Lewis Pullman Reveals His Favorite Beer and the Future of Marvel
Lewis Pullman is everywhere. From his turns in critically acclaimed TV shows like Outer Range to his more high-profile roles in films like Top Gun: Maverick and Marvel's Thunderbolts*, you can't get away from his charming pull. As the son of Tamara Hurwitz and Bill Pullman, Lewis knows what it's like to shoulder a legacy. He also knows what it's like to work under pressure and try to live up to expectations.
Is all of this connected to why he's suddenly doing a commercial for Michelob Ultra? Maybe. Recently, Pullman appeared alongside Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim, NHL star T.J. Oshie, and Hollywood legend Kurt Russell. The spot, tied to Super Bowl LX, is also designed to showcase the Olympics more broadly, as Michelob Ultra is the official beer of Team USA.
In this ad, all about the Winter Games, Pullman is playing a very down-to-earth guy, trying to be a little bit better at winter sports. Men's Journal caught up with Pullman to chat about the mindset of an underdog, his now-iconic Marvel role of Bob, and working with two generations of dudes with the last name Russell.
Men's Journal: Let's talk about your character, Greg, in this new Michelob ad. He seems a lot like Bob from Thunderbolts*. Is that right?
The character had already been fleshed out when it landed in my lap, and I was so excited. Michelob Ultra is genuinely one of my favorite beers on the planet. So, I already said I would do it, then I found out Joseph Kosinski was directing it, and then I found out Kurt Russell was in it. I was like, "How did I get so lucky?"
But yeah, there are some similarities between Greg [in the Michelob Ultra ad] and Bob [in Thunderbolts*]. I think it's that underdog arc, which I relate to so much.
Do you think there are upsides to being an underdog?
Yeah, I think so. It's like you've hit a wall, and you have more in the tank than some people assume. An underdog is when everyone's expectations of you are pretty bottomed out, but you know you have the spirit of competition. You have perseverance and grit, and those things can take you a long way. In this case, I get guided by a mysterious mentor....
What was it like working with Kurt Russell for this?
Not the first time working with a Russell, but my first time working with Kurt Russell! Obviously, I love Wyatt [Kurt's son] so much. He was one of my favorite parts about the whole process of being in Thunderbolts*. Wyatt is one of the secret weapons of that movie because he has such an unassuming, dry delivery. With Kurt, you can see where Wyatt got it from.
Wyatt has his own style, but there's some shared DNA for sure. Talking about the Russells, there's nothing that beats those guys. Wyatt and Kurt are just down-to-the-bone.
Why Michelob Ultra? What's the appeal for you?
It tastes as good as any beer. It's refreshing. It's not going to slog you down. It's pretty darn guilt-free as far as beers go. It's as good as it gets.
You're back as Bob in Avengers: Doomsday, but how long will you be part of the MCU?Avengers: Secret Wars is coming right after that...
If we're talking hope, I have great hope. I think he [Bob] has a lot to offer, and I think he's a valuable asset. Like any good tool and team member, finding your place in the team and finding how you best serve the company within the toolbox is kind of up to the team and up to the team member. And so I have high hopes that they [Marvel] can figure that dynamic out. Fingers crossed!