Glen Powell, the breakout star of “Top Gun: Maverick,” recently opened up about a nerve-wracking experience with his co-star and mentor, Tom Cruise. In a GQ interview published Tuesday, Powell detailed a memorable helicopter ride that turned into an unexpected prank by Cruise.
Glen Powell Recalls Tom Cruise’s Helicopter Prank
“Tom goes, ‘oh no, oh no,’ and starts dropping the helicopter over London,” Powell recounted. “I thought, ‘Am I about to be the unnamed guy that dies with Tom in a smoking hole in the middle of London?'” This terrifying moment turned out to be one of Cruise’s infamous pranks, adding an adrenaline-pumping twist to their journey back to London after reshoots at Pinewood Studios.
Tom Cruise as a Mentor to Glen Powell
Cruise’s relationship with Powell went beyond typical co-star interactions, with Cruise serving as a mentor. Powell spoke about Cruise’s influence on his career, especially during the uncertain period waiting for the
release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” which was delayed due to the pandemic. Instead of just opening doors, Cruise encouraged Powell to deepen his understanding of the film industry.
Cruise’s mentorship included unique educational experiences. Powell explained, “The funniest part is on flying. Tom put together this entire flight school. He’d say, ‘OK, this is what a plane is. Here’s how things fly. Here’s how air pressure works.'” Cruise even created a “film school” movie to teach his friends about filmmaking techniques.
Glen Powell’s Take on Storytelling in “Twisters”
This hands-on guidance from Cruise significantly impacted Powell’s approach to his roles and his understanding of cinematic storytelling. Reflecting on his upcoming movie “Twisters,” Powell said, “You can look at a big disaster movie and think, ‘Oh cool, the world loves disaster movies.’ No, it’s about who we are in the face of disaster, and what the human instinct is in reacting to it.”
