It has been quite some time since Top Gun 3 was announced in early 2024, with Tom Cruise returning and writer Ehren Kruger attached. But since then, there has been no solid update on the development of the project. On top of that, the makers have still not finalized a director for the film.  

Due to his busy schedule, Maverick director Joseph Kosinski is not expected to return, leaving the threequel up for grabs. Notably, Kosinski was the creative force behind the sequel; therefore, his absence has left a huge void, and the shoes are tough to fill on this one. But, somehow, it was assumed that Cruise’s long-time collaborator Christopher McQuarrie would fill in for the director. 

However, this does not seem to be the case now, as rumors have it that McQuarrie’s name has allegedly been taken off the list.

Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise's go-to creative partner, who directed several Mission: Impossible films and contributed to Maverick, too, is conspicuously missing from consideration. According to a report by The InSneider, McQuarrie will not helm Top Gun 3, despite their close working relationship. 

There seems to be a rift in the professional relationship between Cruise and McQuarrie. Early in 2024, McQuarrie severed his connections with all members of his team, including manager Ken Kamins, lawyer David Fox, and Creative Artists Agency, and made the decision to turn to Cruise's counsel. Since then, he has discreetly re-signed with CAA, and insiders tell Sneider that his agency was promptly informed that Cruise's camp had already ruled out pitching him for Top Gun 3.

The move seems to be the result of the recent two-part Mission: Impossible finale's poor reaction and box office performance, which apparently caused Cruise to blame McQuarrie. They both are still believed to be on good terms, but insiders suggest that after years of tight collaboration, they should take a professional break.

A break might be the answer, as they have been collaborating for years and their work relationship has solidified itself as one of the most iconic actor-director duos.

The 25-year collaboration and friendship between Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise started in 2000 with the premiere of McQuarrie's directorial debut, The Way of the Gun. Even though it did not do well at the box office, Cruise was one of the many people in the industry who praised it for its tone and writing.

Cruise gave McQuarrie a chance to work with him on Valkyrie, and eventually this led to him becoming his most reliable creative collaborator on a number of projects, including the final four Mission: Impossible films. Since 2008, Cruise and McQuarrie have worked together on ten movies. It is still not official if McQuarrie is in or out of the project, but time is running out with the release window of the movie already revealed.

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