Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Glen Powell as Hangman in 'Top Gun: Maverick'
Image via Paramount Pictures

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ star sought Tom Cruise’s blessing to make another fighter pilot movie

Mentor for life.

When it comes to 2022’s cinematic ladder, there’s very little separating the rungs of the ever-present superhero movies, the stupendously triumphant horror genre, the whodunit dark horses, and, interestingly, films that have to do with military aviation.

Recommended Videos

Indeed, out of every film that cinemas and streaming services were tasked with fielding this year, Top Gun: Maverick was perhaps the single most uncontested success story; grossing nearly $1.5 billion worldwide, Tom Cruise‘s passion project wound up being the most lucrative film of his career.

But in no way did he intend for Maverick to steal any degree of thunder from another aviation movie that happens to be making a bow this year; in fact, he was all too happy to make sure it had the tools necessary to succeed.

The tool in question was Glen Powell, who portrayed Hangman in Maverick and is also set to play the role of naval officer Tom Hudner in Devotion, where he will star alongside Jonathan Majors to tell the true story of two of the most celebrated American fighter pilots in the time of the Korean War.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Powell revealed that he had a few worries about the logistics behind filming two different aviation movies; worries that Tom Cruise quickly dashed by ensuring Powell that he didn’t have to pick and choose between the two projects.

I said, ‘Hey, Tom, I already have a naval aviation movie that’s really close to my heart,’ And Tom said, ‘There’s room for two. You can do Top Gun, you can do Devotion. You don’t have to choose.’

Devotion will release to theaters on Nov. 23.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Charlotte Simmons
Charlotte Simmons
Charlotte is a freelance writer for We Got This Covered, a graduate of St. Thomas University's English program, a fountain of film opinions, and probably the single biggest fan of Peter Jackson's 'King Kong.' She has written professionally since 2018, and will tackle an idiosyncratic TikTok story with just as much gumption as she does a film review.