'X-Men' team hired to pen 'Top Gun' sequel

Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz, who collaborated on the script for "X-Men: First Class," are in negotiations to pen the sequel to "Top Gun" for Paramount and Skydance Productions. Jerry Bruchkheimer and David Ellison are on board to produce. Paramount and Skydance declined to comment. Plot details are nil, as Miller and Stentz have yet to write a script. And no news yet on Tony Scott or Tom Cruise's invovlement, but the addition of Miller and Stentz to the mix shows that Par is serious about moving forward with the project. The team helped steer the way for "X-Men" franchise's best-received pic, which led to a solid B.O. of more than $350 million worldwide. Miller and Stentz are repped by WME. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com