With a story set in the present day and dealing with very modern warfare, Maverick follows fighter pilots as they grapple with drone tech that is making their old style of flying obsolete. Cruise will reprise his character Pete "Maverick" Mitchell.

Oblivion director Joseph Kosinski will direct the sequel to the 1986 hit that made Cruise a global star. Kosinski has experience bringing beloved '80s IP back to the big screen, having helmed 2010's Tron: Legacy. Legendary German composer Harold Faltermeyer, who created Top Gun's memorable synth score, is also returning to the production.

Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the Tony Scott-directed original, will return to produce the sequel, along with Skydance's David Ellison and Cruise.

Top Gun: Maverick is slated to hit theaters on July 12, 2019. Cruise's next film, Mission: Impossible — Fallout, is being released on July 27.