Top Gun: Maverick breakout Glen Powell was rumored to be cast as the X-Men character Scott Summers/Cyclops in the Marvel Cinematic Universe just before the San Diego Comic-Con last month. Powell’s Cyclops casting, like several other rumors preceding the event, turned out to be false as well when he didn’t make an appearance at SDCC as reported.

Powell finally addressed the Marvel casting buzz in a recent interview with Variety, asserting that he never even got a call from the studio.

“I sound angry and confused, but I promise it’s just confused,” Powell followed up with a tweet. Powell sounds just like some other actors who found themselves in a similar situation, doing their best to tone down fans’ expectations before turning up in a surprise cameo in the MCU.

“Before Comic-Con, everybody was like, ‘Dude, are you Cyclops?’ No, I’m not. Nobody has called me. I don’t even have one contact info for Marvel, so I have no idea what people are talking about.”

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It’s always better to take these casting reports with a grain of salt, but seeing as how major Hollywood stars have recently popped up out of nowhere in Marvel movies: Charlize Theron in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Harry Styles in Eternals; and Brett Goldstein in Thor: Love and Thunder; it wouldn’t be surprising if Powell dons the Visor and the X-Men uniform soon.

James Marsden played Cyclops in the X-Men trilogy, with Tye Sheridan taking over in the critically panned X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix. Since Fox’s X-Men universe is seemingly dead and the rights to the iconic superhero team lie with Marvel Studios, it’s only a matter of time before we get a new Cyclops, Wolverine, Professor X, and other mutants in the MCU. Ms. Marvel has already set the stage for their arrival, with Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels expected to fully integrate them into the MCU.

Glen Powell would be a great fit for Cyclops, and judging by the online response to his supposed casting, fans seem to be on board as well. However, there is another superhero that Powell’s name is often associated with – Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, and if his Top Gun: Maverick performance is any indicator, Powell would be perfect as the brash, arrogant, and charismatic Fantastic Four member.

Glen Powell is Celebrating the Success of Top Gun: Maverick

     Paramount Pictures

Glen Powell has appeared in several acclaimed films and TV shows, but Top Gun: Maverick seems to have finally established him in Hollywood. Powell was initially up for the character of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw but lost to Miles Teller. However, Powell impressed Cruise, which led to his casting as a pilot trainee role which was eventually enlarged for him: Rooster’s rival, Jake “Hangman” Seresin.

Powell will be next seen in a similar role in the Korean war epic Devotion, arriving on November 23, 2022. Marvel newcomer Jonathan Majors also stars in the movie. Powell has also joined Kat Coiro’s buddy comedy film Foreign Relations, alongside Nick Jonas. As for the Top Gun: Maverick sequel, Powell is in the dark like everyone else but is hoping it won’t take 36 years to make another movie in the series.

“I don’t know if I’m going to look like Tom Cruise at 60. We have different trajectories. He’s maintained. I don’t know if Hangman is going to look the same. I could look pretty gross. Hopefully before then, I’d like to make another movie.”