Following the huge success of Top Gun: Maverick, the filmmakers are now moving ahead with a third installment in the franchise Top Gun 3. While details surrounding the project including its plot remain uncertain, one assurance is the return of the star-studded cast from the 2022 sequel, including Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Glen Powell reprising their roles.
As excitement mounts for Top Gun 3, there are certain factors that could pose challenges for the filmmakers, particularly regarding one of the supporting actors, Powell, who has experienced considerable career growth with his subsequent films.
Glen Powell Has Seen A Significant Surge Following Top Gun: Maverick
Glen Powell initially sought to play one of the leading roles in Top Gun: Maverick. While he was disappointed with losing the role of Rooster to Miles Teller, he still made a noticeable presence in the film as Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin.
The casting decision turned out to be a stroke of brilliance, as Teller captivated audiences worldwide with his portrayal of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, while Powell delivered a scene-stealing performance as Rooster’s rival, Hangman, a role that propelled him to subsequent successes.
Following his venture into the 2022 action film, he went on to star opposite Sydney Sweeney in the 2023 romantic comedy film Anyone But You. The film has been a huge hit, making over $200 million at the box office, and has earned significant recognition among fans.
His upcoming films such as Twisters and Hit Man have also created quite the anticipation. Hit Man, which premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival has received rave reviews ahead of its release and is expected to further cement his A-list status in the industry.
The success of his movies and the constant appreciation of his work have now elevated his standing in the industry and his popularity among the audience. However, this newfound fame may pose challenges for how the makers navigate Powell’s character in the highly anticipated Top Gun 3.
Glen Powell’s Rising Stardom Could Present Challenges for Top Gun 3
Among other cast members, Glen Powell is also set to reprise his role as Hangman in Top Gun 3. However, the career growth the actor has seen since the 2022 film could present a challenge for the makers in terms of navigating his character.
With Powell having an A-list status and worldwide popularity, fans would likely expect him to have a more substantial plot in the upcoming threequel, instead of being a supporting antagonistic character in the movie.
Additionally, the film also needs to incorporate the arc established for the character in the sequel, potentially delving into how the relationship between Hangman and Rooster has developed since the events of Top Gun: Maverick.
However, it is further complicated by the fact that the movie already has two leading characters, Miles Twller’s Rooster and Tom Cruise’s Maverick, along with numerous supporting characters who also need their own significant screen time. Incorporating another key character in the roaster could be challenging to balance the screen time.
While the threequel is expected to focus on Maverick and Rooster, to effectively incorporate Powell’s Hangman, along with other characters introduced in the 2022 sequel, the film might need to broaden its focus beyond just Maverick.