Lewis Pullman isn’t just “that guy from Top Gun: Maverick” anymore. Over the past year, he’s stacked awards buzz, landed a Marvel-sized role, sparked a new A‑list romance rumor, and is now fronting a historical musical drama alongside Amanda Seyfried — all while keeping his signature low‑key, off‑social‑media vibe.
Here’s what’s really going on with one of Hollywood’s most quietly in‑demand actors.
From Character Actor to Headliner
Pullman has been building momentum for years, but *
2022’s Top Gun: Maverick
was the tipping point. He played Robert “Bob” Floyd, the soft‑spoken but deadly skilled weapons systems officer, holding his own opposite Tom Cruise and an ensemble of franchise veterans and newcomers.
Before that, he’d already shown range in darker, genre‑bending projects like:
- Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) – a noir‑ish thriller with an all‑star cast
- The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) – a brutal horror sequel that gave him early genre cred
Those choices positioned him as a reliable character actor — the kind of performer directors trust with tricky, off‑center roles.
Emmy-Nominated Turn in
Lessons in Chemistry
The real prestige shift came with Apple TV+’s Lessons in Chemistry, where Pullman starred opposite Brie Larson as Calvin Evans, a brilliant but socially awkward chemist.
- The limited series drew strong critical attention, and
- Pullman earned his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie in 2024, along with a Critics Choice nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
In an August 2024 interview, he described the shoot as unusually warm and nourishing, saying he didn’t feel like he was “dragging any sort of demons” home from the job and that he was excited to keep going
. That kind of experience — creatively fulfilling and awards‑recognized — is exactly what nudges an actor into “serious contender” territory.
Stepping Into the Marvel Universe as Sentry
On top of prestige TV, Pullman is poised to go fully mainstream: he is set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the superhero Sentry in Thunderbolts**
.
Sentry is one of Marvel’s more complex, less widely known characters — a near‑omnipotent hero with severe psychological struggles — which lines up with the kind of emotionally layered work Pullman has gravitated toward. Casting him signals Marvel’s ongoing pivot toward actors who can ground genre spectacle in vulnerability rather than just swagger.
The move also all but guarantees his face will become infinitely more recognizable, especially to global audiences who might not have followed his indie and prestige work.
New Film:
The Testament of Ann Lee
With Amanda SeyfriedMost recently, Pullman has stepped into the spotlight with Amanda Seyfried for their new film The Testament of Ann Lee, a historical musical centered on the Shakers and their enigmatic leader Ann Lee.
- The pair appeared together on Good Morning America
to talk about the project, described as a historical musical
exploring the Shaker movement through music and character.
- On Tuesday night, they attended a screening of the film at New York’s Crosby Street Hotel, alongside co‑stars Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, and David Cale, and writer‑director Mona Fastvold.
- Industry names like Giancarlo Esposito and Gina Gershon turned out to support the film.
At the screening, entertainment outlets highlighted a small but telling moment: Seyfried and Pullman sharing an “adorable” fist bump, underscoring the easy rapport they’ve developed while promoting the film. It’s the kind of chemistry that can sell a period musical to audiences who might otherwise consider it a niche curiosity.
Behind the scenes, the film’s music has also drawn attention. Composer Daniel Blumberg recently discussed scoring The Testament of Ann Lee
and writing what he called one of his “favorite” songs, “Clothed by the Sun,” underscoring the project’s ambition to merge historical subject matter with emotionally rich music.
A-List Romance Rumors: Kaia Gerber
Pullman’s personal life, typically a no‑go zone thanks to his low‑profile approach, has been harder to keep out of headlines this year.
In May 2025, he was spotted at a Broadway performance of The Picture of Dorian Gray
in New York with model Kaia Gerber. According to Page Six
, Gerber rested her head on Pullman’s shoulder throughout the show, and an eyewitness reportedly said, “They are definitely together.”
The theater outing followed an earlier sighting:
- Gerber was seen celebrating Pullman’s birthday in Los Angeles in January 2025, sparking the first wave of romance speculation.
- A source told People
they had been spending time together for weeks and described them as a “cute couple”
who are “very low‑key.”
Pullman’s rumored relationship with Gerber comes after his previous long‑term relationship with actor and musician Rainey Qualley, with whom he was publicly linked from around 2020 to 2023, including a joint appearance at the Top Gun: Maverick
premiere.
True to form, Pullman has not publicly commented on the Gerber rumors — consistent with his general reluctance to discuss his dating life in interviews.
A Star Who Still Avoids Social Media
One of the most striking things about Pullman’s rise is how old‑school it is.
- He reportedly has no public Instagram account and avoids using social media as a branding tool.
- In a January 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter
, when he floated the idea of a podcast with his Top Gun: Maverick
co‑stars Danny Ramirez and Greg Tarzan Davis, the interviewer joked that this is “why you need social media — to announce things like this.”
The podcast concept, tentatively titled “Knowledge Heist” before they discovered the name was taken, was pitched as a looser, less polished version of the celebrity‑chat format:
> Pullman described it as “like SmartLess, but less smart. And less funny,”
where the trio would sit down with “great minds” they’d met over the years and “steal all their golden nuggets of wisdom.”
Whether or not the show ever goes live, the idea fits neatly with his image: curious, self‑aware, and allergic to slick, over‑produced self‑promotion.
Indie Credentials: Drummer in Atta Boy
Acting isn’t Pullman’s only creative lane. He is also the drummer for Atta Boy, an indie band that has quietly existed for over a decade.
- After an extended break, the group regrouped in 2020, their first time in the same room together in eight years.
- Pullman told AudioFemme that his personal goal was to “refine what our sound was and reintegrate”, pushing each other “into new realms.”
It’s a detail that solidifies his outsider‑artist appeal: a working actor who still makes time for band rehearsals and long‑term creative projects that have nothing to do with Marvel, red carpets, or award shows.
Awards Circuit & Red Carpet Evolution
Despite the low‑key persona, Pullman isn’t immune to the awards‑season machine.
- He attended his first Academy Awards in 2023 on the heels of Top Gun: Maverick
becoming the highest‑grossing film of 2022.
- Before the ceremony, he told GQ UK
he felt “a little excited, but also terrified.”
He marked the moment with a carefully chosen look:
- A custom Thom Browne tuxedo with grosgrain detailing and a Kentucky bow tie — a nod to his Montana roots — because he didn’t want to feel “like [he’s] just a mannequin,” but rather someone whose clothes still reflected where he comes from.
He has also stepped into presenter duties, handing out the Excellence in Contemporary Television award at the 2023 Costume Designer Guild Awards alongside Maverick* co‑stars Greg Tarzan Davis and Monica Barbaro, wearing a Saint Laurent suit.
The styling story here is subtle but telling: he’s not a fashion peacock, but he understands the red carpet as another narrative space — one where he can quietly express origin and personality.
What Lewis Pullman’s Trajectory Says About Hollywood Right Now
Pullman’s moment captures a bigger industry shift.
-
Prestige + genre = power combo. An Emmy‑nominated limited series, a Marvel role, and a historical musical is not a traditional path — but it’s increasingly the norm for actors trying to avoid typecasting and fatigue.
-
Low‑profile can still win. At a time when many careers are built on constant content, Pullman’s refusal to overshare has not slowed him
Sources
1. All About Lewis Pullman, Kaia Gerber's Rumored Boyfriend - ELLE
2. Amanda Seyfried & Lewis Pullman Share Adorable Fist Bump at ...
3. Amanda Seyfried and Lewis Pullman talk 'The Testament of Ann Lee'
