The TOP GUN sequel that refuses to die has just landed another screenwriter.
Justin Marks has landed a handful of really high-profile gigs over the course of his career, despite his only produced credit being on STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI. The guy has been tasked with penning drafts for high-profile projects like MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS, and the JUNGLE BOOK adaptation that Jon Favreau's currently directing (check out his Hollywood Reporter editorial on the life and times of an often-uncredited, but consistently-working screenwriter). Apparently, his work on Jerry Bruckheimer's WAR DOGS convinced Brucks that he was the man to crack the nut that is TOP GUN 2, and he's the one currently tasked with drafting a workable draft that the producer and Tom Cruise can sign off on.
Obviously, Tony Scott's death made many think that this long-gestating sequel was never going to happen, but announcements like this keep popping up and making us think that Bruckheimer and Cruise are dead-set on making another go-around with Maverick. They still don't have a director attached, so hopefully one of two things happens: either Marks' script is so good that a top-notch action director wants to sign on, or it's such a muddled disaster that it finally puts the kibosh on the whole thing.
I have to admit, with no disrespect to Marks, I'm kinda hoping for the latter.
