With Top Gun 3 still in its early stages, one Top Gun: Maverick star has shared that he’s unlikely to return. Following the massive success of the $1.5 billion sequel in 2022, demand for Top Gun 3 has been high. Two years after its release, Paramount confirmed the third installment is in development, with co-writer Ehren Kruger working on a draft. While updates have been limited since the announcement, several Top Gun: Maverick stars have expressed interest in returning.
In an interview with JOE, Ed Harris, who played Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain, was asked about his potential return for Top Gun 3. The actor expressed doubts about reprising his role before ultimately stating, “Yeah, no.” Read his full response below:
Oh, I doubt it. Yeah, no. I don’t see why they would ask me.
While Harris is uncertain about returning, his response is understandable. In Top Gun: Maverick, his character, Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain, plays a minor antagonistic role, appearing mainly in the film’s opening scene. He attempts to shut down Maverick’s hypersonic “Darkstar” scramjet program and is prepared to dismiss him entirely. However, a call from Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky redirects Maverick to the Top Gun school at NAS North Island. After that, Hammer has little presence in the film.
Not much is known about Hammer beyond his role as a senior officer in the U.S. Navy. While Harris has stated he won’t be returning, there’s always a chance his stance could change. Although no official plot details have been revealed, Top Gun 3 could potentially revisit the tensions between Hammer and Maverick (Tom Cruise). If that happens, Hammer could have a place in the story, though Harris himself may not be aware of any plans. However, the likelihood seems slim, as the character is stationed elsewhere.
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There are no confirmed plot updates at this time. Co-star Jay Ellis acknowledged the movie’s delay, noting that Tom Cruise is selective and wants to ensure the script is solid. As a result, progress on Top Gun 3 may take a while, especially with Cruise focused on Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and several other projects, many of them with Warner Bros. However, that hasn’t slowed the film’s momentum, as co-stars like Miles Teller and Glen Powell have repeatedly expressed interest in returning.
With Top Gun: Maverick wrapping up most storylines, it’s hard to predict where the third film will go. I doubt a script will be finalized this year, especially considering the 36-year gap between the first two movies. While I hope the development process will be much shorter this time, it’s understandable that Cruise wants to take his time crafting a strong story, just as Maverick did three years ago.
That said, there’s always a possibility of bringing Hammer back if it fits the narrative. However, given the circumstances, his return seems unlikely, making Harris’ response quite realistic. I appreciate his honesty, as Top Gun 3 needs a story that feels natural and complete—already a challenging task. While I hope for progress, leaving Hammer out might ultimately be the right choice.
Source: JOE