Glen Powell almost joined the cast of Fox’s popular musical dramedy Glee when he auditioned for the character Sam Evans. The audition took place alongside his close friend Chord Overstreet, who ultimately won the part. This near opportunity came early in their careers and marked a significant moment in Powell’s journey in the entertainment industry.
Friendship and Audition Experience with Chord Overstreet
Powell and Overstreet, who met in an acting class, were longtime friends even before auditioning for Glee. They waited together during the audition process, sharing the uncertainty side by side. Powell recalled their experience on the Therapuss podcast, stating,
“One of my best buddies in the world is Chord Overstreet. We both auditioned for Glee. We both auditioned for the same role. We were in the waiting room at the same time because we were buddies.”
Despite the competition between them for the same role, Powell expressed no resentment when Overstreet was cast. He emphasized their strong friendship, saying,
“And then we were down to the wire on Sam Evans, and he got it. He’s still one of my best friends.”
Living Together During Glee’s Rise
After Overstreet joined the Glee cast, the two friends decided to live together. Powell described this period as a unique experience, witnessing Overstreet’s career growth firsthand.
“We were about to be roommates, so we moved in together as he went on this crazy Glee ride, which was kind of wild — to be one of [his] best friends in the world, to watch him go through that thing,”
Powell shared.
He also reflected on the show’s massive popularity, stating,
“It was crazy to be around because it was the biggest show in the world.”
Glee, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, centered on a diverse group of ambitious high school singers guided by their enthusiastic teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison). The series ran from 2009 to 2015, earning Emmy recognition and launching the careers of stars like Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, Chris Colfer, and Darren Criss.
Powell’s Continued Collaboration with the Murphy-Falchuk-Brennan Team
Although Powell did not secure the role of Sam Evans, he later joined the creative universe established by Murphy, Falchuk, and Brennan. He took on the character Chad Radwell in the 2015 horror-comedy series Scream Queens alongside Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Billie Lourd. Powell’s ongoing relationship with this creative team highlights his sustained presence in television projects of note.
Looking ahead, Powell is set to star in Hulu’s new sports comedy Chad Powers, premiering on September 30, marking his return to television.
