After mounting a brief theatrical comeback this past May in celebration of its 25th Anniversary, Tony Scott’s Top Gun is now aiming to return to theatres in a much bigger way: in three-dimensions. The ’80s classic has apparently been added to the growing list of older films slated for a 3D conversion and big screen re-release. A four-minute preview of the 3D conversion featuring the “Danger Zone” sequence was shown Monday at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam. While Tony Scott has not yet given his stamp of approval, Paramount is reportedly aiming to have it in theatres sometime in early 2012.

Top Gun’s 3D conversion is being handled by Legend3D, the same company that did the 3D for Alice in Wonderland, The Green Hornet, and more recently Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Legend3D CEO Rob Hummel had this to say:

“We think there is great potential for catalog titles in 3D, but studios have had trouble justifying the expense… I think Top Gun lends itself to 3D due to the aerial flight. You can have fun with 3D by bringing things off the screen if they are not attached to the edge of the screen.”

This weekend Disney’s The Lion King will hit theatres in 3D, the third Disney catalogue title to receive such an update after Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beauty and the Beast. We also know that Titanic and the Star Wars movies are in the process of getting similar upgrades, among others. With all of the recent stories about the dwindling attendance for 3D screenings, I will be very curious to see if there is any interest at all in these 3D re-releases. Something tells me that if they do succeed, it will only be because of the draw of seeing these movies on the big screen again, not because of the addition of 3D. Would you pay to see Top Gun in 3D?