Glen Powell attributes Chris Pratt from 'Guardians of the Galaxy' for pioneering a fresh archetype of leading actors
In the world of Hollywood, Glen Powell is making a name for himself as a rising star, and his latest projects are set to solidify his status. The actor, who recently graced the cover of GQ, is gearing up for the release of two highly anticipated films: Top Gun: Maverick and The Running Man.
In Top Gun: Maverick, Powell played the role of Hangman, a part he initially lost to Miles Teller. However, Tom Cruise, Powell's costar in Mission: Impossible, convinced him to take on the role after his initial setback. Cruise, who has been a mentor to Powell, advised him to learn from the talented artists involved in the film, a piece of advice that Powell has taken to heart.
Preparing for The Running Man, Powell underwent a dramatic transformation, gaining a significant amount of muscle. Some of this muscle was for functional purposes, necessary for the physically demanding stunts he would perform in the film, while some was to ensure audience authenticity. The film, based on the novel Ben Richards, sees Powell emulating the descriptions of the main character.
To prepare for these stunts, Powell sought advice from Cruise, who encouraged him to approach acting as a physically demanding task and train intensively to become a "high-performance athlete" for the role. Cruise also shared his insights on surviving stunts, having built a reputation for performing his own stunts in films like Mission: Impossible.
Powell feels most at home playing roles that are "silly and buoyant," a trait that is evident in his performance in The Running Man. The film, set for release on November 14, is sure to showcase Powell's light-hearted charm and his impressive physical prowess.
The GQ cover story provides more information about The Running Man and Powell's other projects. The article also mentions upcoming releases in the Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who universes. Cruise weighed in on Powell's career trajectory in the same interview, praising the actor's potential and expressing his belief that Powell could follow in his footsteps.
Powell himself has expressed his admiration for Cruise's career and hopes to emulate his success. As he transitions from actor to high-performance athlete, Powell is poised to make a significant impact in Hollywood.
