Glen Powell knows he seems to be everywhere right now — but he makes no apologies for it. The actor, who stars in the Hulu series "Chad Powers," recently addressed concerns about his grueling schedule during an appearance on Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast.

“I find that being hard working, it’s something I really admire in my colleagues and other people,” Powell said. “I mean, work ethic is something, especially when you’re on a film set and you have all these people kind of investing in something, I love that quality. At the same time, I think people are worried about me. But I’m fine. I’m having a blast.”

Powell's current slate is undeniably packed. Beyond the Hulu series, he has been involved in major theatrical releases including the upcoming disaster sequel Twisters and the long-awaited Top Gun: Maverick follow-up. Yet, he insists that his motivation stems from genuine passion rather than a fear of slowing down.

The Birth of 'Chad Powers'

"Chad Powers" originated as a comedic sketch on Eli Manning's ESPN series Eli's Places. In that bit, Powell, under heavy prosthetics, played a washed-up former college football star who concocts a wild scheme to recapture his glory by enrolling at a new school in disguise. The concept was so well-received that Powell and co-creator Michael Waldron (known for Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) expanded it into a full series.

“I’m getting to co-create a show with one of my great friends, and live in a world that I really love,” Powell explained. “The world of college football is something that anybody who knows me knows, I’m a massive fan. I’m getting to work with a very deep bench of some of the most talented actors in Hollywood, and I’m having a great time. So I’m not burnt out. I’m getting to do all that, and my friends and my family get to visit the set, so I really don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.”

Powell and Waldron have mapped out "Chad Powers" over the course of three seasons. “There’s a beginning, middle and end,” Powell said. “I know how I want this thing to land for audiences. Sometimes it’s just not saying, ‘Hey, we’re gonna drag this thing out until it can’t go anymore.’ We have a great mic drop for where this is all going.”

Blending Genres with a Twist

The show is described as a blend of Mrs. Doubtfire and Breaking Bad, with a heavy dose of sports drama. According to Powell, the core of the story is about identity and deception. “The way those storylines can kind of intersect become inherently interesting,” he said. “For me as an actor, there was something exciting about taking a very big swing with a lot of things that were my favorite type of inspiration points.”

He elaborated on the tension that builds as the central lie spirals out of control. “The second season is where we wanted to kind of turn the dial on the fact that this lie is actually ruining people’s lives,” Powell revealed. “It becomes more ‘Uncut Gems.’ It becomes a much more wild, twisted, dark thing mixed with all that fun comedy. This was always the intention. Waldron and I were like, ‘Okay, how can we take this silly, fun story and take it on the most twisted path for audiences?’”

The series also offers a deeper thematic layer. “This whole story is really a contemplation on identity and how you label yourself, and how you allow other people to label you,” Powell explained. “Over the course of his journey, he’s labeled himself as a guy who’s a bit of a loser. He believes he’s cursed. He’s kind of taking no accountability. What happens in his effort to prove that theory wrong, he ends up doubling down on his worst instincts and kind of becoming his own curse for a team that has no idea they’ve doubled down on the biggest lie in sports history.”

Reflections on a Busy Career

Powell took a moment to look back at his career trajectory. He recalled his first mention in Variety in 2012, when he landed the lead role in the film Red Wing and had just wrapped on the feature Writers (later titled Stuck In Love), opposite Greg Kinnear and Lily Collins.

“I remember I auditioned several times for that movie,” Powell said of Red Wing. “It’s like a very interesting thing to think about, getting hired to do anything. Even the movie ‘Writers,’ which the final title was ‘Stuck in Love.’ I was working with Lily Collins, who’s amazing.”

Despite his packed schedule, Powell insists he is more energized than ever. He noted that he has a period of downtime planned but emphasized that it is not because of burnout. “I have this stretch coming up where I’m going to take a bit of a break. But it’s not a break because I’m burnt out. I’m not going to work for the sake of working, but I work because of all the things I love, I really do care about.”

10 Questions with Glen Powell

During the podcast, Powell also participated in a rapid-fire segment called "10 Questions," offering a playful glimpse into his personality.

• Childhood nickname: “’Boom Boom.’ On the sports team, they called me ‘Boom Boom Powell.’ Now my niece and nephew call me ‘Uncle Boom Boom.’”
• Something you loved as a kid but can’t believe you were into it now: Pokemon cards. “I recently got to do the Super Mario movie, because I used to love video games as a kid. I got to play Star Fox. I was obsessed with Star Fox, and I now get to be Star Fox in this movie. So it’s funny how these little things end up sneaking back on you in the entertainment business.”
• Go-to Karaoke or sing-in-the-shower song: “I’m actually doing a movie with Judd Apatow set in the world of country music. So I’ve actually been dusting off a lot of country karaoke. So I’d probably say, ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy’ [by Toby Keith].”
• Secret talent: “I can shotgun a beer really fast.”
• Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate chip cookie dough.
• The one item you couldn’t live without: “If you can call my dog Brisket an item, I’d probably say Brisket.”
• TV show you wish you were a cast member of: “When I first moved out to LA I really wanted to be on sitcoms. I just loved the cast mentality, the live audience thing. I went and saw a bunch of tapings when I first moved out here. Obviously, ‘Friends’ is one of the great ones I loved. ‘Everybody Loves Raymond,’ ‘Two and a Half Men.’ ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air,’ ‘Sister, Sister.’ That was my big dream when I first moved out to LA, if I could get on a sitcom, that would be the ultimate thing. And I’ve never done it!”
• Fictional character you most admire: “When I’m on a movie, I tend to binge characters that are sort of in the realm of what I’m kind of experiencing right now. And I do find that the movie I’m on reflects the idea of the pressure of failing publicly, and so does ‘Chad.’”
• Is a hot dog a sandwich? “This is something I think you and I can agree upon. A psychopath would call a hot dog a sandwich. It doesn’t make sense.”

Looking Ahead

With Chad Powers set to stream on Hulu and a lineup of major film projects on the horizon, Glen Powell shows no signs of slowing down. Yet, as he makes clear, his ambition is not driven by a fear of failure or a desire to fill schedules—it comes from a genuine love for storytelling and collaboration. Whether he is playing a star quarterback in disguise or a fighter pilot in the sky, Powell brings a level of energy that has made him one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. And despite the worries of fans and colleagues, he remains confident that the best is yet to come.

Source: Variety News