Jay Ellis Is Unaware of a 'Top Gun: Maverick' Sequel, but Says 'I'm Sure Every One of Us Would' Sign On

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagicJay Ellisdoesn’t think there will be a sequel toTop Gun: Maverick, but he admits he could be wrong.The actor, 40, caught up with PEOPLE at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night, where he chatted about the potential for a thirdTop Gunfilm.While he played Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch in thebox office smashearlier this year, he revealed he’s not in the know when it comes to a follow-up project.“I haven’t heard about it, so if you know something, tell me,” Ellis told PEOPLE exclusively. “No, I don’t think there will be. What do I know? Maybe there will be. Maybe there will.““I mean, we would all love to work together. We’d love to do it again. We’d love to be withTom [Cruise]again. We’d love to be in the back F18s again,” he added. “So if we’re lucky enough to do it again, I’m sure every single one of us would be there.“Jay Ellis.Michael Loccisano/GettyTop Gun: Maverickhit theaters on May 27, earningover $1.4 billion worldwide at the box office.The film follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) ashe trains a group of Top Gun graduatesfor a special assignment. Other cast members have hinted at a sequel, including Glenn Powell, who shared that there’s “definitely been conversations” about a follow-up film.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheTop Gun: Maverickcast took part in various adventurous stunts while filming the movie, and Cruise, 60, wasjust teasedto continue those high-action antics as he is in talks to become “the first civilian to do a spacewalk” outside the International Space Station for a film.Universal Pictures executiveDonna Langleyconfirmed that the actor is “taking the world to space” in a BBC News discussion for hisnext movie with director Doug Liman.Reacting to Cruise’s reported space plans, and whether he would join him, Ellis told PEOPLE: “AfterTop Gunand that experience with him, and his unwavering conviction and how much he focuses on preparation and safety, I’d go anywhere with him. Anywhere.“Mark Thompson/GettyAs for how Cruise’sTop Guncostars found out about the spacewalk he may soon embark on, Ellis said that the news wound up in a group chat.“In all honesty, I thinkDanny Ramirez, who’s here tonight, I think he was the one who put it in our text chain,” Ellis said. “I think every single one of us replied like, “Of course. Yeah. Duh.” What else would you do? Literally, we all know.“Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast, PEOPLE Every Day, to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.BeforeTop Gunreached new heights, Ellis opened up to PEOPLE in May at the CultureCon Atlanta event, where he spoke about what he was most proud of in his acting career. TheInsecurestar shared that he hopes to “tell stories that resonated with folks like us and made people feel like their story was being told.“RELATED VIDEO: Stars at the Academy Museum Gala"I’m most proud of the fact that in all honesty, people who look like me connect to the characters I play,” the actor said. “I’m most proud of the fact that people walk up to me, and they are pissed off at [Insecurecharacter] Lawrence.”

Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Jay Ellisdoesn’t think there will be a sequel toTop Gun: Maverick, but he admits he could be wrong.The actor, 40, caught up with PEOPLE at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night, where he chatted about the potential for a thirdTop Gunfilm.While he played Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch in thebox office smashearlier this year, he revealed he’s not in the know when it comes to a follow-up project.“I haven’t heard about it, so if you know something, tell me,” Ellis told PEOPLE exclusively. “No, I don’t think there will be. What do I know? Maybe there will be. Maybe there will.““I mean, we would all love to work together. We’d love to do it again. We’d love to be withTom [Cruise]again. We’d love to be in the back F18s again,” he added. “So if we’re lucky enough to do it again, I’m sure every single one of us would be there.“Jay Ellis.Michael Loccisano/GettyTop Gun: Maverickhit theaters on May 27, earningover $1.4 billion worldwide at the box office.The film follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) ashe trains a group of Top Gun graduatesfor a special assignment. Other cast members have hinted at a sequel, including Glenn Powell, who shared that there’s “definitely been conversations” about a follow-up film.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheTop Gun: Maverickcast took part in various adventurous stunts while filming the movie, and Cruise, 60, wasjust teasedto continue those high-action antics as he is in talks to become “the first civilian to do a spacewalk” outside the International Space Station for a film.Universal Pictures executiveDonna Langleyconfirmed that the actor is “taking the world to space” in a BBC News discussion for hisnext movie with director Doug Liman.Reacting to Cruise’s reported space plans, and whether he would join him, Ellis told PEOPLE: “AfterTop Gunand that experience with him, and his unwavering conviction and how much he focuses on preparation and safety, I’d go anywhere with him. Anywhere.“Mark Thompson/GettyAs for how Cruise’sTop Guncostars found out about the spacewalk he may soon embark on, Ellis said that the news wound up in a group chat.“In all honesty, I thinkDanny Ramirez, who’s here tonight, I think he was the one who put it in our text chain,” Ellis said. “I think every single one of us replied like, “Of course. Yeah. Duh.” What else would you do? Literally, we all know.“Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast, PEOPLE Every Day, to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.BeforeTop Gunreached new heights, Ellis opened up to PEOPLE in May at the CultureCon Atlanta event, where he spoke about what he was most proud of in his acting career. TheInsecurestar shared that he hopes to “tell stories that resonated with folks like us and made people feel like their story was being told.“RELATED VIDEO: Stars at the Academy Museum Gala"I’m most proud of the fact that in all honesty, people who look like me connect to the characters I play,” the actor said. “I’m most proud of the fact that people walk up to me, and they are pissed off at [Insecurecharacter] Lawrence.”

Jay Ellisdoesn’t think there will be a sequel toTop Gun: Maverick, but he admits he could be wrong.

The actor, 40, caught up with PEOPLE at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night, where he chatted about the potential for a thirdTop Gunfilm.

While he played Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch in thebox office smashearlier this year, he revealed he’s not in the know when it comes to a follow-up project.

“I haven’t heard about it, so if you know something, tell me,” Ellis told PEOPLE exclusively. “No, I don’t think there will be. What do I know? Maybe there will be. Maybe there will.”

“I mean, we would all love to work together. We’d love to do it again. We’d love to be withTom [Cruise]again. We’d love to be in the back F18s again,” he added. “So if we’re lucky enough to do it again, I’m sure every single one of us would be there.”

Jay Ellis.Michael Loccisano/Getty

Top Gun: Maverickhit theaters on May 27, earningover $1.4 billion worldwide at the box office.

The film follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) ashe trains a group of Top Gun graduatesfor a special assignment. Other cast members have hinted at a sequel, including Glenn Powell, who shared that there’s “definitely been conversations” about a follow-up film.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

TheTop Gun: Maverickcast took part in various adventurous stunts while filming the movie, and Cruise, 60, wasjust teasedto continue those high-action antics as he is in talks to become “the first civilian to do a spacewalk” outside the International Space Station for a film.

Universal Pictures executiveDonna Langleyconfirmed that the actor is “taking the world to space” in a BBC News discussion for hisnext movie with director Doug Liman.

Reacting to Cruise’s reported space plans, and whether he would join him, Ellis told PEOPLE: “AfterTop Gunand that experience with him, and his unwavering conviction and how much he focuses on preparation and safety, I’d go anywhere with him. Anywhere.”

Mark Thompson/Getty

As for how Cruise’sTop Guncostars found out about the spacewalk he may soon embark on, Ellis said that the news wound up in a group chat.

“In all honesty, I thinkDanny Ramirez, who’s here tonight, I think he was the one who put it in our text chain,” Ellis said. “I think every single one of us replied like, “Of course. Yeah. Duh.” What else would you do? Literally, we all know.”

Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast, PEOPLE Every Day, to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.

BeforeTop Gunreached new heights, Ellis opened up to PEOPLE in May at the CultureCon Atlanta event, where he spoke about what he was most proud of in his acting career. TheInsecurestar shared that he hopes to “tell stories that resonated with folks like us and made people feel like their story was being told.”

RELATED VIDEO: Stars at the Academy Museum Gala

“I’m most proud of the fact that in all honesty, people who look like me connect to the characters I play,” the actor said. “I’m most proud of the fact that people walk up to me, and they are pissed off at [Insecurecharacter] Lawrence.”

source: people.com