Tony Scott prepping Top Gun sequel two days before death

Tony Scott was working with Tom Cruise on ‘Top Gun 2’ just two days before he died and was "burning with excitement" about his upcoming projects, according to the chairman of 20th Century Fox.

Scott met Cruise on Friday to research the sequel. He jumped off a bridge on Sunday in what the authorities believe was suicide.

[Related gallery: Tony Scott - a career in pictures]

The duo were also scouting a Naval air base in Nevada last week in preparation for the movie.

Besides ‘Top Gun’, Scott had several other projects lined up before his tragic death. His next likely effort would have been drug-trafficking thriller ‘Narco Sub’ at Fox, but he was also mulling ‘Lucky Stripe’ and Paramount’s remake of ‘The Wild Bunch’.

'We had a meeting just two weeks ago and he was burning with the excitement of creating stuff,' said Tom Rothman, chairman of 20th Century Fox.

A studio insider who met Scott for lunch two weeks ago told THR: "Studios have to compete for directors who are in demand, and Tony was in great demand. Hyper-qualified directors are really rare."

There have been conflicting reports over why Scott may have chosen to end his life, with claims he had inoperable brain cancer denied by his family.

There have also been troubling reports that footage of his fatal leap was recorded by passers-by and is being shopped to media outlets.

Tom Cruise paid tribute to his ‘Top Gun’ director on Monday, saying in a statement: "Tony was my dear friend, and I will really miss him. He was a creative visionary whose mark on film is immeasurable. My deepest sorrow and thoughts are with his family at this time."