MovieChat Forums > Top Gun (1986) Discussion > Why no sequels in the 90's or 00's?

Why no sequels in the 90's or 00's?

posted 3 years ago by Volley (3433)
9 replies | jump to latest

After rewatching this for the first time in probably 25 years, it is curious that this was just a one hit wonder and then that's it, yet it inspired so many other films.

[–] Redsfan001 (6152) 3 years ago

Good question.

A guess is that Cruise was still in his formative years as a actor and was opposed to doing sequels, which would limit him professionally as a actor. Becoming identified with the audience as one character, think Michael J. Fox, is usually not a good thing.

By the time Mission Impossible came around in the late 1990's, Cruise already had a diverse enough filmography to do sequels.

Making a Top Gun film without Cruise would be a gamble.

Just a guess.

[–] bozo_500 (13130) 3 years ago

yeh a sequel in the 90s/00s with no Cruise probably end up a STVHS type thing starring Adrian Pasdar and Michael Ironside, (with Val Kilmer as the big cameo). think Dirty Dancing 2

[–] Redsfan001 (6152) 3 years ago

Another possibility is the studio/Cruise couldn't find a decent script.

From the posts on this new movie, looks like they found one.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14437) 3 years ago

I'm guessing it was because there were no real plans for a sequel, and any time someone tried starting up a project for one during the ensuing 25 years, the plot wasn't good enough, or they couldn't get a hold of the actors needed to come back. I mean, Tome Cruise and Val Kilmer were quite busy during the 90s.

[–] bozo_500 (13130) 3 years ago

In the 90s Val could've taken in the main role he was big enough a name if Cruise didnt want to do or was unavailable .. But then Top Gun without Cruise? be like Star Trek without Shatner!

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14437) 3 years ago

You get it :) It's possible they didn't want Top Gun 2 without Cruise in it, and having only Val Kilmer around would have been problematic for the story and the audience. I mean, they didn't call it "The Goose Movie" for a reason.

[–] TMC-4 (20161) 2 years ago

I wonder if Tombstone-Batman Forever era Val Kilmer (when he was undoubtable at the peak of his popularity and abilities) would've been the right time to make a Top Gun sequel if you couldn't get Tom Cruise.

[–] millsey72 (10334) 3 years ago

Maybe movie sequels were not a big thing in the 90s and 00s

[–] TMC-4 (20161) 2 years ago

I heard that Tom Cruise was also reluctant/hesitant to make another unabashedly pro-military type of propaganda film (if you want to call Top Gun that) so soon after making Born on the Fourth of July.