With ‘Twisters,’ Glen Powell Drives Into a Whole New Whirlwind

Here’s something unique about Glen Powell. In the middle of this interview, he casually mentioned our last two interviews, which were both at decidedly different and important points in his career.

The first was in support of “Everybody Wants Some!!,” in which Powell played Finnegan, a breakout character who has it all figured out. As audience members, we all know we could never be Finnegan ourselves, but would at least consider trading a kidney for his friendship. The second was for “Top Gun: Maverick,” with Powell on the cusp of a whole new level he was pretty certain would happen. And what else is there left to say about that role? He famously lost out on the role of Rooster, but then Hangman got to basically play Han Solo (ironically, another role he didn’t get), saving the day at the end.

Now, here we are with “Twisters,” where, after “Top Gun” and “Anyone but You,” Powell has most definitely hit that next level, and he’s now acutely aware of just about everything happening in his career that he’s fought so hard to achieve. He’s not taking anything for granted.

In “Twisters” (along with “Top Gun”), Powell gets to star in another sequel to one of his childhood favorites. In the film, Powell plays Tyler Owens, a hotshot storm chaser who seems to care more about outrageous stunts in an effort to grow his YouTube audience (who love that this is “not his first tornadeo”) than the actual study of tornados. But maybe not all is what it seems? Maybe Tyler has a deep, dark secret that he actually has an advanced degree and knows what he’s doing and talking about as he spars with his rival, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who knows all too well the horrors of what tornados can do to loved ones and communities. It’s a smarter-than-you-expect film (with great reviews so far), helmed by a smart director, Lee Isaac Chung (coming off Best Picture nominee “Minari”), whose experience growing up in Arkansas’ tornado alley proved useful.

As you might guess, Powell is a pretty busy fellow these days. And as scheduling would work itself out, his available time would just happen to be when I’d be out of town (and in St. Louis) for my mom’s birthday party. So, early this past Saturday, I hopped on Zoom with Powell. Though I had warned my mom the night before, she forgot and wandered into my uncle’s kitchen, wondering who I was talking to on that screen. Powell is not one to pass up a chance to talk to anyone, so, well, that sure happened. (For the record, my mother is a big fan of Hangman.) 

So, how does Powell like his newfound position in Hollywood? Why, now, did he decide to move back home to Austin? He’s finishing his degree at the University of Texas. How does that even work? Does he have to go to class? (I bet he’d be popular.) Also, Powell is about to start filming Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man,” a much closer adaptation to the Stephen King book than the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. How did that come about? And then there was the time Powell was all set to host “Saturday Night Live.”

But, first, we start with an important question about “Beverly Hills Cop.”

The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

IndieWire: Have you seen the new “Beverly Hills Cop” yet? 

Glen Powell: No, I cannot wait to see it. I saw [Jerry] Bruckheimer. He came to the “Twisters” premiere in London, and we were catching up just about the idea of us both taking these cherished legacy things. But I hear it’s great.

There’s a callback to Axel Foley talking his way into a nice hotel. In the original, he says he’s a reporter from Rolling Stone doing an article called “Michael Jackson Is Sitting on Top of the World.” That’s you. You are sitting on top of the world.

[Laughs] Let’s please not quote me and Michael Jackson in the same sentence in this interview.

But you are sitting on top of the world.

I thought about it the other day. Sometimes, you get far away from your childhood on some of these things. My cousins came to the “Twisters” premiere, and they’re like, “Dude, do you remember when we watched ‘Twister’ literally on repeat as kids?” We were obsessed with it. And then when your family comes and is around you, they’re like, “Dude, this is the coolest thing ever.” They’re like, “Do you remember?”

That’s exactly what this moment means to me. I’m really getting a shot to return to worlds that I’ve always wanted to occupy. I got to do it on ‘Top Gun’! I’m getting to do it in ‘Twisters’! I think the whole business wins when a movie like this wins. You know what I mean? I really think it reminds you of like, “Hey, this is what the movies are about.” It’s a collective ride.

So, right now, I’m in my uncle’s kitchen in St. Louis, in town for my mom’s birthday, and my mom just wandered in and has no idea what I’m doing.

How old is she turning?

77, I believe.

What are you guys doing in St. Louis? Are you guys watching musicals today or what are you doing?

Yes, that’s what we do in St. Louis. We watch musicals.

I feel like at a certain age… My parents love musicals, so they go to St. Louis. It’s like the Off-Off-Broadway vibes in St. Louis. But it’s good! Tell her happy birthday.

Mom, Glen Powell just said happy birthday.

My Mom: What?

I’m talking to Glen Powell. He just said happy birthday.

Bring her in, man.

Wait, you want to meet my mom?

Yes.

Um, OK, here’s my mom.

My Mom: Hello.

Glen Powell: Hey, Mom! Happy birthday!

My Mom: Thank you.

Glen Powell: Hope you guys have a great lunch!

My Mom: What a surprise.

OK, back to “Twisters.” Were you skeptical about what the reactions would be? The critical reaction was positive, but before people saw it, there seemed to be a sense of people wondering why we needed another “Twister” movie. 

I saw the TLC that went into this while we were making it. I think there’s always audience hesitancy. Or audiences should be skeptical because of the business model around these things, right? The difference is when you see someone who assumes there’s an audience and assumes people will show up because of a title, versus someone like Lee Isaac Chung, who’s an inspired choice to lead this thing.

He is very familiar with tornadoes, considering where he grew up. 

One hundred percent! He’s an Arkansas boy. That’s the other thing. He understands this world. He understands this community. As we were making it, he wasn’t making it from an outsider’s perspective on what he thought this world is. It’s such an inspired choice. You’re also not choosing a filmmaker that’s like [a] big blockbuster, visual effects maestro. No, you went with a guy who really understands story. He really understands character. He understands how small things can add up to big emotions. From minute one, talking to Isaac about this movie, I was like, “OK, this thing’s going to be lights out.”

You mentioned the collective ride. I have to bring this up, the last time I saw you was at an event for “Hit Man.” And you did make me look really cool when you came over and said, “Can you believe the ride we’re on!?” But I want to be on the record that I am very much not on this ride. Though, I am enjoying watching it.

You are on the ride, man! Do you know what the fun part is? Is just seeing you in these different phases. I remember right after you saw “Top Gun” just how stoked you were. Look, you never know what’s on the other side of any of these things. What movies will transcend, or any of that stuff. For me, “Everybody Wants Some!!” was one of those special things because “Dazed and Confused” was one of my favorite movies growing up. “Top Gun” was one of my favorite movies growing up. 

“Twister” is one of my favorite movies growing up. I always like talking to people who are big movie fans because it’s always weird when an actor is occupying a world [where] they don’t really understand the emotional connection of fans and why it’s important. Because I always feel like it adds a little bit of pressure. You don’t want to occupy the world to a point that you’re too precious about stuff — but understanding what made fans excited about it in the first place.

I think that’s what “Everybody Wants Some!!” had, what “Top Gun” had, and what “Twisters” has, and why that was a ride then in the late ‘80s and ‘90s and why it’s a ride now.

The next stage for you is when I asked for an interview, I hear back, “Glen appreciates your support, but we’re going to have to pass.”

Man, man … my publicist knows better. 

You know in “Good Will Hunting,” when Ben Affleck shows up at Will’s house at the end, and Will had left? And he smiles because Will has finally made it? I’ll smile when I get that email.

“Chief negotiator! Yeah, it’s my chief negotiator!” No, dude. The other thing is that there’s that old Texas adage, “Dance with the ones who brung you.” Especially as a struggling actor when things aren’t adding up, when it’s all hard.

I don’t want you to rehash everything you told The Hollywood Reporter about moving back to Austin. But it is certainly interesting you’ve reached a certain level in your career and you immediately move back home. 

I really love that piece, but it’s also so funny how people can take a soundbite from it and extrapolate what you mean from it. I did move back to Texas, and that’s my home base. That’s where I live. But I think in terms of people saying, “Oh, he moved back to Texas because he hates Hollywood,” or, “Hollywood’s fake.” It’s like, I love this town. I love this business. I just think that, on a bigger level, you have to listen to your own head and your own heart on how to stay sane and how to stay fresh, creatively fresh.

I really realized that this town is a town of movie lovers. That’s why everybody has come here. That’s why people love entertainment. I love being around people who love entertainment, and I love what this town represents. Coming here for little chunks of time and doing all the stuff I need to do here, it’s great. And I have nothing against Hollywood. I just realized, in terms of filling up the pieces of me that need to be refueled between projects and doing stuff like that, that’s all Austin for me.

You’re going back to UT and getting your degree. How does that even work? Do you have to go to class?

I’m not going to be sitting in a class with other students on the regular. I’m basically going to be coming back because I have to finish up, but I’m going to be shooting “The Running Man” in the fall. So I’m going to be in London, but I am going to be going back for proctored exams. So, they’re letting me figure it out [with] distance learning. And I’m obviously going to be coming in, Zooming in for classes and whatnot, but I have to be back for the proctored exams. So, we’re figuring that out for two or three times a semester, I’ll come back for all my stuff. Edgar has been very nice about letting me finish my degree in the middle of his massive movie.

Speaking of “The Running Man,” how did that happen?

It was so fun for me because I searched “Edgar Wright” in my email the other day, writing “Edgar.” We’ve been going back and forth on script stuff, and it’s so fun. The world that Edgar’s developed on this thing is just outrageous. It’s so good. And really, we’re just both such big fans of the Stephen King book, and it’s going to be a great character. I’m so fired up about it. But I searched my email, and I searched Edgar Wright in my email, and it came up: I had a wish list of directors that I wanted to work with in 2008 when I moved out to LA that I sent my agent at the time — and Edgar Wright is literally number one. I’m such an Edgar Wright man. And so, the fact that I get to work with him right now is just so damn cool.

Did you tell him about this list?

Yeah, I made a bit of an 11th-hour plea to him on the job. To just let him know, anybody that’s ever worked with me knows, you’re never going to outbeat my work ethic on stuff. But sometimes it’s just a good reminder for a filmmaker to know, hey, when we get in the trenches, I’m going to serve it up. I’m going to deliver. And I’m going to deliver for you because not only do I take this job seriously, but I’m also just a fan, and you don’t want to disappoint your heroes … Edgar has also become a friend in the last few years. So that’s been really fun for us to finally get in the trenches together.

So here’s a compliment. The other night we had people over to watch “Smokey and the Bandit.” Someone said something like no one has the charm to play the Bandit today. And I was like, “I think Glen Powell could.” And no one argued with me.

[Laughs] That was a specific flavor and a specific time. Again, I get only so many reboot or revisits of certain worlds! I don’t think “Smokey and the Bandit” is on that list. I think that will go untouched. But I will say that’s a massive compliment.

You once mentioned at a “Hit Man” event in passing that you almost hosted “Saturday Night Live”? What was that about?

Oh, I almost hosted “SNL” when “Top Gun” came out. And then when “Top Gun” pushed, I got a very nice call from Lorne Michaels who said, “Hey, since the movie’s pushing, it’s probably better to push your hosting.” And I was like, “Yeah, absolutely.” [Smiles] So maybe that’ll come around at some point in the future. I hope so. I’ve gone back and seen friends host since, and it’s the most magical studio on the planet walking through those halls and getting to do the little cameo when Sydney [Sweeney] was hosting. That was such a thrilling experience. We’ll see! I have no idea when that’ll happen, but I’m hoping they haven’t lost my number.

Universal Pictures will release “Twisters” in theaters on Friday, July 19.