THE sequel to the much-loved action fuelled Top Gun hits cinema screens today, 26 years on from the original, but did you know a former Bradford Grammar pupil has contributed to the movie?

Addingham-born Nick Mitchell helped one of the main characters in the film get into tip-top condition to shoot a beach scene.

A-lister Glen Powell, who plays Lieutenant "Hangman" Seresin alongside Hollywood legend Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, teamed up with Nick's personal training business Ultimate Performance (U.P.).

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Nick pushed Glen to his limits out in LA.Nick pushed Glen to his limits out in LA.

Shooting for the film began in 2018, and Glen, 33, had just seven weeks to get into shape for a sequence in which he is seen shirtless playing American Football– a homage to the iconic volleyball scene in the original film. 

Thanks to Nick's help at his Los Angeles gym, Glen was able to reduce his body fat and gain a chiselled six-pack.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Marbella resident is widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost personal trainers and body composition experts.The Marbella resident is widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost personal trainers and body composition experts.

The 49-year-old is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading personal trainers and founded U.P. in 2009.

He has since overseen the expansion of the business, which now has 20 gyms operating in nine countries and four continents. 

Amazon best-selling author Nick said: “The brief was to get Glen to look as good, and as lean, as possible in a very short space of time. 

“We analysed what the ‘money shot’ would be and what would make Glen pop on camera. So, we concentrated on his ‘mirror muscles’ – chest, shoulders, traps, abs. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: It was a seven-week boot camp that got Glen into the perfect condition.It was a seven-week boot camp that got Glen into the perfect condition.

“We couldn’t build massive muscles in just seven weeks. But, what we could do is make Glen look leaner, sharper, crisper, and give him a look of strength and power.

“You will always get people saying: ‘It’s easy for a pampered celebrity to get in shape.’ Don’t be stupid. Glen was part of an ensemble cast in one of the biggest Hollywood films in decades, starring alongside Tom Cruise, the biggest movie star in the world. His life wasn’t his own.

“It was down to Glen to get up at 5am and lift weights. He didn’t have a personal chef, so it was down to Glen to prepare and eat the right foods.

"It was down to Glen to fit his training around a manic schedule of filming late into the night, reshoots, looking at scripts, learning how to fly and so on. 

“It really was genuinely great fun and a pleasure to train Glen. He was uplifting to be on the gym floor with. He is the most upbeat, positive person you’d ever wish to meet.”