Talks of a sequel to Top Gun have been happening for at least over a year now. It’s clear that at some level, someone from Paramount is trying to make this happen. Details on the project have been pretty lacking, though. What would this sequel be about? Would Tom Cruise star? Would he even appear? Who would be directing? Well, MTV recently sat Cruise down and threw some of these very important questions his way, and his responses we’re actually kind of helpful. When asked about the possibility of this sequel actually coming to fruition Cruise responded, “We’re working on it.” Past that he doesn’t seem to have too many details about what stage the process is in, however. He commented on an old rumor that Christopher McQuarrie was writing the script by saying, “I don’t think Chris [McQuarrie] is going to write it. Chris is directing One Shot right now, which I’m acting in. We’ve got to go back in January and finish it.” Everyone already knew this though, because it’s been widely reported that X-Men: First Class scribes Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz are currently working on the script for the Top Gun sequel. I suppose his input on how far along this project is should be taken with a grain of salt. What this new interview does confirm, however, is that Cruise is the guy firmly in mind to star in this movie, and Tony Scott is definitely the guy who intends to come back to direct. [Due to Content Scraping and Theft, we have been forced to try abbreviated feeds. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and woud very much appreciate you clicking through to view the full article on FilmSchoolRejects.com]

It’s only appropriate that, on the same day two films born from the neon womb of the 80s release into theaters, we get an announcement regarding yet another project that’s cribbing straight from the glory days of side ponytails and slap bracelets. Or, rather, the high-flying times of being dangerous. For whatever reason (cough, money, cough), Paramount is going ahead with their Top Gun sequel, which we’re all going to call Top Gun 2 until someone finally announces that it’s called Top Gun: Living Life Between Your Legs or similar. The studio is now reportedly in negotiations with X-Men: First Class and Thor scribblers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz to pen this latest iteration of dudes gone wild. If you’re looking for a plot, don’t come sniffing around here, as Variety says that details are “nil,” as the script has not even been written yet. What, was there no treatment? Maybe a model fighter jet emblazoned with key words? A volleyball with character names on it? In any case, who knows what the heck this film is about and how it will tie back into the 1986 original or if it will just focus on dweebs in trailers playing glorified video games that control fighter jets (whatever Tony Scott said a few months back, I don’t quite see that aspect being the center of the new film).

As the event horizon of Hollywood remakes and reboots approaches (that will be the day when they start remaking and rebooting films within the same year of release, a once-laughable situation that now seems oddly possible), the studios are turning to another way to use retread material as the basis for new theatrical releases. The next frontier? Converting old films to 3D! It’s happening for James Cameron’s Titanic (what a fun way to celebrate the anniversary of the big ship’s tragic end, right?), and now it’s happening for Tony Scott’s Top Gun. Because of course it is. It could be no other way. The danger zone will take on an added dimension thanks to Legend3D, who is converting the 1986 “classic” (really?) for a presumed theatrical release sometime in early 2012. Legend3D is doing the conversion as part of a revenue sharing deal they have with Paramount, with Legend3D footing the bill. So what does Scott think of this? Who knows! The CEO of Legend3D, Rob Hummel, admitted as much, saying that he “knows they want to get Tony Scott’s approval before they go forward.” That sounds…dangerous. Eh, not really, I just need to slip in a Top Gun quote somewhere.

It’s time for another day late edition of This Week in Blu-ray. I might as well just move this column to Wednesday, as I’m so often cramming to get releases from certain studios — who will remain nameless (Fox) — that send out their review material at the absolute last minute. That said, I’m glad they decided to send their releases this week, as they earned a Pick of the Week with one of the best shows on television. Also included in this week’s rundown: we fly into the danger zone, I admit to not hating something that screams Disney Channel, Criterion drops to juicy releases and Hugh Laurie is still so dreamy. All that and more in this week’s saucy selection of high definition accoutrement. Sons of Anarchy: Season Three With the seemingly obvious exception of Breaking Bad, there may be no better drama on television than Kurt Sutter’s Sons of Anarchy. Conceived with a great passion for the brotherhood of biker gangs and filled with characters, both main and supporting, that are infinitely engaging, it’s one of the grittiest, gnarliest and often best-acted shows around. In their expansive third season, the boys from Charming go on the hunt for Jax’s kidnapped son, Abel, a tour that leads the crew all the way to Belfast and one hell of an emotional finale. After season two’s finish, it’s hard to believe that a repeat is possible. But when it comes to SAMCRO, anything is possible. As for the Blu-ray earning [Due to Content Scraping and Theft, we have been forced to try abbreviated feeds. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and woud very much appreciate you clicking through to view the full article on FilmSchoolRejects.com]

What is Movie News After Dark? If you have to ask, then you can’t afford to miss it. I’ll admit it, I’m excited about Mortal Kombat Legacy, the web series from Kevin Tancharoen, who put together that excellent Mortal Kombat: Rebirth short film not too long ago. It looks like a solid take on a franchise that is always towing the line between badass and sillidiculous. And the first look at Sub-Zero, as played by Kevan Ohtsji, leans toward the former. The web series premieres April 12 on Machinima’s YouTube Channel.

This week, on a very special episode of Reject Radio, we get our hands dirty with an important political question: was Abraham Lincoln a member of the X-Men? We also tackle Mark Harris’s instantly popular “The Day the Movies Died” article, the concept of marketing as storytelling, and Rob Hunter is challenged with bringing up the movie Little Giants at some point during the hour and a half show. Plus, we find time to review I Am Number Four and Unknown before settling into the real question of the night: Is there a liberal bias in Hollywood. Special guests Vic Holtreman from Screen Rant and John Nolte from Big Hollywood join Hunter and I on this magical, magical journey that will touch your heart. Listen Here: Download This Episode

Since there are actual human beings thinking it’s a good idea to make a sequel to Top Gun, it seems important to take a look at the hurdles that would face such a production (at least as they pertain to telling a good story and casting people that makes sense). Will Tom Cruise sign on to star? Will Goose’s ghost be involved? Neither of those questions matter, because the possible production has an uphill battle as it is.

Why anyone hasn’t looked to the Oscar-winning Top Gun as a possibility for either a reboot, a retread, a remake or a make-again (the new phrase Hollywood is using) is beyond me. Everything else from the 1980s is already being mined for its cheesy goodness, and I see no reason that the oiled-up, volleyball-playing masterpiece can’t be next on the list.

We’d be willing to bet that you didn’t even realize it was Top Gun Day. Why? Because we have a gambling problem, and we’ll just about bet on anything.

When it comes to Original Songs, Robert Fure doesn’t settle for only slightly related content. Has he taken his obsession with movie music to absurd heights? Yes.

Neil finally returns to the Magical Studio in the Sky with stories from the land of milk and honey, otherwise known as the Sundance Film Festival. Kevin celebrates the return by berating him for only seeing one movie this week, although Neil defends himself because he saw 143 movies at the festival.

Because we can’t all dress like Soul Men, we head to 1986 and the machismo masterpiece that is Top Gun.

Tom Cruise is apparently in talks to reprise his role as Lt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in a sequel that is 22 years in the making. That’s right, time to take another ride into the danger zone…

What if Top Gun was a love story between Maverick and Ice Man?