Glen Powell, the up-and-coming actor from Twisters and Anyone But You, recently got people talking when someone compared him to Ryan Gosling, aka Ken from Barbie. It all started when a Hollywood producer, who wanted to stay anonymous, praised Powell as a big new talent while downplaying Gosling's popularity.
This comment went viral on social media, and Powell took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a straightforward but powerful response.
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Powell's reply, which references Gosling's famous line "I'm just Ken" from Barbie, had over 360,000 likes at the time this article was published. It shows that he's not trying to compete with or outshine the actor.
Glen Powell shuts down comparisons to Ryan Gosling
Powell's humorous but respectful reply to the producer's comparison has struck a chord with fans and people in the industry. The actor has been one of the most booked and busy ones right now, with roles in Top Gun: Maverick, Hit Man, and Hidden Figures,
Through this reply, Powell showed that he thinks highly of Gosling and respects him as an established actor. By recognizing Gosling’s impact on Hollywood, Powell also steered the conversation away from rivalry.
The original comment that sparked this exchange came from an anonymous producer speaking to The Wrap, who described Powell as:
"Most definitely an up-and-coming movie star in the sense that audiences now go to movies to see him."
The producer added,
"Unlike an actor like Ryan Gosling whose appeal is mostly limited to female audiences, Glen appeals to both females and males."
Powell’s response struck a chord with folks, especially those who view him as part of a new wave of talent in Hollywood. Analyst Jeff Bock from Exhibitor Relations pointed out that Powell’s star is on the rise. He mentioned earlier this year that he and Timothée Chalamet are leading the charge for a new generation of stars who can pull in the box office.
Bock elaborated,
“That’s wonderful for audiences, but even more so, a massive relief for the industry, which has been relying on aging talent for far too long.”
Glen Powell’s upcoming projects
Powell's career has steadily been taking off, with some big projects to boost his status as a leading man. One of the most exciting ones coming up is his role in Edgar Wright’s version of Stephen King’s The Running Man, which starts production in November 2024. This new film plans to stick closer to King’s original dystopian story, and Powell will play the main character, Ben Richards.
Aside from The Running Man, Powell has a few more things in the works, like the Hulu comedy Chad Powers and a thriller called Huntington.
The talk about Glen Powell’s rise in Hollywood is happening just as the industry is trying to figure out how to create new stars. George Clooney recently spoke about the issue in an interview with GQ Magazine:
“They haven’t developed stars the way the studio system used to. (...) So it’s harder for you to sell somebody something on the back of a star.”
But Powell's success shows that there's still a chance for fresh talent, as long as they've got the right roles, charm, and luck on their side.
Check out Glen Powell in his new movie, Twisters, in theaters now.
Keep an eye on Soap Central for all the scoop on Glen Powell's career and what he's got coming up.
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