Tom Cruise starrer ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ to release two days early

The upcoming drama-action film “Top Gun: Maverick”, starring Tom Cruise, is set to hit the screens on June 24, two days before its scheduled release.

According to Variety, Paramount Pictures made the announcement Monday. Cruise is reprising his role as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

The new film is a follow-up to Tony Scott’s 1986 action drama Top Gun that shot Cruise to fame. “Maverick” will be set in a world of drone technology and will explore the end of the era of dogfighting, with Cruise portraying a flight instructor.

READ MORE: Tom Cruise is back in new ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ sequel trailer

Whiplash star Miles Teller will play the son of Goose, Maverick’s co-pilot (played by Anthony Edwards in the original), who’s his new protege. Val Kilmer will also reprise his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the sequel.

Directed by Oblivion fame Joseph Kosinski, the sequel is penned by Peter Craig, Justin Marks, and Eric Warren Singer.

The ensemble cast also features Jon Hamm, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Jay Ellis, Bashir Salahuddin, Danny Ramirez, and Monica Barbaro.

The original film was a massive success, grossing more than $350 million worldwide on a $15 million budget.

Paramount had originally planned to release the film in the summer of 2019, but decided to move it back a year to give filmmakers the opportunity to work out the logistics of presenting flight sequences with new technology and planes.

Moving “Top Gun: Maverick” forward will give it a jump on Warner Bros.’ “In the Heights,” its adaption of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s stage musical and an expected summer blockbuster.