'Top Gun: Maverick' Bets on America, Plans to Keep July Release Date

The Great American Reopening seems to be in chaos, with vaccines gathering dust in refrigerators as the pandemic rages to new heights across the nation. But don't tell that to Tom Cruise and Paramount Pictures, because they're still planning on a big theatrical release for "Top Gun: Maverick" on July 2.

Some of you have been enjoying socially distanced movie viewing for a few months now, but the theaters in the largest cities, where studios make most of their money, are still closed up tight. Any movie release that depends on a big box office is still in dire straits as of today.

Marvel has yet to abandon its May 7 release for the already-delayed 2020 movie "Black Widow," but it's almost a sure bet it'll bump it to the fall or give up and just stream the movie on Disney+. The May 28 release date for "Fast and Furious" sequel "F9" is also looking mighty shaky.

Realistically, it's that July release for "Top Gun: Maverick" that has the first legitimate chance to work. Paramount President of Distribution Chris Aronson says the studio is fully committed to July if the Biden administration's strategy works according to plan.

"We have no plans to move our theatrical release of 'Top Gun,'" Aronson insisted in a statement. "I think the next two months are critical, and whether the new administration can implement a robust vaccination plan. If Biden's 100 million vaccines in 100 days works, then I think we'll be in good shape."

If only the president could put Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in charge of the pandemic response. You know we'd take a lot of unnecessary risks, shock the world with a series of moves that said to hell with "the book," and pull out a great American victory in a matter of weeks, not months.

Paramount wanted a "Top Gun" sequel for decades, but Cruise said no until he found a new story that he wanted to tell. Somehow, Maverick is now a Top Gun instructor, and he's passing on his unique set of skills to a new generation. The movie was directed by Joseph Kosinski ("Oblivion," "TRON: Legacy") and also stars Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell and Lewis Pullman. Ed Harris and Val Kilmer return from the original movie.

The filmmakers behind "Top Gun: Maverick" believe they've delivered the greatest aerial footage ever captured on film, so it's hard to imagine that we'll see the movie stream anywhere before it lands in theaters. Will that July 2 date hold? Get your shots, wear a mask and keep your fingers crossed.

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