Glen Powell Returns to School in Admirable Career Move

After hit movies like “Anyone but You” and “Twisters,” Glen Powell is returning to school to complete his degree.

In an interview with IndieWire, Powell shared his plans to finish his education at the University of Texas at Austin. While his filming schedule will keep him busy later in 2024, the school has arranged for him to attend classes via Zoom.

“I’m not going to be sitting in a class with other students on the regular,” Powell stated. “I have to finish up my degree, but I’ll be shooting ‘The Running Man’ in the fall. So I’ll be in London, but I will come back for proctored exams.”

The university is accommodating Powell’s commitments through distance learning. He explained, “I’ll be Zooming into classes, but I have to be back for the proctored exams. We’re figuring out a schedule where I’ll come back two or three times a semester. Edgar [Wright] has been very supportive in letting me finish my degree amidst his massive movie.”

The film Powell refers to is Edgar Wright’s reboot of the 1987 movie “The Running Man,” which originally starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Glen Powell certainly has a packed schedule, and it is commendable that he is prioritizing his education. At present, he is promoting Lee Isaac Chung’s “Twisters,” in which he stars alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos.

Over the last few years, Powell has risen to become one of Hollywood’s notable leading men. He began his career with roles in “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over” and “Fast Food Nation” and continued to take on supporting roles in high-profile projects like “The Dark Knight Rises,” “The Expendables 3,” “Ride Along 2,” and “Hidden Figures.”

From 2015 to 2016, Powell starred in “Scream Queens,” which also featured Emma Roberts, Skyler Samuels, Jamie Lee Curtis, Keke Palmer, Ariana Grande, and Nick Jonas. This role helped push his career forward before his breakout year in 2022.

Powell started 2022 by starring in Richard Linklater’s “Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood,” but his big break came with “Top Gun: Maverick,” where he played Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin. Following that, he starred in “Devotion,” a war movie also featuring Jonathan Majors. Though Powell co-produced “Devotion,” it did not achieve the same level of success as “Top Gun: Maverick” and only grossed $21 million.

2023 proved to be another significant year for Powell. He co-wrote and starred in Linklater’s “Hit Man,” which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September and was later acquired by Netflix. The streaming giant gave the film a theatrical release in May 2024 and made it available for streaming on June 7.

Powell continued his momentum by starring alongside Sydney Sweeney in the rom-com “Anyone but You,” which turned out to be a big hit, grossing over $220 million at the box office. Currently, he stars as storm-chasing influencer Tyler Owens in “Twisters.”

Glen Powell’s dedication to both his career and education is certainly inspiring, showcasing his ability to balance multiple facets of his professional and personal life.

Source: IndieWire, University of Texas at Austin