In May 2022, Top Gun: Maverick hit theaters.
The film made $1.5 billion worldwide. It became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise's career. It saved the summer box office.
And it launched one actor from "Who is that guy?" to "Hollywood's next leading man" overnight.
But here's the thing: He'd been trying to make it for 10 years.
10 years of auditions. 10 years of rejections. 10 years of canceled TV shows and forgotten movies.
10 years of hearing "You're too this" or "not enough that."
Then he flew an F/A-18 fighter jet in Top Gun: Maverick—and everything changed.
This is the story of how a decade of failure, a strategic bet on rom-coms, and one $1.5 billion blockbuster turned a 35-year-old "almost-star" into Hollywood's most in-demand actor.
The Texas Kid Who Loved Movies (1988-2006)
Born in Austin, October 21, 1988
He grew up in Austin, Texas—a city known for film festivals (South by Southwest) and creative culture.
His parents weren't in entertainment. But they loved movies.
"I grew up watching classic films," he later said. "The Great Escape, Butch Cassidy, Top Gun. I was obsessed."
The Top Gun Obsession
At age 3, he watched Top Gun (1986) for the first time.
He was hooked.
"I wore out the VHS tape," he said. "I must have watched it 100 times as a kid."
His dream: Become a fighter pilot or a movie star. (Preferably both.)
High School: The First Taste (2002-2006)
At Westwood High School in Austin, he discovered acting.
His first role: A school play production.
His reaction: "This is what I want to do for the rest of my life."
He started auditioning for local commercials and student films.
The Decade of Struggle (2007-2017)
Moving to LA (2007)
At 18, fresh out of high school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
The reality: It was brutal.
Audition after audition. Rejection after rejection.
"I auditioned for everything," he said. "I was told 'no' more times than I can count."
The Early Roles Nobody Remembers (2007-2012)
2007: The Great Debaters (Denzel Washington film) - Small role 2010: The Expendables 3 - Uncredited extra 2011: Scream Queens (TV series) - Canceled after one season 2012: The Dark Knight Rises - Blink-and-you'll-miss-it background role
The pattern: Small parts. Forgettable characters. No breakthrough.
The Frustration Years (2012-2016)
By his mid-20s, he was stuck.
He'd been in Hollywood for almost 10 years and had nothing to show for it.
What casting directors told him:
- "You're too good-looking for the nerd roles"
- "You're not good-looking enough for the leading man roles"
- "You're generic"
- "You don't stand out"
His response (later interview): "I almost quit. I seriously considered going back to Texas and doing something else."
The "Hot Guy" Problem
Hollywood had a label for him: "Generic hot guy."
Translation: Good-looking enough to be in the background, not interesting enough to be the lead.
"I kept getting cast as 'Frat Guy #2' or 'Jock Boyfriend,'" he said. "I wanted more."
The Strategic Pivot: Bet on Richard Linklater (2016)
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
In 2016, Austin-based director Richard Linklater (known for Boyhood, Before Sunrise) cast him in Everybody Wants Some!!—a college comedy set in the 1980s.
The role: Finnegan, a charismatic college baseball player.
The film's reception: Critical acclaim. Box office flop.
The impact on his career: Minimal—at first.
But it taught him something crucial: Comedy could be his lane.
The Breakthrough Year (2022)
May 27, 2022: Top Gun: Maverick Changes Everything
On May 27, 2022, Top Gun: Maverick premiered.
His role: Lt. Jake "Hangman" Seresin—a cocky, talented fighter pilot and rival to the protagonist.
Box office:
- Opening weekend: $126 million (domestic)
- Final total: $1.5 billion worldwide
- Became the highest-grossing film of 2022
The Character That Made Him a Star
"Hangman" wasn't the lead. Tom Cruise was.
But Hangman stole scenes.
Why the role worked:
- Charismatic villain energy
- Quotable one-liners ("You can be my wingman anytime." "Bullshit. You can be mine.")
- Perfect mix of arrogance and charm
- Chemistry with the cast
The result: Overnight, he became "the guy from Top Gun."
The Tom Cruise Mentorship
During filming, Tom Cruise took him under his wing.
What Cruise taught him:
- How to command a scene
- How to work with stunt teams
- How to promote a film effectively
- "Own every moment you're on screen"
The flying training: They actually flew in F/A-18 fighter jets for the film. No green screen. No CGI.
"Tom insisted we do it for real," he said. "I flew at Mach 1.2. I almost threw up. But it was worth it."
The Overnight Transformation (Summer 2022)
Before Top Gun: Maverick: "Who is that guy?"
After Top Gun: Maverick:
- Instagram followers: Jumped from 200K to 3+ million
- Google searches: Increased 2,400%
- Casting offers: "My phone wouldn't stop ringing"
- Magazine covers: GQ, Men's Health, Variety
"It happened so fast," he said. "One day I'm auditioning for small roles. The next, I'm being offered leading man parts."
The Rom-Com Revival Gamble (2023)
Anyone But You (December 2023)
While most actors would chase action franchises after a blockbuster, he did something unexpected:
He made a romantic comedy.
Anyone But You (released December 22, 2023):
- A modern rom-com co-starring Sydney Sweeney
- Filmed in Australia
- Budget: $25 million
Industry reaction: "Why would he do a rom-com? That genre is dead."
The Bet Pays Off
Box office:
- Opening weekend: $6 million (modest)
- Word of mouth: Explosive
- Final total: $220+ million worldwide
Critical reception: Mixed reviews, but audiences loved it.
Cultural impact:
- #AnyoneButYou trended on TikTok for weeks
- The beach scene became a viral meme
- Sydney Sweeney and him became a fan-favorite pairing (despite not dating)
The lesson: Rom-coms aren't dead. They just needed the right stars.
"I Want to Bring Rom-Coms Back"
In interviews, he became the unofficial spokesperson for the rom-com revival:
"Rom-coms died because Hollywood stopped making good ones. But audiences still want them. I'm going to prove it."
The 2024 Explosion: Four Major Projects
1. Hit Man (Netflix, June 2024)
A Netflix action-comedy directed by Richard Linklater.
His role: A philosophy professor who moonlights as a fake hitman for the police.
Reception:
- 97% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Called "the best Netflix original in years"
- Showcased his range (comedy, action, drama)
2. Twisters (July 2024)
A standalone sequel to the 1996 disaster film Twister.
His role: Tyler Owens, a storm-chasing YouTuber.
Box office: $370+ million worldwide
Impact: Proved he could open a film as the lead.
3. The Running Man (In Production, 2025)
A remake of the Arnold Schwarzenegger 1987 film, directed by Edgar Wright.
His role: Ben Richards (the Schwarzenegger role).
Significance: First major action franchise lead.
4. Untitled J.J. Abrams Project (Announced 2024)
In 2024, J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Star Wars) announced he's developing a project with him attached to star.
Details: Confidential, but reportedly a sci-fi thriller.
The Strategic Career Moves
Why His Rise Is Different
Most actors stumble into success. He engineered it.
The strategy:
- Diversify: Action (Top Gun), rom-com (Anyone But You), thriller (Hit Man), disaster (Twisters)
- Work with A-list directors: Tom Cruise, Richard Linklater, Edgar Wright, J.J. Abrams
- Own your niche: Became "the rom-com guy" while others avoided the genre
- Stay likable: No scandals, no controversy, just charisma
The result: Hollywood's most in-demand leading man.
The Richard Linklater Partnership
He's worked with director Richard Linklater on three films:
- Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
- Apollo 10½ (2022, voice role)
- Hit Man (2024)
Why it matters: Linklater believed in him when no one else did. That loyalty paid off.
"Richard saw something in me before Hollywood did," he said. "I owe him everything."
The Personal Life: Private and Drama-Free
The Gigi Hadid Rumors (2023-2024)
In late 2023, he was spotted with supermodel Gigi Hadid.
Media reaction: "Are they dating?"
His response: "I don't talk about my personal life."
By mid-2024, the rumors faded. They were never confirmed or denied.
The "No Scandal" Policy
In an era of celebrity chaos, he's remained remarkably drama-free:
- No arrests
- No public feuds
- No controversial statements
- No leaked texts or photos
His strategy: "I want my work to speak for itself."
The $50+ Million Payday (2024-2025)
The Money Breakdown
Estimated earnings (2022-2025):
- Top Gun: Maverick: $1-2 million (supporting role, but backend points)
- Anyone But You: $3-5 million
- Twisters: $10-12 million
- The Running Man: $15-20 million
- Endorsements & partnerships: $5+ million
Total estimated net worth (2025): $50-60 million
In three years, he went from struggling actor to multi-millionaire.
The Criticisms: "He's Too Generic"
The Pushback
Not everyone is sold on his rise:
Common criticisms:
- "He's just a good-looking white guy"
- "He's the definition of generic"
- "Hollywood is pushing him too hard"
- "He's not that talented"
His response (2024 interview): "I've heard it all. I spent 10 years being told I wasn't good enough. Now I'm being told I'm too generic. I'll keep proving people wrong."
The "Chris" Problem
He's been compared to Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, and Chris Pine.
The critique: "He's just another 'Hollywood Chris.'"
His counter: "I'm not trying to be the next anyone. I'm trying to be the first me."
The 2025 Status: Hollywood's Most Wanted
Current Projects
In Production:
- The Running Man (Edgar Wright)
- Untitled J.J. Abrams project
In Development:
- Top Gun 3 (rumored, not confirmed)
- Multiple rom-com projects
Estimated upcoming earnings (2025-2027): $100+ million
The Power Position
At 36 years old, he's in a rare position:
- Can open a film as the lead
- Can demand $15-20 million per film
- Directors want to work with him
- Studios trust him
Industry insiders: "He's the closest thing to a movie star we have right now."
The Legacy in Progress
What He's Proven
In three years (2022-2025), he's shown:
- You can break through in your mid-30s
- Rom-coms can still be profitable
- Charisma beats "edgy" every time
- Strategic career choices matter more than luck
- Patience pays off (eventually)
The Question Everyone Asks
Can he sustain it?
The optimistic view:
- He's diversified his roles
- He's worked with top directors
- He's avoided scandals
- He's genuinely talented
The skeptical view:
- The market is fickle
- One flop can derail everything
- "Generic" actors don't last
Time will tell.
From Nobody to Everywhere
2007: Moved to LA with a dream
2007-2017: 10 years of struggling, failing, almost quitting
2022: Top Gun: Maverick changes everything
2023: Anyone But You proves he's a leading man
2024: Hit Man and Twisters dominate
2025: One of Hollywood's highest-paid actors
Glen Powell didn't get lucky. He waited 10 years, made strategic bets, and seized his moment.
The Fighter Pilot Dream
Remember that 3-year-old kid who watched Top Gun on repeat?
At 33, he flew an F/A-18 fighter jet for Top Gun: Maverick.
At 35, he became Hollywood's biggest star.
He didn't just act in Top Gun. He lived it.
And now, after a decade of hearing "no," Hollywood can't stop saying "yes."
Glen Powell's story isn't about overnight success. It's about 10-year success.
And that might be the most inspiring kind.
