Glen Powell has shot to the forefront in Hollywood recently. After starring in Richard Linklater‘s crime comedy Hit Man, critics have been lauding his performance. However, this isn’t the first time he has grabbed the attention of audiences and movie pundits.
Although Hit Man is arguably Glen Powell’s first major leading role, his climb to success has seen him display a nuanced range in many other projects. In 2024, he has emerged as a contender for the next Hollywood A-listers. But what about his earlier roles? Here’s where you might know the actor from and where he’s heading next.
Glen Powell Has Been Around Longer Than You Might Realize
Glen Powell was born on October 21, 1988, in Austin, Texas. He began his career in the early 2000s with small guest roles on TV shows such as Jack & Bobby, CSI: Miami, and Without a Trace. As his career progressed, he landed supporting roles in major big-budget movies like The Dark Knight Rises, The Expendables 3, Everybody Wants Some, and Ride Along 2. However, his breakthrough role came when he starred as Chad Radwell in the hit Fox series Scream Queens. As Chad, the charming but self-absorbed frat guy, Powell showcased his impressive range as he brought depth and nuance to the character. With his ability to effortlessly convey both charm and menace, Powell’s performance as Chad Radwell earned him critical acclaim and cemented his status as a rising star in Hollywood.
Then, in 2023, Powell made further waves by starring opposite fellow rising star Sydney Sweeney in the romcom, Anyone But You. With Sweeney also being touted as one of Hollywood’s new A-listers, this made the movie harbour tremendous star power. However, there was one role prior to this that truly served as Glen Powell’s major breakthrough to larger audiences.
Top Gun: Maverick Served as a Spring Board for the Actor
As mentioned, Glen Powell has been making himself known to audiences for well over a decade. Despite this, his performance in Top Gun: Maverick is easily the role that launched him higher into the big leagues. His role as Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin is monumental for multiple reasons. Firstly, the film served as the biggest project he had ever been involved in, both in terms of legacy and budget.
The much-anticipated sequel to the the 1986 classic had a budget of around $170 million and grossed a staggering $1.496 billion worldwide as moviegoers flocked to see the picture. To that, it served as a career boost for virtually everyone involved. As a relatively unknown actor to the mainstream masses, Powell stood proud next to Hollywood titans like Tom Cruise and Jon Hamm, proving his place in Hollywood. In the movie, Powell portrays the cocky and brash Jake in a way that is hard to take your eyes off, bringing intensity and a boisterous charm that adds a touch humour to the chaos.
Watch Top Gun: Maverick on Prime Video
What’s Next for Glen Powell?
With Powell having both commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies in his repertoire for the last few years running, it’s clear that he has become a sought after talent in Hollywood. Making The Hollywood Reporter’s esteemed list of the next Hollywood A-Listers is just one example of this. In the Rolling Stone’s gleaming review of Richard Linklater‘s Hit Man, they crowned Powell the “21st Century’s Cary Grant”, while ABC News called the movie one of the best of the year.
As of the time of writing, Powell has transcended an array of genres, from comedies to dramas to romcoms and now crime thrillers. And he is continuing to branch out. He is currently attached to star in Edgar Wright‘s reboot of The Running Man, a cult action movie from the 80s that orinally starred Arnold Schwarzengger . Powell is rumoured to be taking on the lead role. However, before then, he will join yet another legacy movie sequel much like he did with Top Gun: Maverick.
On July 19, 2024, Powell will take top billing in Twisters, the long-awaited follow up to the iconic disaster movie, Twister. However, his epic climb is not ending there. He is also set to forefront John Lee Hancock‘s crime drama, Monsanto. He will share the screen with Oscar-winner Laura Dern and Anthony Mackie. Powell will play Brent Wisner, a young attorney who goes head to head with a massive corporate corporation who have been accused of causing cancer with their weed-killer product. Want to read more about Powell’s latest ventures? Here’s our breakdown of the trailer for Twisters.
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