As he gets inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame and his career continues blazing skyward, Glen Powell chats with Austin Way.

PHOTO BY BRIAN BOWEN SMITH/NETFLIX ©2024 PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

With a crisp, gracious voice and powerful demeanor, Glen Powell is not someone you forget easily. Perhaps you remember him from high school or your days back at UT (Hook ’Em). Maybe you’re friends with the family or were his neighbor growing up. After all—first things first—Powell is, at his core, a quintessential Austinite, friend and local alumnus. Now we have to share him with the world as he is also the prime example of a Hollywood film star triple threat. The charming and kind local makes us proud on and off the screen. When not starring as a lead in a blockbuster, Powell is a writer too, as he just collaborated with another local legend, director Richard Linklater (in Hit Man), who coincidentally will be the one inducting Powell into the Texas Film Hall of Fame this May. Powell’s third talent, you’re wondering? Well, have you seen the boy? Need I say more? Just kidding… it’s producing! Of course.

When asked how being inducted makes him feel, especially at the famed Troublemaker Studios, Powell says, “That’s been the most fun part of this moment, stuff like the full-circle moments—from studying Linklater in high school in my creative writing class and then getting to collaborate with him both as a writer and actor however many years later, and then also starting my career with Spy Kids 3 in Austin with Robert Rodriguez and then being awarded this honor at Troublemaker Studios and The Paramount Theatre where I got my theater start. … I’m feeling very grateful.” Powell is among the greats, becoming a historic Austin name alongside these landmarks.

Linklater and Powell go way back. “I think the most fun I’ve ever had on a movie was Everybody Wants Some!!, directed by Linklater,” says Powell. “I sobbed when that ended.” He especially loved working in the city he adores most and showing his fellow co-stars around his “backyard.” “I got to show them all why I love Austin so much. Some of them even moved here afterward,” he notes. Not surprising. The experience for Powell? “It will never be topped,” he says. “I am hoping we can do something like that again in Austin.”

Powell humbly couldn’t name a specific endeavor when asked if he had a project he was most proud of. Instead, as the true Texas boy he is, Powell is grateful for the people and the memories. “I’ve had a nice slow burn in Hollywood trying to do this thing,” he says. “I’ve had the benefit of working with a lot of really great people over the course of time. The end goal of Hollywood is to stay in the game and convince people you should keep playing. I’m proud of the experience. I’ve met some of my favorite people on movie sets.” We agree, Glen. It is hard to pick a favorite of your films.

“I got to show them all why I love Austin so much. Some of them even moved there afterward.”

Powell will be joining a list of icons such as Jesse Plemons, Farrah Fawcett, Renée Zellweger, Carol Burnett, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and so many more when he is inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame. “Jesse has been a buddy of mine since we were really young, and to climb this thing together and ascend together has been special for the two of us. To join icons like Zellweger and McConaughey and others, it feels special to be counted among a group of folks like that.” Well deserved, Mr. Powell.

PHOTO BY BRIAN BOWEN SMITH/NETFLIX ©2024 PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

Speaking of McConaughey, to no surprise, Matthew is the one Powell looks up to and gets advice from when he is stuck, from Austinite to Austinite, Longhorn to Longhorn, and actor to actor. “Matthew, his wisdom around all of it is pretty incredible,” Powell relays. “McConaughey has done it all with a smile on his face, and that’s hard to do. So when those moments come, it’s nice to know he’s just a call away.” It’s like looking into the future, I’d say, GP!

“I feel lucky when I’m back in Austin,” he says. For the film star, in 10 years, he wishes to be nowhere else but a movie theater in his house in the 512. “That is pretty much exactly where I want to be,” he adds. Close to those he loves most, where he feels most himself. “The really special place I’m at now is being able to do my job still near my friends and family,” he says. Powell takes inspiration from Linklater, who works out of Bastrop. So, who knows, maybe we’ll be lucky enough to have another Austin-based Powell-filled film on our screens soon.