Tom Cruise may have just raced a motorbike off a cliff and parachuted into another death-defying Mission: Impossible , but make no mistake, Final Reckoning isn’t the grand finale of his adrenaline-fueled career. In fact, it feels more like an intermission. After decades of redefining what it means to be an action star, Cruise is gearing up for yet another era of cinematic dominance. And judging by the slate of projects in motion, he’s nowhere near ready to hand in his aviators or motorcycle helmet.

With Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning set to bring Ethan Hunt’s saga to a possible close , you might think Cruise would finally take a breather. But no, this is Tom Cruise we’re talking about. The man doesn’t rest; he reboots, reinvents, and returns to the cockpit (sometimes literally). From flying high again in Top Gun 3 , to revisiting NASCAR glory in a Days of Thunder sequel, to launching himself into space, (yes, actual space) it’s clear that Cruise is betting big on bold, legacy-defining spectacles.

So what exactly is next for Hollywood’s last true action hero? Buckle up, we’re diving into every confirmed and rumored Tom Cruise movie on the horizon. Let’s just say the future involves jets, fast cars, outer space, and a whole lot of “Are you serious? He’s doing that?” energy.

1 Tom Cruise in Iñárritu’s Wild 2026 Dark Comedy (Judy)

Tom Cruise as “the most powerful man in the world” who accidentally causes a global catastrophe and then has to convince humanity he’s its savior? Yes, this is real life and it’s coming to theaters October 2, 2026. Buckle up, because this isn’t another high-octane action flick. It’s Judy (a working title), the upcoming film from visionary director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, his first English-language feature since Birdman and The Revenant and it’s being described as a “brutal, wild comedy of catastrophic proportions.”

Filming quietly wrapped in London by May 2025, and Iñárritu recently broke his silence during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. While attending a 25th anniversary screening of his breakout Amores Perros, the Oscar-winning filmmaker opened up about his genre-bending collaboration with Cruise. “It’s wild, scary, beautiful, and yes—funny,” he said to The Hollywood Reporter , admitting this film pushed him out of his comfort zone. “I don’t like to repeat myself. Every movie should terrify you a little.” That goes for Cruise, too, this marks a rare departure from his action-hero brand into something way darker and weirder.

With an all-star cast including Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Riz Ahmed, and Emma D’Arcy and cinematography by the legendary Emmanuel Lubezki, this Warner Bros. and Legendary-backed project is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most talked-about releases. You thought Cruise jumping off cliffs was wild? Wait till you see him break the world.

2 Deeper

Tom Cruise has been to the skies, into space (almost), and sprinted through every imaginable city on Earth. Now, he’s going in the opposite direction, way down. Enter Deeper (working title), a high-concept, deep-sea thriller where Cruise plays a disgraced astronaut who’s leading a dive into a newly discovered ocean trench. What lies below? A mysterious and possibly supernatural force that’s deadlier than anything he’s faced above ground. Think The Abyss meets Event Horizon, but with that signature Cruise intensity.

Directed by Doug Liman ( Edge of Tomorrow, American Made ) and co-starring Ana de Armas , this project has been quietly brewing for nearly a decade. Originally set up at MGM back in 2016 with Bradley Cooper attached to star and Kornél Mundruczó directing, the script passed through multiple hands, including iterations with Idris Elba and director Baltasar Kormákur before landing in Cruise and Liman’s zone. Now with Christopher McQuarrie fine-tuning the story (from a spec by Max Landis), Deeper is finally surfacing.

Although still in early development with no release date, production buzz is strong. Cruise and de Armas have reportedly begun intense dive training, and with a rumored $200M+ budget, this underwater epic could be one of the most ambitious original blockbusters in years. Prepare to hold your breath because Cruise is going deeper than ever before.

3 Untitled space movie

Just when you think Tom Cruise can’t push the limits any further, he looks to the stars. No wires, no green screens, no stunt doubles… Cruise is seriously planning to film a movie in actual outer space. NASA and SpaceX, with the goal of launching the Top Gun icon into orbit aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. The destination? The International Space Station (ISS), where Cruise is expected to shoot portions of what would be the first-ever Hollywood feature filmed in space.

Doug Liman, Cruise’s frequent collaborator ( Edge of Tomorrow, American Made ), is attached to direct, with help from a galaxy of real-world space agencies. Axiom Space is handling logistics, while NASA provides ISS access and Elon Musk’s SpaceX handles the rocket ride. Cruise, ever the daredevil, might even become the first civilian to perform a spacewalk on film.

While plot details are still locked in the airlock, it’s not part of any existing franchise. The infrastructure for filming, like the SEE-1 studio module is being built aboard the ISS. There’s no official release date, but one thing’s for sure: if Cruise pulls this off, it won’t just be a movie. It’ll be history. Buckle up, Earthlings, Tom’s aiming for orbit.

4 Edge of Tomorrow 2

Tom Cruise might be heading to space and diving into ocean trenches, but he’s not done with aliens or time loops just yet. Yes, Edge of Tomorrow 2 also lovingly known in fan circles as Live Die Repeat and Repeat is still in development limbo , but far from dead. The 2014 original became a cult classic thanks to its smart, explosive blend of sci-fi action and time-bending twists. And now, over a decade later, director Doug Liman and Cruise are still fighting to crack the code on a worthy sequel.

Liman has made it clear that this one isn’t just about cashing in on nostalgia. He revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he’s been revisiting the original film with the studio, with Cruise, and soon, with Emily Blunt. The takeaway? He’s more convinced than ever that it’s a great movie… which is exactly why he refuses to settle for anything less than a sequel that tops it. The biggest challenge? Nailing that elusive third-act twist, especially when time travel is your main plot device.

No release date, no greenlight, and no confirmed script yet—but everyone involved is still passionate. Liman says he’s working on it every single day. So while time may be looping, the dream of Edge of Tomorrow 2 is still very much alive.

5 Broadsword – WWII epic

Tom Cruise has jumped from jets , clung to trains, and dodged time loops but now he’s gearing up to fight Nazis. Broadsword (rumored title) is shaping up to be Cruise’s first-ever World War II film , and it sounds like an adrenaline-fueled war thriller with heart, grit, and high stakes. Word is, the story centers on a British-led mission in occupied France, with Cruise playing an Allied captain who survives a plane crash behind enemy lines and must fight his way through treacherous terrain to complete a vital mission.

Christopher McQuarrie, Cruise’s longtime collaborator and the brains behind Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Dead Reckoning is reportedly writing and directing. That alone gives Broadsword serious cinematic weight. Even more exciting? Henry Cavill and Marion Cotillard are both in talks to join the cast. A Cruise-Cavill reunion? Yes, please. And with Cotillard on board, we may be getting some dramatic firepower to balance out the bullets.

The film is aiming to kick off production in summer 2025, so while there’s no official studio announcement yet, the wheels are clearly turning. If this project lands, it won’t just be another war movie it’ll be Tom Cruise going full tactical in a genre he’s never led before. And we’re ready.

6 The Gauntlet Remake

Could Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson be teaming up for a modern reimagining of a Clint Eastwood classic? That’s the buzz surrounding The Gauntlet, a rumored action-crime thriller remake of Eastwood’s 1977 cult film of the same name. While no official greenlight has been given, early reports suggest Cruise is circling the lead role as a grizzled detective assigned to protect a key witness, navigating a deadly urban gauntlet of assassins, corruption, and conspiracies.

In the original, Eastwood’s character had to drive a witness through a barrage of bullets to reach a courtroom. The remake, reportedly featuring a modern twist involving deeper political or criminal conspiracies, could update the chaos with Cruise-level stunts and intensity. Christopher McQuarrie, Cruise’s go-to director and creative partner ( Mission: Impossible series, Jack Reacher ), is rumored to be attached to helm the film, and none other than Scarlett Johansson is said to be in talks to co-star, marking her first on-screen collaboration with Cruise.

While details remain under wraps and studio confirmation is still pending, The Gauntlet remake has been circling Hollywood chatter for years. With Cruise, McQuarrie, and Johansson potentially involved, this could turn into a sleek, high-stakes thriller worthy of its iconic source material if it moves beyond rumor.

7 Top Gun 3 in Development

After the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick , Tom Cruise has confirmed that a third Top Gun film is officially in development. While speaking about the future of the franchise, Cruise shared that he and the creative team are actively “ thinking and talking about many different stories ” and exploring what’s possible for the next high-flying chapter.

Paramount Pictures began developing Top Gun 3 in early 2024, signaling serious momentum behind the long-anticipated sequel. Ehren Kruger, one of the co-writers of Maverick , is reportedly back to pen the screenplay, with powerhouse producers Jerry Bruckheimer and David Ellison also expected to return.

While casting has not been formally announced, it’s widely anticipated that Miles Teller (Rooster) and Glen Powell (Hangman) will reprise their breakout roles alongside Cruise’s Maverick. Their characters became fan favorites in the second film, and their return would offer a natural progression for Maverick ’s mentorship arc and the evolution of naval aviation.

Plot details remain tightly under wraps, but the sequel is expected to continue blending pulse-pounding aerial action with Maverick’s legacy and leadership. With the bar set sky-high after Maverick, Top Gun 3 promises another adrenaline-charged, emotional flight into cinematic history.

8 Tom Cruise wants to bring back Days of Thunder

Start your engines, because Tom Cruise just dropped a nostalgic bombshell that Days of Thunder 2 is officially on the table. While talking about future projects, Cruise casually mentioned to the Today show that he and his team are “discussing Days of Thunder and Top Gun: Maverick ,” along with a bunch of other films currently in the works. No big deal, just reviving two iconic ’90s franchises like it’s a regular Tuesday.

This is the first time Cruise has actually acknowledged the possibility of returning as Cole Trickle , the fast-driving, wise-cracking NASCAR rookie we all rooted for back in 1990. Despite the OG movie getting mixed reviews when it first dropped, it’s since earned cult status mostly thanks to its tire-screeching action and Cruise doing what Cruise does best: being cool under fire (or in this case, on fire… literally, that car crash scene lives rent-free in our heads).

Now here’s where things get really interesting: NASCAR icon Jeff Gordon is totally on board. He even admitted he’s talked to Cruise about making the sequel happen, saying, “We want to be a part of it if it goes down.” Since Gordon is now Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, the same team that helped with the original film, his involvement would make this comeback feel super legit.

As for the plot? It’s still under wraps (classic Cruise), but fans can expect a modern take on Trickle’s world think today’s NASCAR, next-gen rivalries, and maybe even a few electric cars? Okay, maybe not that last part.

Between Cruise’s confirmed interest and Gordon’s behind-the-scenes backing, Days of Thunder 2 looks like it’s gearing up to leave the pit lane and hit the track for real.