“TOP GUN: MAVERICK” Gets JUNE PREMIERE Date ADVANCED by PARAMOUNT

Sometimes fans may feel that a sudden new installment to a franchise that had not seen any addition to it for years might be superfluous and unnecessary. When Paramount Pictures and Tom Cruise went into high gear to produce a sequel to the 1986 aircraft action film “Top Gun,” those who were not cautiously optimistic for it were instead thinking that the upcoming movie was a waste of time. But several trailers and behind-the-scenes specials have won many of them over to waiting in anticipation. “Top Gun: Maverick” is slated for premiering June 26, but the studio has felt a need: a need for speed.

According to IGN, fans of Tom Cruise and his return to form as Navy aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell will be happy to know that Paramount has decided not to make you wait any longer than necessary. A surprise announcement from the studio reveals that the release date for “Top Gun: Maverick” has been pushed forward from the original schedule of June 26. Instead, it will premiere in cinemas on June 24, two days earlier. While Paramount has offer no in-depth explanation, the advanced release date only speaks of great confidence in the film’s box-office pull.

Before the rescheduling, “Maverick” was sharing the 26^th of June with the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “In the Heights,” a cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical created by Quiara Alegria Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” fame. Along its cinematic run, the Tom Cruise starrer will eventually come into some notable box-office competition such as “Free Guy” starring Ryan Reynolds, from 20^th Century Studios (formerly 20^th Century Fox, now rebranded as a Disney subsidiary). This sci-fi action comedy premieres July 3, on the second week of “Maverick” in theaters.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is directed by Joseph Kosinski with original film producer Jerry Bruckheimer back in the aviator’s seat alongside lead star Tom Cruise. He reprises his role as now-Navy Captain Maverick Mitchell, cowboy-ish instructor at the Top Gun academy who refuses higher-rank promotions to keep flying. When the son of his late former F-14 RIO “Goose” becomes one of his students, Maverick finds himself confronting the ghosts of his past, all between dynamic flight action scenes aboard F/A-18 Hornets. Cruise is joined by Val Kilmer also returning as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, plus Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly and Ed Harris. The movie premieres June 24.

Image: The Aviation Geek Club