Tom Cruise startles Glen Powell with helicopter crash prank

During a helicopter ride over London, Cruise pulls an audacious prank on 'Top Gun: Maverick' co-star Powell.

Glen Powell, the standout star of "Top Gun: Maverick," recently shared a nerve-wracking experience involving none other than his co-star and mentor, Tom Cruise.

In a detailed recount during a GQ interview published Tuesday, Powell described a memorable helicopter ride with Cruise that turned into an unexpected prank.

"Tom goes 'oh no, oh no,' and he starts dropping the helicopter over London," Powell recounted. "I was like, 'Am I about to be the unnamed guy that dies with Tom in a smoking hole in the middle of London?'"

This moment of terror turned out to be one of Cruise’s infamous pranks, adding a thrilling twist to their journey back to London after reshoots at Pinewood Studios.

The relationship between Cruise and Powell extended beyond typical co-star interactions, with Cruise taking on a mentorship role.

Powell spoke about the influence Cruise had on his career, especially during the uncertain times waiting for the release of "Top Gun: Maverick," which was delayed due to the pandemic.

Instead of merely opening doors, Cruise encouraged Powell to deepen his understanding of the film industry.

Cruise's mentorship included unique educational experiences, as Powell explained. "The funniest part is on flying.

It was like he put together this entire flight school. So he would literally go 'OK, this is what a plane is. Here's how things fly. Here's how air pressure works.'" Cruise even produced a "film school" movie to educate his friends on filmmaking techniques.

This hands-on guidance from Cruise has had a significant impact on Powell’s approach to his roles and his understanding of cinematic storytelling.

Reflecting on his upcoming movie "Twisters," Powell said, "You can look at a big disaster movie and go, 'Oh cool, the world loves disaster movies.' No, no. It's about who we are in the face of disaster, and what the human instinct is in reacting to it."