Austin’s own Glen Powell can now add Texas Film Hall of Fame inductee to his resume, alongside his acting credits. The "Top Gun: Maverick" star was honored Wednesday at the Austin Film Society's Hall of Fame ceremony, reported CBS Austin. The ceremony coincided with the Netflix premiere of Powell's new film, "Hit Man", at the Paramount Theater in Austin — a spot Powell holds dear as the launchpad of his career in the biz.
"I love making movies. You will never see me happier than when I am on a movie set," Powell said at the event. Not straying far from his roots, Powell's latest project is a collaboration with fellow Austinite and director Richard Linklater. Hit with a touch of reflective nostalgia, he said, "So just keep your head down and keep chasing your dream and all of a sudden you look up and you are here at the Paramount Theater, the place where it all started for me and in a town that I love more than any town on the planet with my friends and family. It’s incredible." Powell's big screen journey kicked off with a role in "Spy Kids 3: Game Over," at 14, courtesy of Austin Director Robert Rodriguez. And now, two decades later, he's snagged a spot among Texan greats like Matthew McConaughey and Renee Zellweger.
However, the induction wasn't without its lighthearted moments. Powell was adorably upstaged by his own parents, who showed up on the red carpet with signs playfully mocking Hollywood's sometimes brutal nature. "STOP TRYING TO MAKE GLEN POWELL HAPPEN," one of the signs quipped, while the other joked, "IT’S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN." The moment was captured by PEOPLE. Keeping spirits high, Powell said, "Even though they troll me, they support me in every way."
On top of his hallmark evening, the work doesn't stop for Powell. He's got the lead in "Hit Man," and his next release, "Twisters," a summer blockbuster riding on the coattails of his lauded performances in "Hidden Figures" and the acclaimed "Top Gun: Maverick." Making his family a focal point of his narrative, he gave them a sentimental nod. "Without my family, this has so little meaning in the grand scheme of things," he told CBS Austin. As for the rest of 2024, if theatres are any indicator of success, audiences are in for a whirlwind.
