Top Gun." Production just started for its July 2019 release in theaters.

Cruise has been talking about this sequel forever. Even after he revealed the official title last year -- and said filming would likely begin in "the next year" -- and Paramount gave us a release date ... it still didn't feel real.

Now it does.

Cruise teased a photo from "Day 1," taking us right back on that highway to the danger zone:


That loving feeling is rushing back!

Look at Tom Cruise. We just can't quit him. Here he is at 55-years-old -- 56 on July 3. His "Mission: Impossible -- Fallout" looks genuinely amazing and comes out this July. And then next July he has his long-discussed "Top Gun" sequel.

He'd better still be in good enough shape for some serious running scenes, even as a hotshot fighter pilot, or we'll feel let down.

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