By: John M Jerva

Production on the long awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick concluded well over two years ago and the anticipated follow up to the 1985 smash hit has seen several release dates fall to the wayside due to the pesky COVID pandemic. As it stands now, the latest launch date is May 27th which found have been the same date for John Wick 4 before the latter bowed out until March of next year.

Well, USA Today has released the latest image from the film and its been a while since we’ve had any news so I thought I’d share it for you down below. It features Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell standing at the ready with the next generation of dog fighters behind him. It is a nice shot of the cast as they are silhouetted in shadows so it serves up a nice dramatic feel to it.

The official synopsis for the film reads: “After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster”, the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”. Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.”

Cruise returning to his signature role has shears been the draw here and the plot is jocular as it features Mitchell returning to train a whole new generation of Top Gun pilots for a special mission. Things don’t go smoothly however as his past catches up to him and he must deal with the son of his late wingman Goose who is one of the candidates. Miles Teller plays Rooster who is the son of Anthony Edwards’ character so the drama looks like it’s gonna soar just as high as the jets.

Joseph Kosinski (Oblivion) helms the film with Jerry Bruckheimer producing along with Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, and David Ellison.

The aerial footage looks fan-freaking-tactic and to see Cruise back in the cockpit makes it feel like it’s the 80’s all over again with Kenny Loggins singing away.

Top Gun: Maverick is expected, at least at the time of this writing, to hit theaters on May 27th so fingers crossed everyone.