Oscar winner could be what Cruise needs to get some box office love

Tom Cruise announced this week he is ready to jump back into the cockpit and head into aerial battle as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the long-rumored sequel to the 1986 smash hit, Top Gun.

Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun.’

While doing his press rounds for The Mummy, Cruise stopped by the Sunrise show on Australia’s Seven Network, and when asked about the possibility of a sequel, he responded, “It’s happening.”

“It’s true. It’s happening. You’re the first people I’ve told. It’s going to happen.”

Val Kilmer has already made it clear via Twitter he’s game to be Tom’s wing man on this adventure, but let’s put this into perspective. Unless we’re they’re filming this with a time machine, or planning on using that nifty anti-aging software they used on Kurt Russell in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, both Maverick and Ice Man are just too damn old to be the primary focus.

Now, the last time we saw Maverick, he was planning on taking over the Top Gun program, which means by now he’s probably mentoring pilots. That’s not to say Cruise won’t be getting into a jet himself, just that the film needs a younger (and bankable) protagonist.

No doubt just about any of today’s young Hollywood actors would be fighting over this part, so before the Top Gun 2 casting rumors start swirling, I’ve got a solution to end this argument before it begins.

Emma Stone.

Who better to fit this bill than the recent Oscar winner?  Stone not only has the presence and charisma to go toe to toe with Cruise onscreen, but let’s face it, Tom is going to need someone to help boost the box office and to get audiences back on his side after all of his wacky Scientology antics and ugh — The Mummy.

Only one of his movies in the last 12 years has managed more than $55M in its opening weekend, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation in 2015, according to Box Office Mojo. That’s not good, especially considering Tommy used to be one of Hollywood’s cant-miss leading men.

Emma Stone in ‘Aloha.’

Maybe Top Gun is a golden ticket and maybe not, but how much is Paramount Pictures willing to gamble that audiences will flock to see Tom back in the bomber jacket based on name alone?

Wonder Woman proved that audiences are willing to pay to see a strong woman in an action role and Stone could be the perfect wing man to take over for an aging Maverick.

Honestly, this seems to make too much sense for it not to happen. Stone is not only beautiful, but she is smart, tough, and hell, she’s already played a pilot in Aloha (don’t worry, nobody else saw it either.) Now all she needs is a call sign.

Currently no one is attached to direct, although Joseph Kosinski, who directed Cruise in Oblivion appears to be the front-runner to helm the sequel, which allegedly will be called Top Gun: Maverick and focus on the rise drone technology in aerial dogfights. Jerry Bruckheimer of course, will produce.

Actually, since we’re already casting this movie, let’s change the name to Top Gun: Danger Zone. You’re welcome.

Currently, there is no release date for Top Gun 2, whatever it’s called. Stay tuned to Reel Hooligans as this story develops.

Top Gun Official Movie Trailer 1986

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