Any actor starting out in the film industry goes through harsh times before crossing over to the other side. But not all actors get to go to the other side, only the boldest of bold go on to accomplish such a feat. For instance, it wasn’t until Sylvester Stallone boldly wrote his own film, Rocky, that he ascended to Hollywood legend status. And so it was for Glen Powell.
Now the very definition of the classic Hollywood lead guy, when Powell first entered the world of showbiz, he faced an identity crisis, just like any other beginner. But his one bold move ended up winning the heart of Stallone, who landed him a crucial role in his $214 million movie, in the act helping him embrace his true self and giving his career a kickstart.
When Glen Powell’s Bold Move Helped Him Land a Crucial Sylvester Stallone Film
The film industry is a maze that not everyone can navigate. The history of showbiz is filled with some of the most heart-wrenching and tear-jerking struggling tales of actors, who failed to make ends meet when they first entered this land. The same was true for Glen Powell, who started his career in Spy Kids 3D: Game Over.
But It was not easy for him to navigate, for the actor struggled to land roles and was struggling to even feed himself at one point. Desperate to succeed and make it work, Powell ended up winning the heart of Sylvester Stallone, with his one bold move and ended up landing a career-defining role in the latter’s $214 million film (via Box Office Mojo), The Expendables 3.
In his latest interview with Sharp Magazine, the Twisters star revealed he wrote a letter to the Hollywood legend, showing his determination to do anything.
I knew Stallone’s reputation. He’s a hustler. He’s a go-getter… [I wanted] to let this guy who hustled and really put his own sweat in [know] that I was willing to do anything to give him one hell of a performance.
His desperate plea to his Spy Kids co-star worked and things began looking up for the Texas-born star when he was cast as Thorn in the film. Not only did the Rocky star help Powell to succeed but also helped him ‘know his true self’.
How Sylvester Stallone Helped Glen Powell Realize His True Self
Landing a role alongside Sylvester Stallone and a cast as legendary and brilliant as The Expendables 3 was a career-changing step for Glen Powell. The star, who had been struggling to scrape by back then, suddenly found himself landing prominent roles. However, none of this could have been possible if Stallone hadn’t told Powell to be ‘himself’.
When Powell first landed in LA, he was told to lean away from his Texan identity and so he spent all his years prior to The Expendables 3 trying to hide his ‘true’ self.
When I first moved to L.A., I had representation at the time that told me to lean away from it. I literally showed up to an agency wearing a cowboy hat, and they were like, ‘Dude, are you straight off a farm? What’s going on here?’
The Anyone But You star stated to Sharp Magazine. Going through an ‘identity crisis’, it wasn’t until Stallone told him to be who he truly is that Powell was able to get back to what felt like his true self.
Well, the Hollywood legend wasn’t wrong, since it was Powell’s Texan identity that helped open up doors of opportunity for him. His showing off his genuine self allowed the actor to land more career-defining roles, leading him to become who he now is.