AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun: Maverick” opened its first weekend high in the sky.
The sequel to the 1986 film made an estimated $124 million in its opening weekend, according to Paramount.
In the new film, Tom Cruise reprises his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. He returns to the naval flight academy to train a new class of pilots. One of them is bad-boy pilot Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin, played by Austin native Glen Powell.
The former University of Texas Longhorn told USA Today the role was created by Cruise with Val Kilmer’s Iceman character in mind.
“We knew we wanted to have a Texas flair, to be this Southern cocky, fun guy,” Powell said. “And we knew it had to be Iceman-adjacent.”
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: (L-R) Christopher McQuarrie, Jerry Bruckheimer, Danny Ramirez, Glen Powell, Miles Teller, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Jay Ellis, Lewis Pullman, Greg Tarzan Davis, Joseph Kosinski, and David Ellison attend the UK Premiere and Royal Film Performance of “Top Gun: Maverick” at Leicester Square on May 19, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) -
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 18: Glen Powell, Jennifer Connelly, Tom Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer attend the screening of “Top Gun: Maverick” during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images) -
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 18: Joseph Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Jay Ellis, Greg Tarzan Davis, Lewis Pullman and Jon Hamm attend the screening of “Top Gun: Maverick” during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
He took the role seriously that he learned how to fly F-18s and even got his pilot’s license.
“‘Top Gun’ made me want to be an actor,” Powell said. “If you don’t want to be a fighter pilot or an actor after watching that movie, you’re crazy.”
The 33 year old stars alongside Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm to name a few. It was set to be released in 2019. After several delays and the pandemic, the film is now in front of fans. Paramount skipped a streaming option.
Powell got his start on “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over,” which was filmed in Austin. He would go on to star in “NCIS,” “Scream Queens” and “Hidden Figures.”
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