Glen Powell is one of those rapidly rising actors in the entertainment industry, with each new project launching him to heights more extraordinary than ever before. In fact, he has even starred alongside multiple other A-listers, including Tom Cruise, on 2022’s critically acclaimed action-adventure masterpiece, Top Gun: Maverick, where Powell played Lt. Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin.
Since then, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding the pair’s next collaboration, which was further given a structure by reports of a third film in Cruise’s saga being in development. Moreover, Cruise himself added fuel to all of these reports through his recent comment praising his former co-star, which unarguably hinted that Powell and he may be returning for this very third film.
Tom Cruise Teases a Collab With Glen Powell for Top Gun 3
Lately, a lot of speculation has been going around the Top Gun saga, with reports claiming that a third film is in development and would come out much sooner than the sequel did after the first film. (For the record, Maverick came after 36 years, so, yeah.)
This was followed by producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealing in an interview with Screen Rant: “We have a story. Joe Kosinski had a wonderful story idea for it, and (Cruise) said I really like that, so we’re developing it.” That said, a third film is most certainly in the making.
But will Glen Powell, who played Lt. Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin in the sequel Maverick, return and reprise his iconic role as well? Well, we don’t know that for sure, but Cruise’s recent statement praising his former co-star just may have given away that we can expect to see him as well.
This happened at the recently held Texas Film Hall of Fame induction for Powell, where the Anyone But You actor earned tremendous acclamation from his co-stars who were present at the event, which included the Mission: Impossible star as well.
According to details by The Hollywood Reporter, Cruise said:
Congratulations Glen on the incredible honor of being inducted into the Film Hall of Fame, in the country of Texas. It was a great experience working with you on Top Gun: Maverick and to see all that you have created since.
However, that wasn’t all, because what he said next more or less teased at the fact that he and Powell just may be collaborating soon for the third film as well.
Claiming the Twisters actor’s “Texas-sized talent is only matched by your Texas-sized heart,” Tom Cruise continued to say:
I look forward to working with you again. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and enjoy this well deserved celebration of you, my friend.
Does that mean we’ll see Hangman returning to the lore? Well, it most certainly seems like it, for that just might be what Cruise was hinting at while praising this latest Hall of Famer.
But while that isn’t confirmed, what is confirmed is that Powell won’t be taking over the lead position in this third installment which is reportedly in development.
Tom Cruise Will Reportedly Be Leading Top Gun 3 As Well
After seeing him in Maverick, many fans speculated that if a third movie was to come in Cruise’s iconic lore, it just might see the Hit Man actor’s character taking the mantle from Cruise’s Lt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell to lead the saga from here onwards.
However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, as producer Jerry Bruckheimer himself confirmed during his interview with Screen Rant, saying:
It will be Cruise. Tom is amazing. We spent time with him.
That being said, it sounds like Powell might return, but it won’t be in the lead role.
Nonetheless, it would still be good news for all those TG fans out there because two of their favorite actors could turn out to be returning and reprising their respective iconic roles if these speculated reports just turn out to be true.
But until that happens, you can stream Top Gun: Maverick on Prime Video.
