Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists, led by Scott Stuber, have secured the project Tesseract, with Glen Powell currently in negotiations to take on the lead role, according to industry sources. This original sci-fi feature is written and directed by Sam Esmail, though plot details remain closely guarded.
Production Team and Powell’s Producer Role
The film’s production team comprises Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt from United Artists, alongside Sam Esmail and Chad Hamilton from Esmail Corp. Glen Powell and Dan Cohen are also in talks to join as producers under their Barnstorm banner, indicating Powell’s growing involvement behind the scenes.
Powell’s Recent Projects Highlight His Rising Career
Glen Powell is currently filming the second season of Hulu’s sports comedy Chad Powers. He recently led the cast of Edgar Wright’s The Running Man, a film Powell admires deeply. In a recent interview, Powell described Wright as “one of the great filmmakers” and expressed how significant it was to work with him.
“He’s a guy who pulls from so many different inspiration points, but his movies are unlike anything you’ve ever seen,”
Chad Powers for Hulu
“And his style on this movie was just something that I was like, Oh, this is as cool as it gets. The fact that he chose me to be his Ben Richards was just amazing.”
Chad Powers for Hulu
Powell on The Running Man’s Unique Adaptation
Powell noted that the new Running Man takes a fresh approach to Stephen King’s story, which he feels has not been fully realized on screen before. Contrary to the 1987 version’s game show style, this rendition presents a more intense, real-world chase scenario.
“This is about a guy who’s released into the world that we know, and everyone in the world is chasing him and hunting him and trying to kill him,”
Chad Powers for Hulu
“It’s a much more epic road movie than the original movie.”
Chad Powers for Hulu
Representation and Industry Connections
Glen Powell is represented by CAA and Johnson Shapiro, while Sam Esmail counts CAA and McKuin Frankel among his representatives. Their combined expertise supports this high-profile project’s development within Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists.
Looking Ahead: What Tesseract Could Mean for Powell
If finalized, Glen Powell’s lead role in Sam Esmail’s Tesseract could further elevate his standing in sci-fi cinema, adding to his diverse career portfolio. With a skilled producing team and a visionary filmmaker at the helm, expectations build for a fresh take on science fiction that blends distinct storytelling with cinematic innovation.
