Glen Powell Says He’s Already Played His Version of a Superhero
Glen Powell Already Played His Version of a Superhero
Hollywood actor Glen Powell has addressed the growing fan speculation about him joining the Marvel or DC cinematic universes.
Following his breakout success in Top Gun: Maverick and the upcoming release of The Running Man, many fans have suggested Powell as a perfect fit for a comic book hero.
However, according to the actor, he’s already explored that space — just in a different way.
In a recent conversation with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff, Powell dismissed the ongoing superhero casting rumors, noting that his Hulu comedy-drama series Chad Powers was originally conceived to give him a chance to play a “real-world superhero.” The show, he explained, allowed him to embody the same qualities seen in comic book heroes, minus the cape and powers.
Although Powell hasn’t completely ruled out future superhero roles, he made it clear that what attracts him to certain characters isn’t their strength or abilities, but their humanity.
«“What I’ve always loved about superhero stories are the early moments — the building, the struggle, the humanity,” he said. “Once a character becomes super, I tend to lose that emotional connection.”»
In The Running Man, Powell portrays Ben Richards, a man in a bleak, near-future society who risks his life to secure a better one for his family.
The story follows Richards as he joins a deadly game show where contestants must evade hunters for 30 days to win a $1 billion prize.
Powell views Richards as a kind of hero — not through extraordinary powers, but through courage, sacrifice, and determination.
For him, this type of character captures the essence of what audiences love about superheroes: the fight for something greater than oneself.
Ultimately, Glen Powell doesn’t need a Marvel or DC suit to prove his heroism.
With roles like Chad Powers and The Running Man, he’s already carving his own path as a grounded, human version of a modern-day superhero.
“The character of Chad Powers was something Michael Waldron and I developed together, and we always viewed it through the lens of a superhero story,” the actor explained.
“There’s definitely a Batman–Bruce Wayne dynamic at play — that contrast between the elevated version of yourself and the one you keep hidden from the world,” he added.
“I’ve always been drawn to the dual nature of superheroes — the secret identities, the tension between the public and the private self. But I wouldn’t say there’s a specific superhero role I’m actively pursuing,” Powell said.
