Top Gun II: The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Version

A sequel to Top Gun, the iconic 1986 film starring Tom Cruise as naval aviator Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, has been cleared for takeoff. New York magazine reports that Paramount Pictures has made offers to producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott of the original for a second Top Gun film. Tom Cruise might even reprise his character for a minor appearance. Given that I've been following the ups and downs of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal lately, however, I can't help but wonder about a mashup of these news items.

Imagine, if you will. . . .

Lt. Mike "Mustang" Stevens is a naval aviator who's just been assigned to U.S. Navy "Top Gun" training. He and his radar intercept officer, Lt. (j.g.) Kate "Duck" Johnson, are in contention to win the prestigious award for being first in their class — when his commanding officer has some bad news. He's being investigated under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," after fellow aviators spotted him singing "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" to another man at a local bar. Does he try to fight the revelation and stay in the Navy, or does he finally decide to live truthfully? Does the military really want to lose another pilot it has spent millions to train?

Meanwhile, Lt. Johnson has problems of her own, and not just because she's one of few women assigned to fighter training. One of her two mothers — played by original Top Gun star Kelly McGillis in a new role — starts questioning her daughter's dedication to an organization so blatantly homophobic. (McGillis, as many of you know, came out as a lesbian in real life in 2009.)

Of course, at the rate DADT moves are happening, the policy could be a thing of the past before the movie airs. Here's hoping. If so, then maybe it's the backseat officer who is a lesbian — and married, like "Goose" in the original. When she dies ejecting from the plane, like Goose, the pilot goes up against the system to secure the military's extensive array of spousal benefits for his dead friend's spouse — something that won't come automatically as part of DADT repeal.

And there's a volleyball scene, of course, one that wouldn't need to change much from the original to appeal to a gay male audience — although I'd like to see the addition of Lt. Johnson in a sports bra for us gals. (Hey, most movies need a little sex appeal to draw an audience, gay or straight.)

Sigh. No, the Top Gun sequel won't be anything like that, I know. This is why I'm writing for Change.org and not penning Hollywood screenplays. But just try to tell me Melissa Etheridge doesn't have the perfect voice to do a reprise of the "Danger Zone" theme song. . . .

Photo credit: U.S. Department of Defense

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