The 2024 Sundance Movie Competition was primarily one large reunion for the flyboys of “High Gun: Maverick,” with Danny Ramirez, Glen Powell and Jay Ellis all starring in movies taking part in the pageant.

The trio trekked to Park Metropolis, UT simply days after information broke {that a} third “High Gun” film was within the works at Paramount, and Ramirez informed Selection that the solid’s group textual content — fittingly named with the emojis “up” and “gun” — had been “buzzing” with questions on what’s occurring with the creating challenge.

“Clearly, it’d be superb to have the ability to do a 3rd movie on this stunning story. However, as we discovered with the second, it’s bought to be completely proper,” Ramirez stated, noting the 30-year hole between the unique “High Gun” and “Maverick.”

“Being cognizant of that, we’re excited on the prospect of everybody again within the air,” he teased. “I’m having withdrawals. And in addition taking part in Falcon on the identical time. Me and the skies…”

Between taking part in Lieutenant Mickey ‘Fanboy’ Garcia within the “High Gun” franchise and as Joaquin Torres within the upcoming Marvel film “Captain America: Courageous New World,” the place he formally takes up the superhero alter ego Falcon, Ramirez is spending quite a lot of time flying excessive. However when he dropped by Adobe on Principal at Sundance — the place Selection led a collection of conversations concerning the state of variety within the movie enterprise — the actor was centered on a barely extra grounded challenge — Susanna Fogel’s “Winner,” about NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower Actuality Winner.

Ramirez hadn’t heard of Winner earlier than he was approached with the script, however he was intrigued by Fogel’s tackle the ripped-from-the-headlines story. “I believed it was extremely distinctive and enjoyable,” he stated, explaining why he signed on to the movie, led by Emilia Jones. “There’s a posh ethical query that we current: ‘At what level is it your accountability to step in? And what does it imply to step in?’”

Learn on — and watch the interview above — as Ramirez discusses the impression of illustration in media and the way he goals to pay that ahead, plus he shares the perfect recommendation he’s gotten from Tom Cruise.

What number of Sundances have you ever been to?

That is my second. [2018’s] “Assassination Nation” was my first. I shot the film, turned actually shut pals with Kelvin Harrison Jr.

We related as a result of our gameplan and why we’re right here is to clearly characterize our communities, not simply as a shade on the display screen — as we’re so many occasions simply seen as, like some seasoning to any individual else’s story. We’ve got to be an integral a part of this alteration within the coronary heart and soul of the movies that we do. Kelvin’s a major instance of the avalanche that’s fashioned when that turns into your North Star, simply figuring out that some little child someplace goes to observe you and their life’s going to alter, which is what occurred to me.

I bought to see Riz Ahmed as a lead on this film directed by Mira Nair, known as “The Reluctant Fundamentalist.” I’m like, “What? I believed solely white individuals have been the lead in issues.” I purchased my first performing books the subsequent day, and my life was extremely modified. With the ability to put your self in somebody that appears such as you or has the same background or upbringing can change the outlook of your entire life.

Have you ever gotten an opportunity to inform Riz that story?

Riz gained an award for “Sound of Metallic” and it was at an after-party. He had an award in his hand and I used to be just a little tipsy, just a little daring and I used to be like “Yo, Riz, you modified my life” and I informed him the entire story.

What has it been prefer to have younger actors and simply younger individuals in on the planet be capable to come as much as you and and say the identical factor?

The factor that blew my thoughts is once I did “On My Block.” I used to be out and in; it was enjoyable, however I didn’t suppose a lot about it. However the trickle impact that, that had: youngsters reaching out, saying “I’m doing class displays on you,” and why I embody what they need to do for the remainder of their life. I simply bear in mind pondering, “Who did I write my essays about?” My faculty essays have been about heroes that I had. And I used to be like, “Wait, what? Some little child someplace is seeing themselves by way of what I’ve carried out.”

The quantity on that dialog will get even louder when then you might be in a film like “High Gun.” What’s it prefer to be in these large blockbusters and convey illustration on that degree as nicely?

I talked about that quite a bit with Jay Ellis and Greg Tarzan Davis, particularly, as a result of one of many largest blessings additionally being in like elite circles with essentially the most sensible minds in storytelling, is that you simply’re then endowed with all this information that this small little group has, they usually go it down. So somebody like Tom [Cruise], he’s so accessible. If I’ve a pitch deck, I ship it to him, he’s the primary one to ship me notes. Having that entry then turns into a accountability. My subsequent step as a filmmaker is to have the ability to take that very same information that I’m studying and with the ability to go it down, as a result of expertise is typically every thing. So, Jay, Greg and I simply talked about how privileged we’ve been, and the way we are able to then go on all these golden nuggets that have been being given by way of — whether or not it’s Julius Onah in “Captain America”, or Joe Kosinski or Chris McQuarrie — we’ve got entry to some insanely unbelievable minds.

What’s the greatest be aware that Tom Cruise has ever given you about certainly one of your movies or a pitch deck?

It’s a sports-hybrid-heist movie, and inside this pitch deck, there’s a line round pace and its proximity to demise. He was like, “I like this pitch deck. Can I ship it round to a few individuals?” I used to be like, “Completely.” He’s like, “I problem one factor” — after which that is essentially the most Tom Cruise factor to say as nicely — “The extra expert you might be, pace really turns into a window. It’s not not a lot like how shut you might be to demise, however extra so a chance.” [That note] modified the attitude of this character, and what the movie is about; it’s not about driving the closeness to disaster, however slightly pace representing a chance. If anybody is aware of pace, clearly it’s Tom.

Audiences are very excited for “Captain America.” What are you most excited for individuals to see?

Loads! There’s some phenomenal sequences. The best way Julius works and the way he buildings and layers his characters and movies — “Luce” is an exceptional instance of that — just like the little hidden gems he locations from the rating, to totally different parts of sound, to how he performs with some lenses. I’m excited for the complete expertise, however particularly there’s one sequence that we shot, that I haven’t sene but, however I’ve heard quite a lot of actually nice issues.

How did you alter to being within the Falcon go well with?

[Shooting in] Atlanta, in the summertime, throughout a 90-degree day is hard. It was insane.

Did Anthony Mackie offer you any recommendation?

I discovered by the tip to comply with his lead on his go well with prep, so perhaps not double-sleeve every thing. Do the reduce off.