Glen Powell Proves That Actors Don’t Need Superhero Roles To Become Leading-Man Material

If someone had mentioned Glen Powell to me two years ago, I would’ve drawn a total blank. I took no notice of the Trader #1 character he played in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises, and I never saw the 2015 dark comedy slasher series Scream Queens, in which he played the prominently featured Chad Radwell. These days, the actor is mentioned in or interviewed by almost every publication in the world.

Early Beginnings and Breakthrough Roles

Powell’s career officially began at the age of 13 when he landed a minor role in the movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. He went on to appear in various films and television shows, albeit in equally small roles. It wasn’t until Tom Cruise convinced him to play Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick that Powell really started to get noticed. But the movie that really cemented his place as a leading man was the 2023 sleeper hit Anyone But You, in which he starred opposite Sydney Sweeney. 

While Powell’s climb to the top might seem pretty run-of-the-mill, the actor is different from the names that have dominated the headlines over the past decade. Unlike most of his peers, which include all four Hollywood Chris’s (Pine, Hemsworth, Evans, and Pratt) and various others, Powell did not get a career boost by playing a Marvel superhero or appearing in a major franchise like Star Trek. However, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. 

The Hidden Blessings of Missed Opportunities 

According to Powell, he completely tanked his Captain America audition and ruined his chance at landing the lead role in Solo: A Star Wars Story. “I can joke about it now,” the actor told GQ UK. “But I blew that final audition.” Although it felt like the universe was conspiring against him at the time, it may have done him a favor. Realistically speaking, superhero roles can be played by anyone who can memorize lines and don’t require any real acting skills. 

As long as someone looks the part, the superhero they embody will elevate their performance because the “costume” is already famous. That’s probably why most actors who’ve taken on these roles fade into relative obscurity after they hang up their super suits. Even when they’re cast in projects of a higher caliber, be it in a major blockbuster or an indie film), the shadow of the superhero they once played looms large. As a result, these actors become tainted by the roles that gave them their biggest paydays. 

A Different Path to Stardom 

Powell, meanwhile, has slogged his way up the acting ladder and forced people to take notice of his talent, even in roles that didn’t do his ability justice. It’s almost like the phrase scene-stealing was created specifically to describe the actor who has a range and depth that’s undeniable. Additionally, Powell managed this feat in an era of instant gratification, when “movie stars” are made by the studios that hire them and not on their own merit. 

Potential for Future Hollywood Legend

So it’s not surprising that Powell idolizes Tom Cruise, who is the walking definition of a bona fide leading man who earned his fame without the help of a pre-existing superhero. Powell often recalls the moment he told the Mission Impossible star, “I’m working to try to be you.” As he mentioned to GQ, Cruise doesn’t choose great roles. He chooses great projects and then makes the roles great. 

The same can be said of Powell, who (I believe) sees potential in the projects he signs up for and works to get his characters noticed. If he manages to maintain his streak of great performances, which includes playing Tyler Owens in the disaster film Twisters, Powell’s rise to fame will be the stuff aspiring actors will look on as Hollywood legend.