Glen Powell remained the king of grassroots publicity at an Austin, Texas, screening of his new Netflix movie, Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man.” The leading man hit the red carpet at the event accompanied by his family, but his mother and father decided to troll their son with signs directed at the press line that read: “Stop trying to make Glen Powell happen” and “It’s never gonna happen.”
It appears Powell’s parents have been paying attention to all the press attention their son has been getting over the last few years. Every time Powell appears in a movie, be it Netflix’s “Set It Up” or Tom Cruise’s blockbuster “Top: Gun Maverick” or Sony’s rom-com “Anyone But You” with Sydney Sweeney, the press can’t help but say he’s got bona fide star power and is the next big thing. The “Hit Man” reviews also praised Powell for once again proving he’s a real movie star.
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Powell, who also co-wrote “Hit Man” with director Linklater, stars in the film as a Houston police associate who disguises himself as different assassins in order to catch willing clients. The movie is based on a true story, which was chronicled in a 2001 Texas Monthly magazine article of the same name by Skip Hollandsworth. The film’s cast includes Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta and Molly Bernard.
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“Hit Man” is coming to Netflix this summer on the shoulders of the blockbuster success of “Anyone but You,” which became a surprise box office sensation thanks in part to Powell and Sweeney’s infectious publicity tour. The two actors recently admitted to The New York Times that they purposefully leaned into widespread rumors about an alleged affair between them in order to keep the buzz on the film high.
“The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry,” Powell told the outlet. “Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry. That’s people wanting what’s on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit — and it worked wonderfully. Sydney is very smart.”
“Hit Man” streams June 7 on Netflix.