Tom Cruise has expressed interest in reprising his role as U.S. Naval aviator Maverick in a sequel to the 1986 hit action film "Top Gun."
Cruise, who attended the premiere of his latest action flick, "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" in London on July 25, told Reuters: "It would be fun. I would like to get back into those jets."
The 53-year-old actor, however, was not willing to create just any "Top Gun" sequel. "It would have to be practical," he stated. "I don't want any CGI jets. I want to shoot it like how we shot the first one."
It can be recalled that the 1980's blockbuster hit made Cruise a full-fledged movie star, grossing more than $350 million from a $15 million budget. Because of its success, producer Jerry Bruckheimer was said to have been pushing to create a sequel for years.
Recent reports claimed that works for "Top Gun 2" were underway. In an interview to Collider in June, film producer and Skydance Productions CEO David Ellison confirmed the ongoing status of the "Top Gun" sequel and the participation of Cruise in the project.
"There is an amazing role for Maverick in the movie and there is no Top Gun without Maverick," Ellison said. "It is I don't think what people are going to expect, and we are very, very hopeful that we get to make the movie very soon."
For now, Cruise's fans will have to wait to see him flying an aircraft carrier as Navy pilot Maverick. Instead, in the latest "Mission: Impossible" installment, the audience will see the Hollywood star as agent Ethan Hunt clinging to the side of a moving plane, a stunt he did without a double.
The actor, known for doing dangerous stunts on his own, has also performed other eye-popping stunts for his role as a former IMF agent, including leaping off skyscrapers and high speed racing in Morocco.
"Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" is set to hit theaters on July 30.