The film 'Hit Man', streaming on Netflix, is loosely based on the life of Gary Johnson, a community college instructor who worked as a fake assassin for the Houston police. Johnson, who died in 2022, managed to ensnare over 60 people who tried to hire him as a hitman. The film adds a rom-com plot involving a fictional Johnson and a woman hoping to hire him to kill her husband. Some of the movie's outlandish plot elements are based on real events, such as a teenager trying to pay Johnson with Atari computer games. Johnson was a mild-mannered man who worked in human resources and taught classes in human sexuality and psychology. He also served as an investigator for the district attorney's office in Houston. The film takes some liberties with Johnson's story, making him a professor working for the police on the side and relocating the action to New Orleans [e8fa4b46].
Glen Powell, known for his roles in 'Top Gun: Maverick' and 'The Dark Knight Rises', recalls being punched by a bouncer at a party for 'The Expendables 3'. The incident happened at the Cannes Film Festival, where 'The Expendables 3' cast made a big entrance with tanks driving down the Croisette. Powell, who played a prominent role in the film, said that despite having his own banner at the party, he was kicked out of the VIP section and got into a physical altercation with the bouncer. Powell reflects on his experience of being the 'random' guy among a cast of legends like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also talks about his career and upcoming projects, including the streaming release of 'Hit Man' on Netflix and the premiere of 'Twisters' in theaters [505c57c5] [6840f191].
Joe Morton, the actor behind Lieutenant Herb 'Mac' McMahon in the 'Speed' franchise, is hesitant about reprising his role in 'Speed 3' unless the plot and vehicle choice are perfect. He raises questions about the new villain, Keanu Reeves' character's role, and the romantic chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves' characters. Morton suggests bringing back original screenwriter Graham Yost to rev up the sequel. Fans are eagerly awaiting news of a potential third installment [eaa39cde].
In a recent development, it has been revealed that Tom Cruise, the star of 'Top Gun: Maverick', gave Glen Powell exclusive access to his never-before-seen movie. Initially, Tom Cruise had auditioned for the role of Rooster in 'Top Gun: Maverick' but lost the role to Miles Teller. Disheartened, Powell contemplated leaving the film, but Cruise convinced him to stay. As a gift, Cruise allowed Powell to watch his six-hour-long movie, which he only shares with his close friends. This exclusive access to Cruise's unreleased film is a special privilege for Powell [470244f0].
Furthermore, Glen Powell, co-star of 'Top Gun: Maverick', revealed that Tom Cruise played a prank on him during filming. Powell, a pilot himself, recalled how Cruise pretended to lose control of a helicopter and nosedive towards London while Powell was in the passenger seat. Powell thought he might die in a smoking hole in the middle of London, but fortunately, they landed safely. This dangerous prank showcases Cruise's sick sense of humor. Despite the scare, the sequel became a global success, and Powell's career is on the rise with several high-profile projects lined up [1db19044] [ef35ce2a].
Glen Powell's career in Hollywood has had its ups and downs. He starred in the 2016 film 'Misconduct' alongside Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins, which ended up as a box office bomb and one of the lowest-rated films of all time. The movie only earned $141 on its opening weekend, despite costing $11 million to make. It had a limited release in five locations in Britain and received a score of 7% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the failure of 'Misconduct', Powell has since gained momentum as a rising star in Hollywood. He reflects on his career and shares his experience in the industry [4b55a6e8] [f9ea50fc].
Richard Linklater's film 'Hit Man' was rejected by multiple studios. The film, loosely inspired by real events, reunites Linklater with actor Glen Powell. It tells the story of a philosophy professor who masquerades as a hitman and falls for an abuse victim. Linklater and Powell wrote the film speculatively and did not get paid. Studios wanted the film to be an action rom-com about an actual hitman, rather than the original film noir and screwball comedy that Linklater and Powell had envisioned. Linklater believes that studios prefer safe choices and films that already exist. 'Hit Man' is now streaming on Netflix [61d6e226].