An emotional journey. Glen Powell knows that fans can’t wait to watch Top Gun: Maverick — and he can’t wait to see it again.
“I got to see the full cut of it the other day. It is one of the greatest movies of all time. I am so excited to show the world this,” the actor, 31, said exclusively on the “Watch With Us” podcast while promoting Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, created by DreamWorks Animation. “What makes me feel so good about it is that when you know you have the goods, there’s no need to rush it.”
Filming on the movie, which is a sequel to the 1986’s Top Gun, wrapped in June 2019. It has been delayed multiple times over the past year, and will not hit theaters until July 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I want the theaters to be packed and people to feel safe,” Powell added. “We’re going to deliver a knockout punch — a cinematic knockout punch to the world.”
While other movies being pushed back are instead being released on demand, the Texas native is happy that this one will stay in theaters — and promised it’s worth the wait.
“The sound design, the way it’s shot — it’s all a big, big cinematic experience. You want to watch it in that way,” he continued. “Tom [Cruise] and I talked after I watched it, and I told him! I was like, ‘I literally have no more fingernails left. I’ve chewed off all of my fingernails.’ … You cry, you laugh. It’s got adventure. It’s got romance. It’s just like one of those movies, where you’re like, ‘Oh, God, why can’t all movies be this fun and great?’ It’s so rare.”
The Scream Queens alum also admits that he shed a tear or two during the screening. “It was a manly cry!” he said with a laugh. “There were tears but they were dry and salty, you know!”
For now, Powell is focused on his new project, Netflix’s extension of the Jurassic Park universe in which he portrays a goofy camp counselor who leads a group of kids through a park — and dinosaurs take over.
“This is a show from the perspective of the kids so I think that actually makes it more fun. I’ve been watching Jurassic Park since I was barely able to walk and,” he told Us. “Getting to be a part of it is definitely a dream come true. So I’m a little envious that these kids get to sort of be running away from dinosaurs all the time. That’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time! I did a school project — I think when I was in second or third grade on Steven Spielberg. I was obsessed with Spielberg and especially Jurassic Park. … There’s a kid inside of me that feels like I did something right!”
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous drops on Netflix Friday, September 18.
For more from Powell, listen to the full podcast.