 

Should the studio want something more modern or futuristic, James Mangold’s time in the X-Men universe would be the key to that project. Then again, all caution could be thrown to the wind, allowing Mangold to tackle the whole toybox. There’s a chance that he just might make us all cry while delivering the goods. 

Christopher McQuarrie

Another busy bee who might not have the bandwidth to get into Hot Wheels, despite being a perfect fit for it, is Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One’s Christopher McQuarrie. As a writer and director on the last few installments of Tom Cruise’s ongoing espionage thrill ride, McQ’s efforts to deliver hard driving action and engaging storytelling is another formula that could run this toy-based world. 

Though he’s continuing to drive the bus for the adventures of Ethan Hunt, with ideas for Mission: Impossible 9 already in mind, McQuarrie is still a prime choice to put into this sandbox. It may have to be a more effects-driven shoot, as the world of Hot Wheels isn’t totally rooted in reality, but you can be assured that Christopher McQuarrie would get as practical as possible with the Mattel IP. This would admittedly give a certain edge to those crashing fantasies every kid would play out with their own set of these miniature motor vehicles.

Edgar Wright

For my final choice in this challenge to find the right director for Hot Wheels, I'm going with another heartfelt favorite. Edgar Wright is a director that grabs from all of the bags mentioned throughout the rest of the pack. 

He’s worked with colorful IPs like Scott Pilgrim that have become colorful cult favorites, as well as had experience with the MCU machine thanks to his cancelled version of Ant-Man. And yet again, the ace in deck for Wright’s potential hiring comes from his practical experience with adventurous car stunts thanks to Baby Driver. 

Combining his past experiences with his unique voice, Edgar Wright could turn Hot Wheels into a subversively pulp journey. Plus, the Cornetto Trilogy mastermind wouldn’t skimp on the color or the soundtrack to help drive what would be insane thrills. If Mr. Wright were ever to consider trying to make a massive blockbuster again, Hot Wheels is the sweet spot that would allow him to make it his own while also staying in the lane of this particular brand.

As we’ve now crossed the finish line, it’s time for me to remind you all that sadly, everything above is pure speculation. How long that will remain a reality is a mystery, as Warner Bros. sounds pretty set on finding a director for Hot Wheels as soon as possible. In the meantime, fans can enjoy Barbie’s finished product, as it’s still dominating the box office at a theater near you; a fact that could only intensify this search even further in the days to come.

Brad Pitt’s career is going nowhere but up. While he may be currently dealing with drama regarding a winery lawsuit against his ex-wife Angelina Jolie, his movie career continues to be susccessful. His newest film is all about Formula One racing; not only will Pitt be fronting this upcoming sports film, but we've got another famous face that you may recognize from Outlander joining in on the fun. And I’m so there for it. 

In the untitled Formula One movie starring Brad Pitt and directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, this upcoming sports film is about a retired race car driver who decides to get back behind the wheel again. If you need more reasons to look forward to Brad Pitt’s new movie, Variety reported that Outlander star Tobias Menzies has signed up for the project. Considering the excellent work he’s done playing a dual role in Outlander as 20th-century historian Frank Randall and his brutal 18th-century ancestor “Black Jack” Randall, this British actor should be able to pull off any other role that comes his way. It hasn’t been confirmed yet what role the 2021 Emmy winner will play, but I’m certain it’ll be a real standout.

Having Tobias Menzies join this Formula One movie would be a great way to help F1 fans forget about being in hot water with Brad Pitt after his last snafu inside the F1 world. Fans weren’t exactly happy with the Babylon star skipping out on his opportunity to speak with racer-turned-Sky Sports personality Martin Brundle when attending a U.S. Grand Prix event. Fans felt Pitt’s apparent dash from Brundle didn't look good for him snubbing a personality who belongs to the sport that his own movie centers on. As this new movie will be heading to streaming sometime in late 2024 or early 2025, I’d like to believe there will be a lot of press opportunities for Pitt to engage with the world of F1 racing.

While the U.S. Grand Prix event may not have been Brad Pitt’s finest moment, there are other ways that Formula One racing has found its way into the upcoming movie. This soon-to-be-released film has seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton co-producing the movie with Kosinski. This should help a lot with the film’s realism to have the British race car driver working behind the scenes. If you want more accuracy to play into this Formula One movie, Pitt will allegedly be driving an F1 vehicle which is such a Tom Cruise move. But it should be clear that this F1 car will be more of a mock-up of the real vehicle as Pitt doesn’t have the experience to handle the G-forces behind that formula race car. 

Also, if you loved feeling like you were in the cockpit with Tom Cruise during Top Gun: Maverick, DailyMail revealed the movie’s team would use the smallest portable 6k camera to make audiences feel like they’re in the cockpit in each race car. Hamilton also made sure to act as an advisor for the Formula One movie’s storyline and script so that it would be “the most accurate racing film ever made.” Considering the last narrative Formula One racing movie we had was the Chris Hemsworth-fronted film Rush which proved to be even better than the sport itself, fans will be brought back into the world of F1 racing with the help of a stellar cast and crew.

Finding out that Tobias Menzies will be joining the cast of the Brad Pitt-led Formula One movie is the icing on the cake towards adding this movie to your watchlist. This movie will put its pedal to the metal right on your Apple TV+ subscription.

Tom Cruise’s impressive (and occasionally scary-looking) stunt work has been well documented at this point. He was taught to fly fighter planes for Top Gun: Maverick, and he actually scaled a plane for that Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation sequence. His behind-the-scenes exploits are relatively unmatched if I’m being honest about it. However, it looks like Brad Pitt is looking to take a page out of Cruise’s high-octane book for a production. Reports alleged that Pitt is driving an F-1 car for one of his upcoming movies – something that Cruise may not have even done. But before you get too excited, we need to talk over some newly surfaced details. 

Brad Pitt is teaming up with filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, who worked with Tom Cruise on Top Gun: Maverick and Oblivion, for a Formula 1 movie. Production on the film – which is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer – will occur amid the race weekends at the British Grand Prix in July. At that time, Pitt will suit up to drive a real vehicle, yet it would seem that initial reports of him getting behind the wheel of an F-1 weren’t totally accurate. 

It would seem that the Oscar winner is actually set to operate a mock-up of such a vehicle. As explained by Polygon, he’ll likely man a junior F-2 or F-3 model, which would be a lot more manageable for some who’s not actually a professional driver. If he were to man an F-1, it could have some pretty serious side effects, specifically the G-forces that one can endure amid the process. It should also be noted that the Benjamin Button alum won’t be driving alongside real racers, either. It’s true that Tom Cruise experienced the forces while working with F-18s in preparation for Maverick, yet he didn’t try to fly the plane himself. 

This new racing movie from Brad Pitt and Joseph Kosinski was announced in the summer of 2022, and is expected to be released on Apple TV+. The movie centers on a veteran racer who comes out of retirement to team up with a rookie and go head to head with some of the sport’s best. This seems like a role that’s perfect for Pitt, and I’m curious to see how he plans to play the character. Of course, one still has to wonder whether viewers will buy him in such a capacity, especially those who are racing fans.

Interestingly enough, the A-lister found himself in hot water with Formula 1 fans last fall. Brad Pitt attended the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, where former racer Martin Brundle was also present. Video footage appeared to show Pitt avoiding Brundle during the event, and that’s what rubbed aficionados the wrong way. Now, something like this won’t exactly make people flat-out reject the actor’s role and his upcoming movie as a whole. Though at the very least, it exemplifies the passion they have and could indicate that he’ll have to put in some serious effort to impress them.

As the Bullet Train alum prepares to rev up that engine, Tom Cruise is looking towards the release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which is set to release in July. He’ll give fans some serious thrills when he reprises his role as Ethan Hunt. For the movie, he jumped off a cliff with a motorcycle, and a recently released image shows him fighting on top of a train. So yeah… this is going to be intense. 

Brad Pitt may not be going that far for his Formula 1 movie, but it’s still impressive that he’s actually planning to drive some sort of race car for the project. And with Joseph Kosinski behind the camera, the cinematic endeavor should be in good hands. Buckle up, folks, because this could be a spectacle for the books.

While you wait for more information on the movie, you can gear up for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which opens on July 12 as part of the schedule of 2023 new movie releases. 

In an age where it’s easier for ever for blockbuster productions to simulate all sorts of things using computer-generated imagery, Top Gun: Maverick prioritized going practical whenever possible by having Tom Cruise and the actor playing his fellow pilots learning how to fly actual jets and taking to the skies. And yet, according to Maverick director Joseph Kosinski, the hardest scene to shoot in the sequel wasn’t anything aircraft-related. Quite the opposite, as it actually involved something that happened on the water.

Those of you who’ve seen Top Gun: Maverick (and if you haven’t, it can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription) will remember a moment when Tom Cruise’s Peter “Maverick” Mitchell joins Jennifer Connelly’s Penny Benjamin as she sails her boat to the “yard” to get its engine fixed. Maverick may be a whiz when it comes to flying planes, but it’s abundantly clear in this scene that he’s out of his element when traveling across the waves, though Penny does a good job instructing him on what to do. As for why the sailing scene was so challenging to shoot, Joseph Kosinski said the following to Vulture:

So this wasn’t just a matter of shooting Tom Cruise and Jennifer Connelly off one area of the California coast over a few takes. Joseph Kosinski and his crew had to shoot this sequence across multiple locations over the span of a few weeks, and throwing in the wind complications and Kosinski himself doing his best just to keep his balance on the other boat, it’s understandable why this was quite the ordeal. The filmmaker continued:

Tom Cruise and his fellow actors went through a lot of training to fly in Top Gun: Maverick, so it says a lot that the sailing scene was the most “dangerous” one to shoot. If you need a reminder about how the final product turned out, rewatch it below:

It’s been almost a year since Top Gun: Maverick arrived in theaters and spent much of 2022 as the highest-grossing movie of the year, although Avatar: The Way of Water (which comes out on digital release at the end of March) ultimately surpassed it. Now we’re just a few days away from seeing how Maverick does among the other 2023 Oscar nominees, with the sequel competing in the Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song, Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects categories. Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer has also shared why he thinks there’s a chance Top Gun 3 could happen, though no discussions have happened with Tom Cruise about that yet.

Find out how Top Gun: Maverick does at the 95th Academy Awards by tuning in to ABC Sunday, March 12 at 8 pm ET. After that, Tom Cruise can next be seen on the big screen in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One, which opens on July 14 among the 2023 new movie releases.

Top Gun: Maverick was the smash blockbuster movie hit of Summer 2022, and reached yet another pinnacle of recognition by nabbing a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. The movie is a fast-paced good time, but wouldn’t quite complete the sequel equation without the central romance between Tom Cruise and Jennifer Connelly’s characters. Now, director Joseph Kosinski has shared how their characters’ relationship changed throughout filming the movie to better suit the story Kosinski was going for. 

The Oblivion director sat down with Vanity Fair to detail behind-the-scenes factoids about the most difficult scenes to bring together for Top Gun: Maverick, and how the different character relationships were established. The action filmmaker revealed that Cruise and Connelly’s relationship was approached much differently as written in the original script, and he explained why changes were made while filming, revealing that establishing scene between the characters at her bar was just as hard to capture in some ways as the high-flying stunts. In his words:

This is such an important scene in the film because it not only pull the audience into Penny and Mav's relationship, but also the various dynamics between other characters, as well as Maverick’s internal battles concerning his past. The scene is doing a lot of heavy lifting in terms of exposition, and was likely very difficult to achieve due to changing dynamics between the characters. Kosinski further detailed how the central romance became reworked throughout the production process by explaining:

The romance is the beating heart of the film, giving Maverick additional emotional stakes, and other plot elements populating Top Gun: Maverick may not have worked as well without that being handled properly. Kosinski clearly made the right decision by tweaking the dynamic between these two characters. Their love story is totally believable as an on-again, off-again relationship that's spanned many years, and Cruise and Connelly's chemistry makes us root for them.

The actors are also clearly supportive of each other off-screen as well. Connelly has described Cruise as “extraordinary” for his work throughout the film, and stated that she believes the megastar deserved an acting Oscar for his efforts. Cruise was unfortunately snubbed for the acting nomination, even as the film received plenty of Academy recognition. Connelly has sung the Mission: Impossible star’s praises over and over again before and since the blockbuster hit theaters, and the experience was seemingly a blast for the actress. 

Cruise can be an intimidating actor to work with, due to his undying commitment to getting the intense action scenes perfect, but it seems like Connelly kept up just fine. Would she have been as enthused had their storyline revolved around re-building chemistry after reuniting for the first time in 30+ years? Impossible to say, and we thankfully don't have to worry about it. 

Anyone who missed the action flick in theaters can stream Top Gun: Maverick now with a Paramount+ subscription. For more fun popcorn movies coming to theaters and streaming in the near future, make sure to check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 movie release schedule. 

The making of Top Gun: Maverick was no small task, and it involved working extremely closely with the United States Navy to pull off this authentic and extreme movie about fighter pilots. Joseph Kosinski, the director of the legacy sequel, has been extremely open about his “quest for authenticity” on this movie, as he told Deadline. Most recently he talked about how he was allowed to go places and see things within the Navy that many civilians could never see. However, because the Navy was letting the director behind the curtain if you will, they also weren’t messing around when it came to making sure confidential and sensitive information didn’t get out. 

This all came up while Kosinski was talking to Deadline about his love for aviation. He explained that getting to collaborate with the Navy was super exciting, and while working on the film he got to travel to the Teddy Roosevelt aircraft carrier and learn all about the planes. The director also noted that he got do a lot of things that many civilians would never get to, saying: 

However, while this was a dream come true for Kosinski, it was not a dream to take lightly. As he mentioned what he was seeing is not public information, which is what led to his camera being confiscated. He continued the story, explaining why he thought his camera was taken away:

It does make sense that this would happen. There are some things the military has to keep under wraps, and those things can’t be shown in one of the most popular movies of the year. However, all this research Kosinski did, and the access the Navy provided did lead to the creation of a movie that felt like they succeeded in their “quest for authenticity,” as the director put it. You can see this success clearly, as the movie became one of the best movies of 2022 and could be a contender for Best Picture.  

On top of the confidential information Kosinski learned on this trip, he and Tom Cruise also went to great lengths to shoot the movie in real jets. The cast was put through crazy training that involved blindfolds and cages, and after flying one of the most intense sequences in the movie, the Navy pilot who flew it said he’d never do it again.

This commitment to craft, excellence and authenticity is arguably one of the big reasons Top Gun: Maverick was such a massive success, both critically and at the box office. Due to this, it seems likely the sequel will go down as one of the best action movies ever made, in my opinion. 

Even though the 2023 movie schedule is in full swing, Top Gun: Maverick is still a massive part of the zeitgeist, in part because of all the work Kosinski and co. put into it. If you are interested in watching the long-awaited sequel you can do so with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Top Gun: Maverick was as big a hit as anybody could have possibly imagined. While technically not the highest grossing movie of 2022, it’s still one of the highest grossing movies of all-time worldwide. For so many fans who thought they’d never see the Top Gun sequel, the film is quite a big deal, and we all have director Joseph Kosinki to thank for convincing Tom Cruise to make the movie.

While Tom Cruise publicly expressed interest in making a Top Gun 2 for a long time, Kosinski tells Deadline that, especially following the suicide of Tony Scott, the director of the original film, Cruise actually needed to be convinced. That didn’t stop Kosinski from pitching his idea for a sequel to Cruise. The director explains...

It seems that what Tom Cruise needed was a reason to make a sequel. Specifically, he needed a story that he felt gave the character Maverick a reason to be back on the screen. This idea, of building the movie around the relationship between Maverick and Rooster, the son of Goose, played by Miles Teller, was apparently the spark that lit a fire in Cruise. Even so, Kosinski says Cruise was acutely aware of just how high the stakes were. Kosinski continued…

 Top Gun is one of the most popular movies ever made. Fans had been waiting decades for a sequel. Tom Cruise seems to have understood that simply making a good enough movie wasn’t good enough. They needed to meet or exceed the success of the first movie, and there was know way to be sure that they would be successful, no matter how good everybody believed the story was. We know just how much work they put in to make Maverick's jet action perfect.

Yet somehow, they absolutely did “hit a bullet with a bullet” and they made Top Gun: Maverick everything it needed to be. Fans love it, critics love it. It made nearly $1.5 billion at the global box office, and to top it all off Maverick could end up winning some major awards, as many think it's a movie we could see at the Oscars. 

After a break of 36 years, Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell suited up once again and took to the skies in arguably one of the most exciting and successful 2022 movies with Top Gun: Maverick. The movie, a success at the box office as well as a major hit with critics, got everyone thinking about the future of the franchise, specifically when, or if, we will see Top Gun 3.

Following the film’s successful rollout, Top Gun: Maverick producers and stars have understandably been asked about the future of the franchise and what they think would need to happen in order for Maverick to suit up at least one more time. And while there's been no official word or reports about a planned sequel to Top Gun: Maverick, with the movie breaking even more records upon its streaming debut, now seems like the perfect time to see what the likes of Jerry Bruckheimer, Joseph Kosinski, and others have to say about the possibility of another movie at some point in the future...

Joseph Kosinski Thinks There Needs To Be A ‘Compelling’ Reason To Go Back

With Top Gun: Maverick pulling in nearly $1.5 billion in ticket receipts worldwide, according to BoxOfficeMojo, one would think Paramount Pictures, Tom Cruise, and director Joseph Kosinski would be eager to make the most of the success and quickly greenlight Top Gun 3. That, however, has not been the case more than six months after its release, and no one involved with the franchise has given a definitive answer as to whether or not the project will take flight. 

During Deadline’s Contenders LA3C panel in December 2022, Kosinski spoke about the 2022 movie, its success, and some of those incredible, white-knuckled stunts before touching on the future of the franchise with an open-ended comment:

Although Maverick has “gas left in the tank,” as Kosinski put it, convincing Cruise to sign on for another Top Gun project could prove to be a difficult task. In an earlier interview with Polygon, the director revealed Cruise initially didn’t want to make a Top Gun sequel, though he came around after he heard the pitch for Maverick.

Jerry Bruckheimer Doesn’t Know What The Future Will Bring In Regards To Top Gun 3

Jerry Bruckheimer has had a major behind-the-scenes role with the Top Gun franchise since its beginnings nearly 40 years ago, and was right there with Tom Cruise in getting the 2022 sequel off the ground. But not even the legendary Hollywood producer, who has launched massive blockbusters and kickstarted the careers of countless A-listers, knows what’s in store for Top Gun 3, as he revealed during a lengthy August 2022 interview with RadioTimes.com, stating:

Hopefully Bruckheimer’s comments don’t mean fans will have to wait three more decades to see Tom Cruise once again portray Maverick in Top Gun 3, but considering the dangerous stunts the actor continues to pull off for movies like Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, he would probably be up to the task.

Miles Teller Says He's Discussed Top Gun 3 With Tom Cruise

Miles Teller commented on his legendary co-star Tom Cruise's love of making movies as well as his admiration for the all-time great. From the sound of it, the two have stayed in touch since the completion of production several years ago -- or at the very least, it sounds like Miles Teller has brought up the subject of Top Gun 3. When speaking with ET Online at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in July 2022, Teller opened up about those discussions:

Although Teller didn’t shed too much light on what he and Cruise discussed during those “conversations,” the actor did talk about a pitch he had for the franchise when sitting down with ScreenRant in May 2022, saying he was “trying to get a Top Gun: Rooster.”

Glen Powell’s Thoughts On What Would Need To Happen For Top Gun 3 To Work

Glen Powell became a big star in 2022 thanks in part to his scene-stealing portrayal of Jake "Hangman" Seresin, a brash, cocky, yet incredibly skilled pilot in Top Gun: Maverick. If a Top Gun 3 is to happen, it would surely involve his character, but the Devotion star did have some parameters that he thinks would need to be met when speaking with IndieWire in May 2022: 

This quote echoes comments Powell made earlier in the conversation where he explained “there’s no reason in just adding another movie” if it “doesn’t contribute or beat the original.” No pressure, right?

What Lewis Pullman Had To Say On The Subject Of A Potential Top Gun 3

Lewis Pullman follows in the footsteps of his father, Bill Pullman, 26 years after the latter gave his iconic Independence Day speech before strapping in a jet and taking on alien invaders. And while Pullman sounds like he would be down to revisit the role of Robert “Bob” Floyd, he told ComicBook.com in November 2022 that he was trying not to get his hopes up too much:

Pullman’s cautious optimism is something that each of us could share as we think about the idea of Top Gun 3, though it doesn’t mean none of us want to see Tom Cruise return to one of his most beloved characters at least one more time.

Only time will tell when, or if, the world will get to see Top Gun 3, but for now we can at least watch Top Gun: Maverick streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

Stream Top Gun: Maverick on Paramount+.

While people have been praising Top Gun: Maverick for its groundbreaking action and adrenaline-rush-inducing moments, another reason audiences love the most successful entry on the 2022 movie schedule is its emotional heartbeat. This is especially true when it comes to the heartfelt scene that reunites Tom Cruise with his Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer. Now, Joseph Kosinski is reflecting on what it was like to film that tear-jerking moment with the two action stars. 

In Total Film’s Q&A with Top Gun: Maverick’s director one of the most heartfelt scenes in the movie came up. Kosinski opened up about what it was like filming the scene between Ice Man and Maverick saying (via Games Radar): 

The scene truly is one of the most heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments in the film. You can tell it was emotional to shoot for both Cruise and Kilmer, and watching it in a theater it felt like everyone was sniffling and looking for tissues during their brief interaction. 

Kosinski has been very open about how much it meant to get Kilmer into the Top Gun sequel. He also explained that it’s one of his “favorite parts” of the film. It’s touching to hear how much the scene meant to the director and the two actors, because I know I was tearing up thinking about the history and meaning involved with Kilmer playing a role in Top Gun: Maverick. 

The scene is even more meaningful because of how Cruise “rallied” to get Kilmer into the sequel. The action star explained that he thinks very highly of his co-star, and said the scene was “very special,” and Kilmer was “beautiful” in it. Kosinski also explained that when he showed the reunion to Kilmer, the actor had a beautiful response, and was “happy” and “moved” by the sequence. 

It turns out, Kilmer actually played a massive role in Iceman’s return. Kosinski explained on CinemaBlend’s podcast ReelBlend, that the OG Top Gun actor came in early and “really cracked” the story for his character. He said their reunion was extremely meaningful following the first movie because it showed the arc of Maverick and Iceman going from rivals to friends. And I can safely say all that work, and history paid off, because it's a beautiful moment in the film. 

Lucky for all of us, we can now rewatch this moving reunion anytime we want because Top Gun: Maverick can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription. 

A committed work ethic, a love for aviation, and a motivation to constantly push the envelope of what’s possible in film is what makes Tom Cruise the action movie star he is, in my opinion. These qualities, you’ll notice are super similar to his Top Gun character Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. And as the Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski revealed, of all the characters Cruise has played Maverick is the closest to the actor’s actual personality. 

In an interview with The Guardian, Kosinski was talking about working closely with Cruise on the production, and he specifically spoke about how the actor mentored the younger members of the cast. This led to the director noting just how similar Cruise is to Maverick, he explained:  

Like Maverick, in the long-awaited sequel, Cruise put the young cast through crazy training to prepare them for the planes, and he acted as their mentor. Kosinski recalled a story that really showed the parallels between Cruise and his character, explaining the conversation the Mission Impossible star had with Glen Powell who played Hangman in the film, but he had auditioned for Rooster. 

This tough advice and continued support is something Maverick does for his young pilots throughout the film, and Cruise provided for the Top Gun: Maverick cast. 

Another similarity came up when Kosinski was asked what people “fail to appreciate” about the action movie star. He answered with the actor’s committed work ethic, one that is similar to the dedicated and daring pilot he plays. The director said: 

Similar to Maverick pushing the boundaries of flying during Top Gun, Cruise has been pushing the boundaries of action in film for a lot of his career, especially when it comes to the Mission: Impossible movies. 

Over the years Cruise has proved time and time again that he wants to fly past the limits of what’s possible in film. Guess what? He did this once again as he shared the backstory behind the seemingly impossible stunt that will be featured in the upcoming Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One. From jumping off a cliff on a motorcycle, to holding onto the edge of a flying plane, to doing a HALO jump, things just keep getting more, and more extreme with these movies. 

So, beyond daring stunts, like jumping out of planes and the fact that he's actually a pilot, Cruise’s work ethic, drive to help younger actors and love for all things extreme proves that he’s pretty darn similar to Maverick. 

You can see all the similarities for yourself by checking out the most successful movie on the 2022 movie schedule, Top Gun: Maverick with a Paramount+ subscription. 

It’s no secret that the Top Gun: Maverick cast and crew went to great lengths to pull off the high-flying feats within the long-awaited sequel. While we’ve learned about the crazy work they had to do in the plane, Jerry Bruckheimer and Joseph Kosinski explained the underwater training the cast also had to go through to be ready for the film, and it involved blindfolds and a cage. 

While speaking at Deadline’s The Contenders LA3C Conference, Bruckheimer described the intense water training the cast had to go through. The Top Gun: Maverick producer said: 

Tom Cruise explained in a behind-the-scenes video for Top Gun: Maverick that the Navy has training protocol for if pilots need to eject from a jet and survive in the water, which is why the cast ended up blindfolded, in a cage, underwater. 

Kosinski elaborated on the cast’s training, saying that he knew they would be able to get Tom Cruise up in the planes, since he’s spent so long doing his own intense stunts, and is a pilot. However, he wasn’t sure about the rest of the cast. The director explained: 

This intense training came into play because Cruise was insistent on shooting “everything for real,” Bruckheimer explained. The actor behind Maverick said that in the first movie all the actors threw up in the F14s, and they couldn’t use the footage. So, this time they spent months training the actors to make sure they were ready to go perform in the F18s.

You know the scenes they were filming are intense when even the Navy pilot who was flying the aircraft said he’d never shoot specific scenes ever again because they were so extreme. However, the cast has also made it clear their training really did pay off, and they were able to get up in the air and capture some seriously incredible scenes. 

In the BTS video, Glen Powell, who played Hangman, explained that this incremental training was a “gift” from Cruise, because by the time the cast got into the F18s they could “handle it.” 

Well, clearly going underwater in a cage, and the entire training program was worth it. Not only is Top Gun: Maverick the most successful movie on the 2022 movie schedule, it’s also a serious contender going into Oscar season, already picking up one prestigious award. 

If you are interested in seeing the cast’s training pay off, you’ll be able to stream Top Gun: Maverick with a Paramount+ subscription on December 22, and you can see it in theaters until December 15. 

Top Gun: Maverick shouldn't have worked as well as it did by all past standards of measures when it comes to legacy sequels. It was a sequel released almost four decades after the original. Still, from its initial reception to wide release, Maverick proved to be a sequel delivering everything you want from a blockbuster. Part of what drew moviegoers to the cinema in flocks was the willingness of the Tom Cruise-helmed action movie to put in a level of effort big tentpole franchises don't often take the time to do anymore. The movie's director, Joseph Kosinski, has opened up about the effort put into the movie, and revealed which of the scenes was the hardest to achieve in the blockbuster sequel, and it's not one you'd probably initially guess.

In an interview with The Wrap, Kosinski revealed that though years went into the planning and staging the complex aerial sequences, it was a much more seemingly simple shot that was the most difficult to capture. The scene in question is where Penny (played by Jennifer Connelly) takes Maverick out on her boat.

And respond to it audiences did. Top Gun: Maverick had an impressive box office run. The movie opened at No.1 and stayed in the top ten for an almost unheard-of 20 more weeks, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing domestic release of all time. The film broke a wild record for Paramount and was the biggest box-office hit of Tom Cruise's career. 

Its clear moviegoers were drawn to the filmmaker's insistence on capturing as much practical aerial footage (and in this case nautical sequences) as possible. This meant the actors had to work as their own cockpit cinematographers for many of the aerial scenes, giving the movie a sense of life and weight that is hardly on display in summer blockbusters these days. No wonder the high-octane movie soared past $1 billion and became a worldwide phenomenon. 

The only question is, what's next for the franchise? After such a warm audience reception and breaking box-office records left and right, is a third Top Gun possible? Well, Maverick star Miles Teller says he and Tom Cruise have discussed it, and Jay Ellis also revealed four things the Maverick cast would want to see in a third film. At this point, another Top Gun seems like a no-brainer for the studio and the stars. If a Top Gun 3 does happen, let's hope the filmmakers don't have to face as challenging a sequence as the one on Penny's boat. No one likes waiting for mother nature to get their shot! 

Top Gun: Maverick is available to rent or purchase on home video. For all your movie-going plans, stay tuned to CinemaBlend and check out our list of upcoming movie releases.

Top Gun: Maverick has been the most successful film on the 2022 movie schedule so far, as it brought tons of viewers into the movie theater to witness the spectacle of high-flying planes and death-defying action. While Cruise is known for, and does, most of his stunts, there was one scene in Maverick where a Navy pilot flew the track for him. When they finished filming the pilot said he never wanted to do it again. 

Joseph Kosinski explained to Empire that the most extreme scene they shot in the movie was Maverick’s speedy flight through the mountains during training. The pilots have to get through a low and curvy path really fast. To prove it’s possible Maverick ends up flying the course. It was agreed early on that these flights would be practical, and everything we see on screen came from “practical aviation assets flying in front of a lens,” as the aerial coordinator Kevin LaRosa Jr. said. So, for this scene, real-life Navy pilot Frank “Walleye” Weisser flew the course with Cruise in the backseat. He elaborated on the technical difficulty of the sequence saying: 

In other words, they were flying low and fast, and in a way that is never actually done in real Navy training. So, it makes sense the pilot didn’t want to do it again, it sounds like it was a massive and dangerous challenge both physically and mentally. Meanwhile, Kosinski explained that Cruise was having the time of his life, saying: 

Cruise is definitely committed to the art of great action movies. In the Mission Impossible movies, he’s hung onto the outside of an airplane taking off, jumped from roof to roof, and much more, each time upping the ante. So, it makes sense that in the long-awaited Top Gun sequel Cruise had a blast creating these incredible scenes.

While there are moments in the film that defy the laws of physics, a lot of it was practical. Many of the stars have spoken about training for and filming the scenes up in the air. Danny Ramirez explained how insane it was to film in the air, saying they had to wear multiple hats from acting to helping run the cameras in the airplane. Plus, with Cruise leading the cast, the bar was set high for everyone when it came to training and the filming of the jaw-dropping action. 

While dangerous, the payoff of these scenes was incredible. They really pulled off an amazing feat with this movie, and it’s wild that the action was so intense even a Navy pilot didn’t want to fly certain sequences again. 

You can watch all this action in Top Gun: Maverick which is out on demand. Plus, make sure to stay tuned to the 2023 movie schedule to watch more of Cruise's death-defying action in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning - Part One. 

While Iceman and Maverick’s rivalry in the first Top Gun movie may have caused a small real-life rivalry between Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise, the actors have always had a strong respect for each other. When it was time to get to filming the long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise “rallied” to get Kilmer back for the movie. Their characters' reunion scene ended up being such a sweet and emotional moment, and recently Maverick’s director opened up about what it was like showing the scene to Kilmer for the first time. 

Joseph Kosinski, the director of the sequel, explained that getting Val Kilmer back as Iceman meant a lot. In the movie, Ice is the one who ultimately calls Maverick back to teach at TOPGUN. Ultimately, the two former frenemies share a nice scene, in which Iceman reassures Maverick that he is right for the job after having a tough time with the students and leadership at the titular aerial program. Kosinski has said this scene is one of his favorites and recently explained to THR that Kilmer's response to the scene was just what he and his colleagues were hoping for.

They sure did get it right. The most poignant moment arguably occurred when Iceman goes from typing what he wants to say on the computer to verbally speaking to his old. This was possible because the filmmakers reconstructed the Batman actor's voice through an AI. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer a few years ago and hasn't been in the public eye much, making his return for the highly anticipated sequel all the more emotional

The star himself seems to have truly relished the opportunity to reprise one of his most iconic characters. After the release of Top Gun: Maverick, Val Kilmer shared a sweet throwback on Instagram. Posting a photo of him as Iceman in the sequel, he captioned it with:

All of the love and care put into this movie is palpable and has clearly resonated with audiences -- and the cast and crew involved in making it. Since its release early this summer, Maverick has not stopped making money and has become one of the biggest 2022 movie releases. Given the subject matter, I guess it's appropriate that film is soaring to great heights. 

I don't know about all of you, but I'll never forget Val Kilmer's return for the movie and, if you haven't already you should definitely check it out. Top Gun: Maverick is now available on Digital HD and will arrive on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on November 1.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Top Gun: Maverick. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

Some movies feel like they are specifically designed to eternally be parsed and dissected by audiences (the filmography of Jordan Peele immediately springs to mind), but the truth of the matter is that even the most straight-forward films become the subjects of intense speculation in the internet age. A fan can start focusing on a specific detail, and if it garners enough attention on social media it can become "a thing."

Naturally, this activity is even more fun when filmmakers make the choice not to dismiss this kind of speculation – and that's the exact circumstance we have here, as Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski is opting not to refute a theory that the whole movie is just a post-mortem dream experienced by Tom Cruise's titular hero.

The filmmaker recently did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, and when Kosinski was asked if he wanted to dispute the fan theory, he decided to decline. Said the director,

The Top Gun: Maverick death dream theory seems to trace back to a piece from Vulture published back in May. As those who have seen the movie will remember, the story begins with Tom Cruise's Maverick serving the military as a test pilot for experimental aircraft. Against the wishes of his superiors, Maverick takes flight in a plane called the "Darkstar" and pushes the machine to go Mach 10.3 (a.k.a. more than 10 times the speed of sound). 

Maverick is reassigned to the TOPGUN program as a consequence for his actions – but the theory states that's not actually what happens to the character. Instead, the idea proposes that the brilliant pilot is killed during the test, and everything that happens after in Top Gun: Maverick is a fantasy created by his dying mind.

When you take a macro look at Top Gun: Maverick, one can see why this perspective holds water in a lot of minds. There are a lot of things that happen to Maverick that could be called idyllic for the character: he makes peace with Goose's son (Miles Teller) after interfering with his Navy career, he reunites with his lost love (Jennifer Connelly), and he is able to lead a successful mission that, on paper, was deemed a near-impossibility.   

"It was all just a dream" and "the character was dead the whole time" are fairly basic fan theories that movie-goers have applied to a lot of films over the years, but Joseph Kosinski can be marked down as a fan of this take as applied to Top Gun: Maverick, and he appreciates that viewers are crafting their own interpretations of his work:

If you're not sure exactly how to feel about this fan theory and want to rewatch the movie with the idea in mind, the good news is that it's still incredibly easy to find screenings of Top Gun: Maverick. While the film came out in late May, it is still in the Top 5 at the box office, and as of this past weekend was still playing in over 2,900 theaters nationwide.

To discover all of the features that are coming out between now and the end of the year, both in theaters and on streaming services, check out our 2022 Movie Release Calendar.

By pretty much any measurement, Top Gun: Maverick has been a huge success. The summer blockbuster has already made well over 1.25 billion dollars at the box office, and audiences and critics have been on board with Top Gun 2. However, it was a long road to get here, and Top Gun stars like Miles Teller and Glenn Powell, as well as director Joseph Kosinski, have shared their thoughts on the extended wait for the Tom Cruise starrer’s theatrical release. 

Speaking at CinemaCon earlier this year, Joseph Kosinski shared during a panel that the whole thing has been “surreal.” At the time, he had just seen the movie in an early showing in front of a room of movie fans and exhibitors and he shared what that experience was like afterward:  

A lot of people related to the movie have been asked about the wait, and Miles Teller is no exception. After he’d actually started doing early press work for Top Gun: Maverick at the start of 2020, the whole flick's rollout was paused. And while he'd seen the movie at that point and talked about the Top Gun sequel's "emotional payoff", he and the rest of the cast were forced to wait through several more covid-related movie delays before the movie finally hit theaters as part of the 2022 release schedule. 

Now he's back on the press circuit, and he told Late Night with Seth Meyers that it was honestly a bit of a bummer to have to hold off, though he didn’t have some of the concerns other people in the cast did. 

Those other people include a slew of relative newcomers like Glen Powell, Danny Ramirez, and Greg Tarzan Davis, among other names. While Powell famously played John Glenn in Hidden Figures, Top Gun: Maverick was a project in a whole different stratosphere for the actor. This is basically what Miles Teller touched on in his own comments, but Powell also gave his unique perspective during the panel at CinemaCon. 

Luckily, it seems that Powell -- and hopefully some of those other newcomers -- really kept the right attitude while they waited for Paramount to unleash Maverick on the world. Once the studio did, the movie has been unstoppable, not only at the domestic box office, but also worldwide. Of course, that's led to questions about whether or not there could be a third Top Gun movie, and it's been discussed already. 

For now, you can catch Maverick in theaters, or the original 1986 Top Gun streaming. 

Top Gun: Maverick is a big hit at the global box office and one of the reasons that is being given credit for the film’s runaway success is that rather than relying on CGI, Maverick used real fighter jets for the film’ action. That action is pretty incredible, but one moment in the film was apparently so dangerous that even the professional fighter pilot told Tom Cruise he would never try it again.

All the actual flying scenes in Maverick saw an actor paired with a fighter pilot who did the flying, while the actor performed their scenes for the camera. One of Top Gun: Maverick’s biggest moments comes when Tom Cruise’s character flies his jet only about 50 feet above the ground, this obviously puts the jet close to crashing. According to the New York Times, the jet was so close to the ground that it kicked up dust and made the cameras on the ground shake. The moment was apparently enough to shake the professional fighter pilot.

Both Top Gun movies make reference to the “hard deck,” an altitude limit that pilots must stay above while training. I’ll admit that as a kid, I never understood what the hard deck was for, as obviously during actual combat no pilot would hold themselves to an arbitrary altitude limit. However, Top Gun: Maverick makes it clear that the limit exists as a way to ensure safety for the pilots, as well as the very expensive jets.

So flying so close to the ground is something most pilots don’t have a lot of experience doing, and the margin for error is very slim, making the possibility for accidents only greater. It makes one wonder just how the film was able to get away with doing things that would never been allowed during normal training. Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski explained to Times that it ultimately came down to the fact that the people making decisions at the Navy were a bunch of Top Gun fanboys. Kosinski says…

It’s an often repeated story that Navy recruitment went through the roof following the release of the original film, even though apparently Navy pilots can be a little overzealous in their love for Top Gun. It’s pretty wild to consider that some of the people who were inspired by the first film to join up have now been promoted to positions in the last 35 years that puts them in charge of making decisions when the long awaited Top Gun sequel finally becomes a reality. 

Top Gun: Maverick has been in theaters for a month, and its need for speed has propelled the film into becoming one of the most successful theatrical releases since the pandemic. Part of that success has to do with the attention to detail from director Joseph Kosinski, who both paid tribute to the original 1986 film and made Maverick something new and groundbreaking on its own. In terms of the former element, while shooting the sequel, the filmmaker actually went to an exact location from the original Top Gun. 

Joseph Kosinski, who previously helmed Oblivion with Tom Cruise and Tron: Legacy, among other movies, spoke about the making of Top Gun: Maverick in depth with CinemaBlend’s own ReelBlend Podcast. During the episode, which is also available on YouTube, the director shared the amazing connection between the original and new Top Gun films. In his words: 

While the original Top Gun director Tony Scott passed away in 2012, Joseph Kosinski said he had a couple of camera operators from the 1986 movie. One of them actually remembered an exact filming location and brought the production there to pay homage the original film. It’s certainly rare for a sequel filmed with over 30 years later to not only have some of the same crew, but end up featuring an exact location. Top Gun: Maverick accomplished that.

This will be a fun element to compare when watching the two films back to back. While Maverick continues to make box office cash in theaters, the original Top Gun is currently available to view with a Paramount+ subscription. We’ll be watching both and on the lookout for the matching locations filmed for the movies. 

Maverick recently surpassed $900 million at the worldwide box office and has remained a top viewed theatrical release since hitting theaters in late May. The movie has received positive responses from both critics and audiences alike, especially for its immersive experience on the big screen. 

It’s safe to say that Joseph Kosinski has become a major name in directing since Maverick. After recently releasing his Netflix movie Spiderhead, the filmmaker has a movie with Brad Pitt heading to streaming next. We’ll keep you posted on what’s next for Kosinski and the Top Gun property here on CinemaBlend. 

By now, a lot of people have seen Top Gun: Maverick and experienced the impressive fighter jet action that the movie has on offer. In the lead up to the movie we heard a lot about the movie’s commitment to getting that footage practically, and the work that Tom Cruise and the rest of the cast put in, in order to make it happen. Director Joseph Kosinski previously spoke about how that was done, and perhaps more importantly, why it was necessary.

A big part of the reason why Top Gun: Maverick needed to use real jets is, of course, that it’s the only way Tom Cruise was ever going to make the movie. We know about Cruise’s commitment to realism and director Joseph Kowalski, having previously directed Cruise in Oblivion, knew that to be the case. Beyond that, however, Kosinski also told a CinemaCon audience earlier this year that the movie not only needed practical footage, but needed it to be better than what was already available in the world. The director explained…

So it wasn’t just about getting real fighter jet footage, but getting it in such a way that it would still wow a big screen audience. That certainly raised the bar, and it’s what eventually led to the version of Top Gun: Maverick we got and the insane action sequences we saw. They figured out how to cram multiple IMAX cameras into a cockpit. The movie is a massive IMAX spectacle.  Then had to get the cast trained to be able handle the high intensity work. Kosinski continues…

The Top Gun training program clearly worked, though, some, like Miles Teller, had some initial health issues because of it. In the end, everybody got up in the air and the result was some fantastic aerial combat sequences. If there is a Top Gun 3 in 20 years that movie is going to have its work cut out for it.

Moviegoers saw Miles Teller take to the skies in Top Gun: Maverick last month but, here in June, they’ll see him take on another role in a very different kind of movie. The star will next be seen in Spiderhead, a science fiction thriller that’ll be available this week to those with Netflix subscriptions. Though the flick is a far cry from Tom Cruise’s critically acclaimed legacy sequel, the production did reunite Teller with Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. Which is enough to make one wonder why the actor was ready to reteam with the filmmaker so soon. 

Now, it should be mentioned that Top Gun: Maverick was delayed two years so, under normal (non-COVID) circumstances, the releases wouldn’t have been so close together. Still, this new release was the first movie Miles Teller worked on after Maverick. CinemaBlend caught up with Teller during the Spiderhead press junket, during which we asked him how far he got into the script before he signed on for Joseph Kosinski’s latest:

One can understand why the star, who also worked with Joseph Kosinski on 2017’s Only the Brave, was excited to board the production. The director does indeed know how to create visually arresting worlds for the big screen but can also keep them grounded through great performances. When it comes to securing the talent, Kosinski has proven to be quite skilled, as he succeeded in pitching Top: Gun Maverick to Tom Cruise, even though he initially had no interest in doing the sequel. Also, when the movie actually kicked off production, the director was able to sweet talk his way into landing the location for the amazing hangar scene.

I doubt you’ll see much aviation-related iconography in his newest cinematic endeavor, though. As the Spiderhead trailer revealed, the near-future-set movie takes place at a facility, where inmates voluntarily participate in experiments involving emotion-altering drugs, in order to reduce their sentences. Miles Teller’s Jeff and Jurnee Smollett’s Lizzy are at the center of the story, as the two will grapple with their personal histories while discovering their feelings for one another. On top of that, they’ll have to contend with the prison’s ruthless (but witty) overseer, Steve Abnesti, played by the always-charming Chris Hemsworth.

This could be another solid addition to Miles Teller’s growing filmography. The actor has been incredibly busy as of late and hasn’t had the time to formally soak in the success of Top Gun: Maverick. But he did tell us during the junket that he has been able to celebrate through some of the premieres and his general interactions with fans. 

He may get a reprieve soon but, right now, he seems more than pumped for Spiderhead to arrive. With Only the Brave and Maverick, he and Joseph Kosinski have delivered some strong cinematic outings. We’ll see if they can keep things going with this wild-looking science fiction film.

Check out Spiderhead hits Netflix on Friday, June 17, and you can see Top Gun: Maverick in theaters now. Be sure that you also keep your eyes on CinemaBlend’s schedule of 2022 movie releases to stay up on other major films headed your way this year.

Major spoilers for Top Gun: Maverick lie ahead, so read at your own risk. 

To put it simply, Top Gun: Maverick is a cinematic feat, one that includes impressive aerial sequences and genuine emotional stakes. One of the most dazzling feats happens at the beginning of the movie and sees Tom Cruise’s Maverick and co. testing an experimental (and fictional) aircraft called the Darkstar in order to save their program. As it so happens, it took some doing to get those hangar scenes filmed, according to director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheiemer. The pair also revealed that the moment had an impact on real-life espionage. 

Material involving the powerful Darkstar (which was designed with help from Lockheed Martin) was filmed in and around a hangar located in China Lake, California. Joseph Kosinski and co. collaborated with the Navy to pull things off, a working experience that he calls “amazing.” When he appeared at CinemaCon to screen and discuss the movie though, he revealed that the crew was prohibited from shooting footage at one specific location. And as Kosinski would explain, that restricted area would turn out to be the perfect place for the scene:

The Only the Brave director was truly a smooth operator when it came to landing the location, yet I’m not surprised that he found a way to get what he desired. This is, after all, the man who successfully pitched Top Gun: Maverick to Tom Cruise, even after learning that the star had no interest in making the follow-up. (Seeing as the movie has broken personal box office records for Cruise, I’d say the filmmaker’s efforts paid off.)

Once the movie actually commenced production at the site, the Darkstar’s presence had an interesting side effect. Jerry Bruckheimer, who was also at CinemaCon, explained that another country apparently took notice of the aircraft once it was in plain sight:

I wonder how said country reacted when it learned what was really going on. Interestingly, Chinese audiences haven’t even been able to see the movie yet. The Paramount Pictures production has yet to secure a release date there – and it may have something to do with Maverick’s iconic aviator jacket.

Despite that situation, many other moviegoers across the globe have been able to enjoy the sheer amount of effort that Joseph Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer and their colleagues put into Top Gun: Maverick. This film is going to have some serious staying power, in part due to the incredible Darkstar hanger sequence.

Top Gun: Maverick, which is one of 2022’s biggest new movie releases, is now playing in theaters.

It’s a good time to be director Joseph Kosinski right now. First, his latest movie, Top Gun: Maverick, is finally playing in theaters and hitting all sorts of box office milestones. Then later this month, his next movie, the Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller-starring Spiderhead, will drop on Netflix. As if those two things weren’t big enough, now word’s come in that Kosinski’s forthcoming movie with Brad Pitt has found a streaming home.

Rather than join Spiderhead on Netflix, this yet-to-be-titled movie about Formula One racing has been set up at Apple. According to Deadline, Apple Studios entered exclusive negotiations to obtain the project back in January, and now a deal has been reached. This is the second Apple-related project that Pitt is attached to, as he’s also set to reunite with Ocean’s Eleven costar George Clooney for a movie being directed by Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Jon Watts about two lone wolf “fixers” who are assigned to the same job.

Joseph Kosinski’s Formula One racing movie will star as a driver who comes out of retirement to complete alongside a rookie against the titans of his sport. In addition to directing off a script penned by Top Gun: Maverick co-writer Ehren Kruger, Kosinski will produce alongside folks like Jerry Bruckheimer (who also worked on Maverick) and seven-time Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton. It’s unclear exactly how much money Apple shelled out to acquire this project, although back in January, it was reported that the package was in the $130 million-$140 million range, before above-the-line compensation. Paramount, MGM, Sony, Universal, Netflix and Amazon were the other contenders looking to acquire the Formula One racing movie before Apple came out ahead.

Interestingly enough, this won’t be the first time that Joseph Kosinski and Brad Pitt have collaborated on a racing movie together. The duo previously tried to get Go Like Hell, which was reportedly described as “The Right Stuff on the racetrack,” and would have starred Pitt as real-life figure Carroll Shelby. While that project never shifted into drive, Shelby would later be played by Matt Damon in 2019’s Ford v Ferrari, which also starred Christian Bale as Ken Miles. 

The news of Joseph Kosinski and Brad Pitt’s Formula One racing movie going to Apple arrives a few months after Pitt made a minor appearance in the Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum-led comedy The Lost City (which can now be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription). Starting in August, Pitt can be seen leading the action flick Bullet Train, with his co-stars including Brian Tyree Henry, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Andrew Koji and Bad Bunny. He’ll also play silent film star John Gilbert in Damian Chazelle’s Babylon, which comes out Christmas Day.

CinemaBlend will pass along more major new concerning Apple’s latest film acquisition, including its official title and who will join Brad Pitt in the cast. For now though, there are various other Apple TV movies available to watch, and the platform’s upcoming original content includes Cha Cha Real Smooth, Luck and Killers of the Flower Moon.

Light spoilers for Top Gun: Maverick lie ahead, so read at your own risk.

After a long road to the big screen, Top Gun: Maverick has finally arrived, and it’s making some serious noise. The film has been a box office success (despite not having secured a China release), even giving Tom Cruise his biggest opening weekend ever. Critics have also heaped praise on the aerial sequences and Cruise’s performance, among other things. With all of this in mind, some may be surprised to learn that the actor originally didn’t want to make the sequel. Now, director Joseph Kosinski has revealed the epic pitch he made to him. 

Joseph Kosinski seems to have had a strong desire to revive the character of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and eventually got a hold of Jerry Bruckheimer. The veteran producer was pleased with Kosinski’s idea but, of course, he then had to get through to the face of the franchise. As the director explained to Vulture, they arranged a meet-up with him, though Kosinski didn’t realize until closer to the chat that the actor had not interest in returning to the franchise:

That development had to be somewhat surprising for the Only the Brave director at the time. Nevertheless, he did have a leg up in the situation, as he and the Maverick actor had already made a movie (Oblivion) and had established a firm working relationship. From there, Joseph Kosinski was able to pitch his story and, based on his description of that fateful meeting, he did so in a very passionate and epic way, which ultimately hooked Tom Cruise:

How could you not be on board for the movie after hearing an extensive and detailed spiel like that? You have to love a director who knows what they want and how they want to accomplish it all. And it can’t be understated just how impressive it is that he was able to get Tom Cruise to buy in. The actor seems to be very particular about the productions he’s chosen in recent years, though most have admittedly been other legacy sequels. Still, kudos to Joseph Kosinski for pushing through, despite the obvious hesitation on the actor’s part. 

Funny enough, there are even more great aspects of the movie that the filmmaker didn’t even mention while detailing his pitch. There’s the shirtless football scene, during which the actors got to show off their well-earned abs. And of course, one has to point out the poignant reunion between Maverick and Iceman, played by the returning Val Kilmer. Interestingly, the director previously revealed to our own ReelBlend podcast that Kilmer greatly contributed to the creation of that scene.

Simply put, Joseph Kosinski (and his numerous collaborators, of course) deserve a lot of gratitude from Top Gun fans. Not only did they make a sequel that honors the original film, but they also created a movie that’s now a perfect way to kick off the summer blockbuster season. So let this be a lesson, folks. When you’re pursuing something you’re passionate about, don’t get discouraged by obstacles – even if one happens to be Tom Cruise. 

Top Gun: Maverick, one of the year's biggest new movie releases, is now playing in theaters.

No matter how much fans of Tron: Legacy hoped to see the originally intended sequel pop up on the roster of upcoming movies, director Joseph Kosinski’s intended follow-up just never happened. It’s a subject that’s been discussed time and again, ever since the original Tron 3 concept was given the axe. Almost a decade since that announcement, Kosinski has returned to the discussion to explain why things fell apart, and how Star Wars and Marvel Studios were both involved.

In connection to the release of his latest box-office smash Top Gun: Maverick, Joseph Kosinski got to revisit a subject that’s bittersweetly fond to him. Speaking with Vulture, the director of Tron: Legacy confirmed pieces of the story we’d heard before, while also adding the following context:

While he doesn’t explicitly confirm what Tron 2 star Garrett Hedlund said about the cancellation, it once again sounds like Tomorrowland’s disastrous 2015 release is a contributing factor to Tron: Ascension’s demise. With Disney’s acquisition of Marvel Studios in 2009, which was followed by the purchase of Lucasfilm Ltd. in 2012, Joseph Kosinski’s angle that the sci-fi world was covered also tracks. It also explains how determined he was to make the third Tron film happen, as he was able to keep hope alive for years after those landmark takeovers.

Though it makes total business sense, especially in light of how those multibillion dollar investments paid off and then some, it doesn’t soothe the hearts of those wanting to return to The Grid. After learning what Tron: Ascension was going to be about, and the implications it had for Sam Flynn and Quorra’s future adventures, this cancellation feels like even more of a sore spot for those that feel Disney puts a higher priority on certain franchises than others. 

Flash forward to today, and Joseph Kosinski has made movies like Oblivion, Only the Brave and Top Gun: Maverick, which all have their own followings. Meanwhile, Disney looks to have somehow found room for Tron to exist on its production slate yet again, even with Star Wars and the MCU continuing to make up a majority of what’s on the way. The art student may be returning to the forefront, but it sounds like Disney's given them a bit of a makeover for the occasion. 

As for Jared Leto’s Tron 3, which he assures us is getting “closer and closer,” no firm production or release dates are set. We’ll continue to keep track of what’s going on with this Tron movie, and hope that promising news is on its way in the near future. Should this discussion have put you in a nostalgic mood for the Tron franchise or any titles from the Star Wars and MCU franchises, Disney+ subscribers can currently binge those works to their heart’s content.