Glen Powell is stepping into the comedy genre with his upcoming Hulu series Chad Powers, where he portrays a college football player who disguises himself to get a second chance at his NFL dreams. After successes like Twisters and Anyone But You, Powell is set to make a significant impact with this new role, which he co-wrote and co-created. The teaser, released in Fall 2025, offers a brief look at Powell’s character, Russ Holliday, as he dons a disguise—complete with facial prosthetics and a wig—becoming Chad Powers to walk onto a struggling Southern football team.
The concept of using a disguise to relaunch a football career was inspired by a 2022 sketch featuring real-life quarterback Eli Manning, who also disguised himself as Chad Powers for walk-on tryouts at Penn State. The sketch, produced by NFL Films and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, set the stage for Powell and co-writer Michael Waldron to bring their own comedic take to the idea.
The series explores Russ’s attempt to revive his career, despite his bad behavior derailing his NFL dreams. In the teaser, Powell’s character is shown as a determined yet disreputable quarterback hoping for a fresh start. The show’s cast also includes Steve Zahn, Wynn Everett, Perry Mattfeld, Quentin Plair, and Frankie A. Rodriguez. The project will be executive produced by Powell, Waldron, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, and ESPN.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Powell described the role as one of the “hardest” he’s taken on, highlighting the challenge of playing a “disgraced” character who transforms into the seemingly affable and “genial southern guy” Chad Powers. The show’s official synopsis emphasizes the theme of redemption as Russ disguises himself in a bid to restore his football career. Fans can expect a fun and high-energy ride, as Powell brings his comedic timing and charm to this new role.