Glen Powell is set to take on a fascinating new persona as Chad Powers, and he’s not quite ready to say goodbye to this intriguing character just yet. In his latest series, aptly titled "Chad Powers," Powell not only stars but also co-created the show, where he portrays a disgraced former college quarterback attempting to revive his career by joining a struggling football team. To maintain his anonymity, he cleverly disguises himself with a fake nose and wig, adding an element of humor and intrigue to the storyline.
At the premiere event held at the iconic Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, which was designed to immerse attendees in a true football atmosphere, Powell shared with The Hollywood Reporter that this marks one of the first times in weeks he’s been able to reveal his face to the outside world. He humorously remarked, "I think after these last couple of weeks I will call Kevin [Kirkpatrick] and Alexei [Dmitriew], my makeup and prosthetics team, and see if I can borrow Chad for a little bit" to wear the disguise while out and about.
Powell described playing the character of Chad as "the most fun role I’ve ever taken on, without a doubt." His enthusiasm for the character is palpable, as he confidently stated, "I think this show is going to blow people away."
The transformation into Chad Powers, complete with a high-pitched Southern accent, became a hot topic during the premiere. Showrunner Michael Waldron explained the creative challenge they faced: "We knew we had to make Chad unattractive; he can’t look appealing. But despite that, the essence of Glen shines through, and audiences will find themselves falling in love with Chad almost instantly." Steve Zahn, who plays the head coach of the struggling team known as the Catfish, humorously admitted that he found it difficult to keep a straight face while acting alongside Powell, especially during a particular shower scene where he couldn’t help but look down to avoid breaking character.
The character of Chad Powers is inspired by a viral skit from 2022, in which NFL legend Eli Manning donned prosthetics and the alias to go undercover at Penn State, attempting to try out for their football team. Both Eli and his brother Peyton Manning serve as executive producers for the series. Peyton candidly shared that they were uncertain whether the short video would translate into a full-fledged scripted series.
In a playful jab at his younger brother, Peyton quipped that Powell’s portrayal of Chad is "way better looking than Eli." He added, "It’s a relief that it’s Glen Powell in this show and not Eli Manning. Watching Eli for eight minutes in that viral video was one thing, but six episodes would be a lot of Eli to handle. I see Eli every Monday night on the Manningcast, so it’s a challenge. I’m here to ensure there are no last-minute changes involving Eli. He does have a cameo in the show, but it’s brief. I’m just glad it’s Glen; he looks good in anything!"
Mark your calendars, as "Chad Powers" is set to premiere on Hulu this Tuesday. This series promises to deliver a unique blend of humor and heart, and it’s sure to spark conversations about identity, ambition, and the lengths one might go to reclaim their glory.
