Glen Powell is the star and co-creator of the Eli Manning-influenced Hulu TV show, Chad Powers. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Getty Images

It’s clear that Glen Powell took on much more than his usual acting role in the new Hulu series, Chad Powers.

The 36-year-old actor is playing the role of former hotshot quarterback Russ Holiday. Holiday is a star quarterback at the college football level, but a mistake combined with his egotistical personality costs him a shot at a career in the sport.

Eight years later, he resurfaces under the disguised persona of Chad Powers, a walk-on for the South Georgia Catfish. The show is based off the popular character played by former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, which went viral in 2022.

Powell, Eli and Peyton Manning are all executive producers on the show, with all three figures playing a prominent role in the creativity of Chad Powers. In fact, Powell went through a legit football training camp to play the role of Powers, with both Manning’s judging and analyzing his technique and play.

“The football, college football audience, people know if it’s authentic or not,” says Powell in a one-on-one interview. “I’m really proud that between co-creator (Michael) Waldron, myself and Peyton and Eli, we really made sure that this was sort of a show that felt authentic to everybody who’s a fan of college football. It’s just been really fun. On that aspect is, I think it’s going to surprise a lot of people.”

Glen Powell On Creation of Chad Powers Series: ‘Mrs. Doubtfire In The World Of College Football’

Powell – who is an Austin, Texas native and a big fan of the Texas Longhorns – says he played quarterback in high school. The actor is known for roles in movies such as the action-based and Tom Cruise-led Top Gun: Maverick and the romantic comedy with Sydney Sweeney, Anyone But You.

However, this is really the first sports-based project he’s leading, which features Powell wearing all sorts of hats, including lead role, executive producer and as a co-creator.

The role also features Powell wearing heavy prosthetics and a wig to capture the whole persona and look of Chad Powers as a character. Powell describes the show as a mixture of college football and the popular Robin Williams movie from the 90’s, Mrs. Doubtfire.

“What’s really been super fun with this one is, we joked about Michael Waldron, who’s my co-creator on the show, we always joked about when Eli and Peyton said, they were looking to make the character of Chad Powers, this character that Eli created into a movie or a show,” says Powell. “Waldron and I looked at each other, and we talked about what it could look like. We just both loved the movie, Mrs. Doubtfire. We were like, how crazy would it be if we tried to do Mrs. Doubtfire in the world of college football?”

Powell describes how rewarding of a feeling it is to play Powers, which debuts on Hulu on Sep. 30 with a two-episode premiere. The first season will feature six episodes, with the final one debuting on Oct. 28.

“Absolutely,” says Powell when asked if this title role was rewarding to play. “Think about it, when you’re shooting this thing, sort of like end of summer in Atlanta, full prosthetics, full pads, helmets, wig. There’s nothing hotter than trying to pull off all those layers. Not even just on an uncomfortable aspect, but one of the things that really was a crazy thing to balance, because you are playing a guy who is sort of pulling this giant con off on the world.

“There’s this really fun pressure cooker around all of it,” Powell continues to say. “Meanwhile, on the fly, he’s kind of creating this character. It’s really like a crazy swing performance wise, not only skill wise on the football aspect, but I’m also playing two characters who’s kind of going through this wild identity crisis and mental breakdown in front of the world while he’s trying to go for a title.”

Glen Powell On Chad Powers, Raising Cane’s Partnernship

As Powell prepares for the premiere of Chad Powers, he celebrated with fans at an exclusive tailgate party and screening of his new TV show at a Raising Cane’s Los Angeles area restaurant in Torrance, California just a few days prior to its first episode date.

Notable guests appeared such as Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams and UCLA basketball player Kiki Rice. The event debuted a 360-degree marketing campaign called “Think Fast. Eat Fast.” The campaign is featured prominently through Nov. 4 which focuses on the restaurant’s quick meals they’re known for.

Powell and Raising Cane’s owner Todd Graves have a long-term friendship, which is notable because they’re a fan of rival SEC schools. Powell is obviously a Longhorns fan, while Graves is an LSU Tigers fan, with roots in Louisiana.

“We both have host energy,” says Powell. “We both love bringing friends together and people together for just a good time. What’s been really fun is the genesis of our friendship started over college football. He’s an LSU guy, I’m a Texas guy, and that’s sort of been our love language for a bit is college football, what’s happening in the season.

“Especially both being a part of the SEC and I think one of the things that’s really fun, especially with Chad Powers, is it obviously surrounds college football, and the love of college football – all the drama and intensity around it,” Powell continues to say.

Powell details why he’s partnering with Raising Cane’s, which is about food, having fun and enjoying football.

“The one thing I love about college football season is just bringing people together, I love having people in my house,” says Powell. “I love bringing friends together for these kind of moments and Raising Cane’s, especially being from the south, there’s not one person that doesn’t like Raising Canes or want to see it in a tailgate.

“It’s been just really fun to team up with Raising Canes,” Powell continues to say. “I feel the energy of Raising Canes and Chad Powers is sort of similar, it’s just eating good, having fun, enjoying football. It’s all the things that you love in the world. It’s been really fun to team up with Todd (Graves) on it, and to get to show some of my friends Chad Powers.”