Tom Cruise In Rock of Ages… and Top Gun 2?

Fun Fact: Despite making “only” $76M in the United States box office — and being declared a “flop,” the Tom Cruise action film Knight & Day ended up raking in over $250M worldwide. What does that tell us? Well, while it seems Cruise might have worn out his welcome with his usual craziness for most Americans, he certainly hasn’t lost his worldwide appeal. Still, the United States is the center of the movie universe, and Cruise is definitely trying to take a stab at a return to domestic glory with a fourth turn as Ethan Hunt in the (title just announced) Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol. But that seems to be only STEP ONE of Cruise’s “Take Back America” plan… find out about what possible roles he might take next after the jump …they’re definitely surprising!

First, New Line has seemed to find a spot for Cruise in its adaptation of the 1980’s hair band hit musical Rock of Ages. He has been offered the role of a bartender in a part in which showing off his vocal talents will be top priority. While I have no idea if Cruise can sing, this could be a fun role along the lines of his well-received Tropic Thunder Les Grossman role. In fact, the only time I can recall hearing Cruise sing was in Top Gun…

…Which is a perfect segue for my next bit of news! According to various sources, a Top Gun sequel is in the works. Tony Scott, who directed the original 1986 film, has said numerous times during the promotion of his new film, Unstoppable, that he is planning on making a Top Gun sequel. Although Scott has insisted that it’s not so much a sequel as a “rethinking,” the film’s screenwriter, Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Wolverine 2) claims to nymag.com that Maverick, Cruise’s iconic character, is the starring role in Top Gun 2 and with that, Tom Cruise will be reprising that very role.

Any interest in seeing Cruise as a singing bartender or returning as Maverick? Do you think it will launch him back to U.S. stardom? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!