What do “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Anyone but You,” and “The Dark Knight Rises” have in common? Glen Powell. But who is Glen Powell? Where did he come from? When did he rise to such fame? 

Glen Powell was born in 1988 to Glen Powell Sr. and Cyndy Powell in Austin, Texas. Glen Powell Sr. was a humble executive sports coach at his local high school, and Cyndy Powell was a professional home caretaker. Powell grew up with two sisters who were influential in his development. He participated in stage acting and created science-fiction films with his home video camera.

Powell might say the most influential event of his childhood was when his father took him to see Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park.” The movie’s scale and superb acting fascinated Powell and inspired him to pursue acting. His parents encouraged him to take acting classes and participate in the local theater and performing arts scene. 

After many years of on-stage acting, Powell landed his first role on-screen. Powell was 15 when he starred in “Spy Kids 3-D.” His role was minimal, but he was putting himself out there. 

Before his first year of college, he landed a role with Denzel Washington in “The Great Debaters.” Powell was considering quitting acting until speaking with Washington on set. 

“This stuff doesn’t happen overnight, but you should take the plunge,” Washington said. 

Powell has credited Washington with his continued passion for acting in his later years. In 2012, Powell landed a minor role in the award-winning film, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Powell was only on screen for around 50 seconds in the scene when he was slammed onto a table by Tom Hardy’s Bane and almost suffered a concussion. His next notable role was in 2016’s “Hidden Figures,” in which he played an astronaut. Powell had much more screen time in this movie and enjoyed being on set with all the featured actors. He got few notable roles between 2016 and 2022. 

In 2022, Powell had the biggest break of his career. He landed a significant role in “Top Gun: Maverick.” That movie was the highest-grossing film of 2022, bringing in 1.4 billion dollars worldwide. Powell was hesitant to star in the movie since he did not appreciate the character he was originally offered. After much encouragement from Tom Cruise, he came back to the set and began filming. From one blockbuster to another, Powell then starred in 2023’s “Anyone But You.” He and his co-star, Sydney Sweeney, had a lot of on-screen chemistry making the movie much more enjoyable for all audiences. This movie went on to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of the year.

 

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In 2024, he starred in one of the biggest movies of the summer, “Twisters.” The film brought in $123 million at the domestic box office, and its advertisement was filled to the brim with Powell. That put him on top of the world in Hollywood.

 “I’m really getting a shot to return to worlds that I’ve always wanted to occupy. I got to do it on ‘Top Gun’! I’m getting to do it in ‘Twisters’!” Powell told Indiewire.

Powell also loves giving kids someone to look up to or aspire to be one day. But deep down he misses his hometown. After a few streaming service movies, Powell has been rather quiet in Hollywood. Noting his recent return to college at the University of Texas to earn his degree. 

He lost some of the intimacy and connectedness with his mother and father after moving to Los Angeles and wanted to gain some of it back.

“I think it’s really important to my mom, and it’s more of an emotional thing for me,” Powell said.

Ava Lee, ‘27, and Xyra Baranda, ‘27, watched movies starring Powell and both agree he’s a heartthrob.

“His acting was really good in Twisters,” Lee said. “He is also really handsome and good-looking.”

Powell has many movies left in the lineup, featuring remakes of old 80s movies, as well as sequels to beloved franchises. Keep your eyes peeled for the new main man of the silver screen! 

Rumored Upcoming Glen Powell Movies

• The Running Man
• Monsanto
• Huntington
• Backdraft
• Top Gun 3

To read more from The Feather’s Arts and Entertainments page Movie Review: Reagan or Book Review: Atomic Habits ignites explosive change.