It’s no doubt that Glen Powell is the man of the moment in Hollywood, especially following the tremendous success of his recent endeavours, Twisters and Anyone but You. The Texas-born actor has now secured another thrilling project: Hulu’s upcoming comedy series, Chad Powers. The streamer released the first look of his character in the series, revealing a nearly unrecognisable transformation.
The series was officially greenlit by the streaming platform in February and is inspired by the Chad Powers character, which American football player Eli Manning introduced in his docuseries, Eli’s Places.
The muscular Powell will not only star in the series but also co-create and co-write the plot alongside Michael Waldron, with both individuals serving as executive producers.
View this post on Instagram
Showcasing Powell’s dramatic new appearance, complete with long hair, a small moustache, and a prosthetic nose, the first look has got fans all sorts of excited and curious about the true story behind Chad Powers, along with the anticipated release date of the series. We unravel all of this and more below.
The true story behind ‘Chad Powers’
The official synopsis for the series states, “When bad behaviour nukes hotshot QB Russ Holliday’s (Powell) college career, he disguises himself and walks onto a struggling Southern football team as the talented, affable Chad Powers.”
The series is based on the 2022 sketch produced by NFL Films and Omaha Productions that aired on ESPN+ as part of Eli’s Places. On the show Manning, the retired NFL star disguises himself as a character he calls Chad Powers and tries out for the Penn State football team.
The plot of Chad Powers extrapolates that story and centres itself on a football player experiencing a downturn in his career. It features Russ Holliday, a standout quarterback whose “bad behaviour” has led to the downfall of his college career as a footballer.
The severity of his actions is such that he feels compelled to assume a completely new identity, walking onto a “struggling Southern football team” under the guise of the “charming and skilled Chad Powers.” To gain further insight into Powers’s character, you can refer (below) to the sketch in which Eli Manning first portrayed the role.
Who else is in the cast of ‘Chad Powers’?
In addition to Glen Powell portraying Russ Holliday, the series will feature Steve Zahn, Toby Huss, Perry Mattfeld, Wynn Everett, Frankie A. Rodriguez and Quentin Plair in key roles.
According to Deadline, Zahn (The White Lotus) is set to play head coach Jake Hudson, who has the potential to transform his fortunes and those of his team through Chad Powers’s abilities. Mattfeld (Mending the Line) will portray Ricky, an assistant to her father’s struggling team, who harbours suspicions about Powers. The complete cast also includes Frankie A. Rodriguez as team mascot Danny, Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd, and Wynn Everett as a character named Tricia.
Off the screen, Powell and Waldron will serve as executive producers, collaborating with Eli and Peyton Manning. Adam Fasullo from Waldron’s Anomaly Pictures will also take on an executive producer role, alongside ESPN. Powell will produce under his Barnstorm Productions label, with 20th Television serving as the studio.
This marks not the first time Powell has ventured into writing; he previously co-wrote the screenplay for the action-comedy Hit Man alongside Richard Linklater, in which he also starred as the lead.
Is ‘Chad Powers’ a spin-off for Apple TV+’s ‘Tad Lasso’?
Chad Powers is not a spin-off of the acclaimed Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso. However, it is being perceived by fans of the classic series as a rip-off.
Indie Wire has extensively reported on how observers on the internet suggest that Hulu’s new series is an attempt to leverage the immense popularity of Ted Lasso. Initially, Ted Lasso was conceived as an exaggerated character designed to promote a major media company’s sports brand, intended as a standalone comedic sketch. Similarly, before Chad Powers became a series, it was merely a concept. Notably, both titular characters sport moustaches.
Additionally, in the absence of more content like Ted Lasso, there seems to be a desire for something akin to it. In essence, audiences may be inclined to overlook this apparent imitation, provided that Chad Powers delivers humour.
Do we have a release date for ‘Chad Powers’?
The makers are yet to officially announce the release date of the Hulu show but considering that the first look is already out, it is safe to assume that the series could premiere sometime in 2025.
A teaser or trailer could also be expected soon since the show has already gone into production.
(Main and feature image credit: Instagram/Hulu)
This story first appeared on Augustman Malaysia.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
