Glen Powell confirms his return as Hangman in the in-development Top Gun 3. Almost two years since Top Gun: Maverick revived the Tom Cruise franchise, Paramount finally greenlit its sequel. While plot details are still scant at the moment, and no release date has been announced, Top Gun 3 is already set to feature one new fan-favorite character — Powell’s cocky but capable Hangman.
Speaking with Variety, the rising actor, and while he can’t talk about plot details about the recently-confirmed Top Gun 3, he confirms that he will reprise his role as Hangman in the anticipated threequel. Read his full quote below:
“People looked at me like I knew what was going on. There is going to be some fun stuff being announced soon…but it was confidential to me. I talk to [Joseph] Kosinski, Cruise and Jerry [Bruckheimer] all the time. There is stuff happening and it sounds very exciting. I don’t know when I’ll be going back…I’m sure there is a jet waiting for me sometime in the future.”
Why Hangman Is Vital To Top Gun 3’s Story
Despite previous skepticism about Tom Cruise’s involvement in Top Gun 3 after the ending of Top Gun: Maverick, the A-list actor will be once again the face of the threequel. This time, however, it’s expected that he will be supported by the new elite pilots that were previously introduced in the 2022 Joseph Kosinski sequel. That includes Miles Teller’s Rooster — son of Maverick’s late RIO, Goose, and Powell’s Hangman. Admittedly, Rooster’s ties to the franchise’s history made him more important in Top Gun: Maverick. Moving forward, however, Hangman can be equally intrinsic to the franchise.
Unlike Rooster, who is hampered by his lack of confidence, Hangman is cut from the same cloth as Top Gun‘s original high flyers such as Maverick, as well as, Val Kilmer’s Iceman. He is confident — to a fault, making him unbearable at times. However, he can back up his claims with his skills. Arguably, Hangman is Maverick’s true successor, considering the pair’s similarities. If there’s ever a time that the Top Gun franchise moves forward without Cruise, Hangman can take his place as its resident cocky pilot.
Aside from his personal appeal, Hangman joining Rooster to be the new poster character of the franchise eases the burden on them to step into the big shoes of Cruise. The pair’s differences can create interesting dynamics that will separate it from what came before. Top Gun 3 can lay the foundation of their future, with Cruise’s Maverick helping them transition to being the film series’ eventual headliners.
