Glen Powell has spoken out to clarify that his new Hulu series, Chad Powers, is not intended to be a remake or rip-off of the classic film Mrs. Doubtfire. The series, which premieres on September 30, follows the story of a former NFL player who adopts a new identity using prosthetic makeup to join a college football team, a premise that has drawn comparisons to Robin Williams’ 1993 comedy. Powell emphasized that while the show nods to Mrs. Doubtfire, it ultimately forges its own path.
Inspiration Behind Chad Powers and Its Unique Take
Discussing the influences on the show, Glen Powell said,
“Robin Williams was one of our great actors, but we’re not trying to dupe Mrs. Doubtfire here,”
—highlighting how their series openly acknowledges its inspiration by featuring a Mrs. Doubtfire poster as a nod before developing its own story. He explained,
“That’s why we show the Mrs. Doubtfire poster [on our series] to show, ‘Here’s our inspirations. We’re gonna hang a lantern on it, and then we’re gonna move past and kind of do our own thing.’”
Powell made clear that the show both respects and moves beyond the original concept.
While Powell admits Mrs. Doubtfire was a key touchstone, he also expressed deep admiration for Robin Williams’ work, saying,
“Robin Williams was one of the greats. I’m never even I’m going to be in a league near Robin Williams, but I will say that that the thing that I always just loved about Mrs. Doubtfire is that I always pay attention to things that can make me laugh and cry,”
and went on to describe the emotional complexity of the film:
“I always love that feeling when I get to the end of a movie, like, ‘Wow, that had every flavor.’ That movie, for me at least, it’s just a guy who was not being a good father and who, by putting on the mask of a great housekeeper, he ends up learning how to be a great father.”
Powell also noted the layered nature of his character’s identity struggles, explaining,
“It’s really simple character math, and what’s really great is you see a real person struggling with an identity, but learning from these two identities, it’s a really complex, crazy thing, but it’s so fun to watch on camera, and the more you explore that lie at the center of it is, like, the more fun it gets.”
Creating Believable Transformations and Football Authenticity
Steve Zahn, who co-stars alongside Powell, commented on the challenge of making the character’s transformation appear plausible, stating,
“It’s so absurd, but if it’s done right, it’s totally believable,”
and added,
“And that’s the challenge, and [on] our show, [it] is really believable.”
The show’s makeup and prosthetics team worked extensively to create this convincing look.
Beyond visual transformation, Powell immersed himself in football culture to authentically portray a former NFL star. He trained with retired quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, describing them as his coaches during filming:
“They were super helpful. I mean, those were my quarterback coaches, which is crazy to say,”
adding details of his daily practice sessions with complete offensive and defensive lines and receivers. He shared how the Mannings provided constant feedback, including reminders to maintain proper hand placement and situational awareness in plays:
“Every day I’d show up, I would go to this field … and they would have an entire offensive and defensive line ready to go, and receivers. I would get texts from Eli and Peyton, [saying,] ‘Hey, make sure your hands are in the right places for this snap. Make sure you’re taking in the safeties, like, I noticed you weren’t checking out.’”
Powell further described the detailed coaching he received:
“It’s all those things, and … Eli was like, ‘Hey, you gotta look at your fingers more, man, lick your fingers like that just to sell the entire thing.’ You practice all of it, and the footwork was the thing that was unexpectedly hard in terms of how you move around the pocket, but those things all sell.”
The Importance of Football Realism for the Series
A lifelong football enthusiast, Powell recognized that the show’s success depended heavily on its accurate depiction of the sport. He emphasized the stakes involved:
“As a football fan, you know what the real deal is and what isn’t,”
noting the critical role that having Peyton and Eli Manning involved played in ensuring authenticity,
“To have [Peyton and Eli around to] safeguard all the football that happened onscreen was really important. It’s a lot of pressure.”
With the premiere on Hulu scheduled for September 30, Chad Powers looks to offer viewers both a humorous and heartfelt story about identity, reinvention, and the challenges faced by a man trying to redefine himself on and off the field.
