Instagram/@glenpowell
The launch of Glen Powell‘s new Hulu special ‘Chad Powers’ is something of a zeitgeist moment taking place at the very doorstep of the iconic Rose Bowl estate in Pasadena, California. The actor chose to commemorate the night with members of his family and sort of gestures at a departure for television, following the recent string of box office successes with which he was affiliated. The launch marks a whole new wave in his career: smooth moving between the big screen and big streaming.
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The moment was something really nice about seeing a Hollywood star who is genuinely grateful for his success and has fun with it. Glen Powell’s Instagram post is a man in the Rose Bowl, arguably America’s most famous football stadium, celebrating the world premiere of his Hulu series ‘Chad Powers.’ There is no cryptic caption, no artsy black-and-white filter. Just pure excitement and happiness for a project that obviously means so much to him.
The picture, though going full leading man on us, is perhaps set apart mostly by its background. After all, the Rose Bowl is no ordinary venue. A big, legendary thing is created there, and championship games seal the fate of millions. So with the series premiere being held there? That’s that big. That means this is not just another streaming show-an event. Powell stars as the washed-up quarterback who fakes his way into a new gig for another chance. The meta naming of a handsome actor playing pretty much the role of a washed-up athlete who is basically putting on an act within said act feels so actually tailor-made for Powell’s charms.
What slightly fluorishes an intriguing aspect was the fact that Powell’s family got involved in the moment. They aren’t visible in the Insta post but came forth in strong presence through the comments. A bystander noted, “It’s so nice to see that the whole Powell family is involved 🥰 it’s heartwarming ❤️.” These are matters that go far beyond mere professionalism. Usually, family gets kicked to the curb quite quick after premieres or maybe even during the event; however, Powell made sure his family is there with him for this one. Instead of just collecting big payments for appearances, he’s developing a legitimate career path.
Responses came pouring in from a wide array of voices, from strange excitement to some…well, let’s just say sporadic. Most comments had to do with his charm, dragging down: “Chad Powers may play football, but the real touchdown is that smile 😂🥰. Only 3 days left 🏉😎.” The hashtag countdown implied that Powell has indeed been able to stir up anticipation for the release date.
And then came the comparison to movies and stars. “Glen Powell is the new Pedro Pascal 🔥🔥🔥” came anther comment, placing him alongside adored actors whose fame and glory extend to streaming and movie making. That’s quite a compliment, seeing both actors are that kind of attractive and down-to-earth talents who can carry blockbusters yet are guys you want to hang out with.
One was ambivalent: “U I would love you, Glen even if you looked like Chad Powers! You have a beautiful heart, darling.” That implies that the character Chad Powers is somehow less attractive than Powell usually is-a weird criticism to level at a fictional character-but it shows just how invested these people are in Powell’s image.
Another hard-hitting comment was: “Reading the your up-to-date interviews make me realize you have no balls if you ever find them 🤳.” Harsh? Absolutely. It does, however, illustrate how hotly Powell’s ascent is being observed; every word intones the come-dedication of its darling, every project is scrutinized.
Then there was the down-to-earth comment from a local: “What?!! You were in my neighborhood. Next time, bring the family over for dinner.” That kind of throwaway remark is offered as an attempt to describe how manageable Powell’s notoriety still feels, as opposed to some star who shuns a dinner invitation.
The friends of the show also came through on the support: “How great was this night?? This show is a banger!! @chadpowershulu.” Leaving something in past tense implies whoever said that attended the premiere, giving some credence to the whole buzz surrounding the project.
By no means were all of them kind: “He is not very good looking, his smile creeps me out. But we all got our make it look good for the lens.” Every famous person has detractors, but what is interesting about this criticism is how it acknowledges the very thing all the celebrity detractors are talking about: ‘making it look good for the lens.’
The Rose Bowl was more than just an all-American football shrine.
The ambiguous reference in the show to “VY won a big game there two decades ago which will never ever be forgotten” is a mad nod to Vince Young’s legendary performance in the 2006 Rose Bowl, almost linking Powell’s contemporary moment to a great moment in sports history.
All these different responses draw the profile of an actor on the edge of a lucrative crossroads. Powell has the looks and the credentials, and the resume that would put a feather in the cap of defining the next chapter. The mix of family support, fan enthusiasm, and some percipient criticism at times is the glaring picture of one rolling with his newfound fame with quite a large measure of honesty. At a time where every step is calculated and every edit manufactured, the fact that Powell can really glance back on the excitement while standing on the field feels like a win.
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The launch of Chad Powers speaks more than just for Powell’s next gig. It is a statement as to what Powell sees his career really moving towards: major venues, major platforms, and culturally resonant projects. The kind of person who celebrates a sometimes good, sometimes bad response means his level is such where people care enough to have an opinion about it. And it is those opinions in Hollywood that represent if you have really arrived. Glen Powell is also working on other projects, and he recently teamed up with Eli Manning for the series.
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