A long mulled-over Top Gun sequel is on the way, according to comments made by Tom Cruise, star of the original box office hit from 1986.

"If we can get over some stumbling blocks it will be fun to do," Cruise, who was in London to attend the Empire film awards, told Sky News.

The actor is currently in production on the fifth Mission: Impossible film. But Top Gun 2 is a real possibility, he intimated. "With movies, they each have their time – when it's ready to made," Cruise added.

The emblematic 80s action film about US Navy pilots was the biggest box-office hit of 1986, and has gone on to gross more than $356m (£214m) worldwide. A sequel has been actively planned since 2010, but the death of director Tony Scott, in 2012, forced producer Jerry Bruckheimer to put the project on hold.

However, as recently as June last year, Bruckheimer said the film was still going forward, fuelled by Cruise's own enthusiasm. "We still want to do it with Tom [Cruise] and Paramount are still interested in making it … It's something he is excited about. So as long as he keeps his enthusiasm, hopefully we'll get it made."