‘It’s an honor’: Glen Powell set to be inducted in Texas Film Hall of Fame by Richard Linklater

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Texas-born actor Glen Powell, who had a supporting role in the blockbuster flick 'Top Gun: Maverick', is set to be inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.

Powell will be inducted on May 15 at Paramount Theater by his friend and Austin Film Society founder Richard Linklater. 

Glen Powell's television and movie career

Powell was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and before moving to Los Angeles, Glen attended the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Radio, Television and Film.

Glen appeared in the 'Music Man', 'Oliver',  'O Henry', and 'The Sound of Music.' He was also part of the award-winning performance troup Broadway Texas Players from 1999–2003.

He starred in television shows like 'Into the West', 'Jack & Bobby', 'CSI: Miami', and 'Without a Trace', among others. In 2007, Glen was in his first year of college when he landed a small role in Denzel Washingtons 'The Great Debaters.'

He also had small roles in 'The Hottest State', 'Fast Food Nation', 'Jumping Off Bridges', 'The Safe Side', 'The Wendell Baker Story', and 'Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over', 'The Wendell Baker Story', and 'The Dark Knight Rises.' He has also appeared in movies and collaborations with his friend Richard Linklater.

Glen Powell scored big with 'Top Gun: Maverick' and ‘Anyone But You’  

Powell ultimately landed a big role in Tom Cruise starring 'Top Gun: Maverick' where he played Lt Jake 'Hangman' Seresin stealing the show.

Powell had first auditioned for Rooster for the 'Top Gun: Maverick' but that went to Miles Teller and he was called in for Hangman, the role where he didn't like calling the character “d*** garnish” and “Navy Draco Malfoy.”

“He was there to add conflict to Rooster’s character, which is a good thing, but he wasn’t three-dimensional and he had no payoff," Glen told GQ in a 2022 interview. 

"I didn’t know why he existed,” Powell said referring to Hangman. Then Cruise, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Joseph Kosinski, and writer Christopher McQuarrie, all persuaded him that he could develop and refine Hangman into a more fully-fledged character.

“It was a leap of faith. In hindsight, I’m like, God, I can’t imagine if I missed out on this one, but it wasn’t so obvious," Glen revealed. 

Besides, he also revived his role in the romantic-comedy genre 'Anyone But You' with Sydney Sweeney making it huge at the domestic box office.

“For me, ‘Anyone But You’ was such a treat to see audiences dance out of the theater and feel so happy after watching a movie,” he told Variety in January 2024.

“To see the box office not just stick but grow has been such a cool lesson that sometimes the genres that have been forgotten are the ones audiences are craving the most," he added. 

Glen Powell will receive an award from Richard Linklater at Netflix’s Austin premiere

Powell will receive his award at Netflix’s Austin premiere of Linklater’s latest film 'Hit Man.'

The event, which will take place on May 15 at the Paramount Theatre, will also feature a personal induction for Powell by Linklater, the founder of the Austin Film Society, according to Indi Wire.

The following night, a Toast to Texas gala event at Austin’s Troublemaker Studios will honor Powell again. This event will serve as a fundraiser for the Austin Film Society’s artistic and educational programs, according to the publication.

Linklater expressed his delight at Powell’s induction stating, “It’s an honor to be part of inducting a fellow Austinite, my friend and collaborator Glen Powell, into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.”

He added that Powell’s talent has been central to many Texas-made independent films, network television shows, and blockbusters like ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, ‘Anyone But You’, and ‘Twisters.’

"Of course, I’m delighted that he’s being inducted at the premiere of ‘Hit Man,’ which we wrote together," he added.