Glen Powell is clearing up a rumor about his career.
The actor, 36, clarified whether or not he’s taking over for his “Top Gun” co-star Tom Cruise in the “Mission: Impossible” movie franchise.
Pat McAfee called the “Twisters” star on the phone on the Nov. 12 broadcast of “The Pat McAfee Show” and brought up the “Mission: Impossible” rumors.
“We just want to call and say congratulations, brother,” McAfee, 37, said.
But Powell — who was on the phone from the set of Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” — clarified that he’s not Cruise’s replacement.
“My mom would never let me do that,” he said.
“That’s the worst gig in town, everybody knows that,” Powell added, referring to how Cruise, 62, does his own stunts in the spy film franchise.
“That’s a death trap,” Powell also said.
McAfee was bummed about the news and jokingly yelled “He’s lying!” on the phone call.
Cruise has starred as Ethan Hunt in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise since 1996. It’s been rumored that the eighth film, titled “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” and set for release in May 2025, will be Cruise’s last.
However, frequent “Mission: Impossible” director Christopher McQuarrie previously told the “Light the Fuse” podcast that fans can’t believe everything they hear regarding Cruise’s future with the film series.
“Let me tell you, I’ve been working with Tom Cruise for 15 years and I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve been standing next to the man, witnessed an event and then read about it in the trades the next day and none of what they describe is actually true,” the director said.
Cruise and Powell worked together in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick” and are both expected to return in the upcoming third film.
In a May 2024 interview with GQ Magazine, Powell detailed his friendship with Cruise and what he’s learned about the industry from the Oscar nominee.
“The one thing I feel we’re kindred spirits in is he’s obsessed with movies,” Powell shared. “That was our love language on set. I got to watch a guy who knew every department. He was able to clearly interface with everyone, and be so friendly and respectful and be able to communicate that vision.”
Over the summer, Cruise supported Powell at the “Twisters” premiere in London. The “Jerry Maguire” star shared a photo of the pair at the event on Instagram, writing, “Fun night with friends, watching a movie!!”
While promoting the “Twister” sequel, Powell told the Hollywood Reporter that he’s “idolized” Cruise his “whole life.”
“There will never be another Tom Cruise,” Powell also declared. “That is a singular career in a singular moment, but also movie stars of the ’80s, ’90s, early 2000s, those will never be re-created.”
