Copyright Us Weekly
Being a leading man in Hollywood requires a certain amount of alchemy. There’s a formula, sure — looks, humor and charm, plus a dash of emotional availability — but it’s hardly an exact science. For decades, the top slots have been filled by the usual suspects: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Tom Cruise. And while there’s no question the veterans have still got it, there’s clearly room for some fresh faces. Enter Glen Powell. The handsome, captivating 37-year-old has been proving he has what it takes since his breakout role in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick (alongside Cruise himself, who’s taken Powell under his wing). He’s got star power and acting chops — take his notable turns in the 2023 rom-com Anyone But You and 2024’s Hit Man — he’s hot and charming (just google any red carpet or late-night talk show appearance) and he’s hustling hard — with six major projects on deck, including a Judd Apatow comedy about a country music star that he’s cowriting, producing and will also sing in. Off camera, Powell keeps it refreshingly real. The down-to-earth Texan still hangs out with his childhood crew and is famously tight with his family — they’re the main reason he moved back to his hometown of Austin in 2024. (His parents, Glen Sr. and Cyndy, often attend his premieres and pop up in his films; in April, a video of him crying at his sister Leslie’s wedding went viral.) Oh, and Powell is also doting dog dad to Brisket, the rescue Chihuahua mix he brings along just about anywhere (see: the cover of this magazine). With his latest movie, The Running Man — a high-octane remake of the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film — out Nov. 14, Powell is poised for a new level of stardom. But don’t expect it to go to his head. “At the end of the day, one of my favorite parts about this job is that you get to be on a set with a bunch of talented people,” he told Us Weekly when asked how he feels about his growing popularity at the Oct. 30 press junket for The Running Man. “I love being on set. But I think it’s better not to think about any of the other stuff.” Says a source: “Glen just wants to do good work and have fun doing it.” Whether or not he wants to revel in it, Powell is the moment. “Being an A-lister today is about commanding attention everywhere, not just in movie theaters,” explains Evan Nierman, founder and CEO of global PR firm Red Banyan. “The stars who matter in 2025 can headline a film, own a late-night interview, light up social media and still hold some mystery. Glen,” Nierman adds, “has genuine star magnetism with a grounded edge. He reminds people why movie stars became icons.” Described as a “shy” kid who made his own props and always had a camera around his neck, he found his confidence on stage, according to a second source. “There was something about theater and film that brought the best out of his personality,” says the source. When Powell ultimately decided to pursue his dream in Hollywood, the determination to make it against the odds kicked in. “He knew that he didn’t have a leg up on anyone,” adds the second source. “[When] a lot of his friends were going to clubs and bars, Glen stayed home to write scripts. He’s always been disciplined. He didn’t know if his future was going to be in front of or behind the camera; he just knew he wanted to be part of the magic.” Even with his drive to succeed, Powell has always been a low-key guy at heart. “The L.A. scene was never for him,” says the first source, noting that the Chad Powers actor “isn’t someone who surrounds himself with industry people all the time. He keeps a tight, loyal group of friends who’ve been there through it all.” When he’s not working, he’s playing sports, golfing or hosting friends at his new house in Austin, which features a state-of-the-art barbecue area. Adds the first source: “His circle can always count on him for a fun football Sunday BBQ.” The single star is “dating here and there,” says the first source, but is keeping his love life under wraps after splitting from his model girlfriend of three years, Gigi Paris, in April 2023. The breakup came amid buzz linking Powell to his Anyone But You costar Sydney Sweeney; he later admitted they leaned into romance rumors and “it worked” to promote the film — but insists they were never an item. “Glen and I genuinely care for each other and have a love and respect for one another,” Sweeney recently told Variety. (In March, the actress attended Powell’s sister’s wedding as a family friend; he was also a guest at her space-themed birthday party in September.) “[Glen] is not interested in having another public relationship at this time, especially after how everyone reacted to his friendship with Sydney,” says the first source. “He doesn’t want that to ever be the focus of his life. He’s not in a rush. He’s a romantic [and] has talked about wanting to find The One. But for now, work is taking up most of his focus.” It’s a smart move, notes Nierman. “Keeping his dating life quiet keeps the [attention] on his performances.” Even with the early speculation around Sweeney, his image has remained drama-free. “Glen seems like somebody who’s clean-cut; we don’t have a lot of controversy with him,” says media relations specialist Ryan McCormick. “There’s a nostalgic sense [that we] miss when actors were just actors. His personal brand [comes across as] boy-next-door and ‘I’m just here to act. I’m just here to have fun. I’m not going to share views that are going to alienate half my audience,’” he adds. Powell himself put it simply to The Guardian: “I try to be honest, work really hard and treat people well — that’s how I try to move through my life. Inevitably, you’re going to catch some strays. But that’s the nature of the job.” Powell takes his career seriously. He did combat and weaponry training for The Running Man, in which he plays a desperate father who enters a deadly reality show competition to win money needed to save his sick daughter. It’s an ambitious project with a big budget and a lot riding on Powell’s shoulders. “I told [director Edgar Wright], ‘If you hire me, there is nobody who will work harder,’” Powell told Us on Oct. 30. He also turned to his mentor, Cruise, for advice. “I hit up Tom as soon as I got the role,” he said. “I thought I was going to get maybe a small nugget of wisdom from him, and he spent two and a half hours on the phone with me.” His skyrocketing fame has been an adjustment. “This is a new phase in my life, but I’m getting more comfortable,” he told Entertainment Weekly in an October cover story. “He’s definitely aware that he is one of the most in-demand leading men in Hollywood right now,” says the first source. “It didn’t happen overnight. He’s worked really hard to get here. He’s super grateful and can’t believe this is all happening.” He’s handling the pressure well. “Glen’s making really good choices and small adjustments, like moving to Texas to be around family and friends who make him feel grounded,” says a third source. “Anyone who knows Glen knows how much pride he has in his home state. He loves bringing people [there] and showing off the town. It’s always been where he’s happiest.” He also channels that home-grown energy into cooking and entertaining — passions that inspired his new line of organic pantry staples, Smash Kitchen. “Most of my favorite memories with my family all happened in the kitchen,” Powell told Us in April about the launch. “Gathering people over food is [Glen’s] love language,” adds the third source. “So getting to build things like Smash Kitchen allows him to take his hobbies and make them something else completely.” In addition to Smash Kitchen and his upcoming film projects (Powell is also acting in and producing a Ron Howard-helmed firefighter movie), he’s completing his college degree from the University of Texas. Amid his stacked schedule, Nierman and McCormick feel a prestige drama could be next. “That would be the perfect evolution,” says Nierman. Powell is likely game. “I’m constantly scared,” he told EW. “I just say yes a lot to things that scare me. All my favorite moments of life never involve me feeling necessarily confident. It’s always when I’m going into the unknown.” For more on Glen Powell, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
