Contrary to last year, which saw studios pushing the release dates of their films back as much as a full year in the wake of a raging and unpredictable pandemic, the last few months have seen studios move their filmsupon the release calendar. The vaccine rollout is in full swing, especially in the United States, and studios seem bullish that May will be when we start getting back to some semblance of normal, with Paramount’sA Quiet Place: Part IIpoised to light up the box office on May 28th.
Which is why it seemed odd whenTop Gun: Maverick, which had been situated for a similarly big Fourth of July weekend on July 2nd, wasrecently delayedall the way to November. But a new report sheds some light on Paramount’s thinking behind the move, and it has to do withTom Cruise.
The actor, who is currently in London filmingMission: Impossible 7andMission: Impossible 8, wants to embark on a global press tour in advance of the release of the highly anticipatedTop Gunsequel,THRreports. But right now that’s pretty impossible, and even this summer seems murky as countries in Europe and possibly Japan are looking at further lockdowns as they lag behind the U.S. in vaccine rollout.
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So if Paramount had stuck with the July release date, the film could have likely had a pretty robust domestic opening, but its worldwide rollout may have been hindered. By delayingTop Gun: Maverickto November 19th, this ensures Cruise can move forward with a lengthy and robust press tour around the world touting the sequel before it hits theaters just before Thanksgiving.
Another potential positive for Paramount in delaying the film is the production schedule of theMissionsequels.Christopher McQuarrie, who helmedMission: Impossible – Rogue NationandMission: Impossible – Fallout, is writing and directingM:I 7and8back-to-back, but of course the production was delayed a bit due to the pandemic. HadTop Gun 2stuck to its July release date, the production might have had to shut down so Cruise could fulfill press duties forTop Gun. But now with four extra months, McQuarrie and Co. can hopefully get bothM:I 7and8in the can before Cruise departs on theTop Gunpress tour.
Consequently,Mission: Impossible 7was originally set for release in November but has been pushed back to May, 2022, so Cruise, McQ and Co. have even more extra time to get that sequel in tip top shape, while also being able to focus on givingTop Gun: Maverick– on which McQuarrie is a writer and producer – a proper rollout.
So hang tight, folks. The longer wait surely isn’t fun, but it may be most beneficial toTop Gun: Maverickand the future of movie theaters in the long run, as the film will hopefully provide a significant stimulus to the box office this Thanksgiving.
Directed byJoseph Kosinski,Top Gun: Maverickfinds Cruise reprising his iconic role, this time in charge of a new band of young Top Gun graduates – including Goose’s son, played byMiles Teller. The ensemble also includesJennifer Connelly,Jon Hamm,Glenn Powell,Lewis Pullman, andEd Harris.
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