The new Hulu series Chad Powers is something I’ve been excited for and now co-creator Michael Waldron broke down the inspiration behind the series. In an interview with TV Insider, Waldron explored who Russ (Glen Powell) is, what movies they pulled from, and more!
During their chat, Waldron, who co-created the series with Powell based on the 2022 Eli Manning sketch for ESPN, shared that there were some obvious choices that inspired them and, frankly? You had me at Bull Durham. “I think that for as much as there’s obvious sports inspirations for the show – stuff like Bull Durham – [we] really looked at things like Mrs. Doubtfire and Tootsie as our biggest inspirations,” he explained.
The show is based on a man named Russ Holliday who is a disgraced former college football star. When Russ decides to try his hand at football again, he takes on the persona of “Chad Powers,” meaning he wears a disguise and tries to walk on the Georgia Ducks. So inspiration from movies like Mrs. Doubtfire and Tootsie also make sense given the disguise part of the series.
But Waldron shared with the outlet that the character is complicated and he needs to grow and learn. “We wanted him to be this modern, very contemporary 2025 a**hole, but the kind of guy that you can still empathize with and love,” Waldron said. Which includes Russ driving a Cybertruck (ew) and leaning into things like conspiracy theories. “This guy’s life has been completely reshaped by the trauma that he’s encountered,” Waldron said. “So what dark corners of the internet did he find refuge in?” Waldron didn’t elaborate.
Pulling from Bull Durham is perfect, actually
As someone who just rewatched Bull Durham, the idea that Chad Powers can have a similar vibe to the Kevin Costner movie excites me. The movie stars Costner as a minor league catcher who has dedicated his life to the minors and is trying to help a pitcher (Tim Robbins) come into his own power. With Chad Powers being a “college football” star story, I can see the tie to the 1988 film.
But it also informs me about the type of comedy we can expect. Bull Durham isn’t the kind of movie that will have you laugh out loud laughing throughout it but it will keep you thinking. There are moments that are hilarious, may we never forget the moldy shower shoes. But what makes Bull Durham special is the love of baseball present within its characters.
If Chad Powers has even a smidge of that love for football, I think that it is going to be something truly special. Personally, I’ve missed these weird kind of comedies. We have moved so far away from taking chances that a show like Chad Powers already feels like something I would have loved watching in college and so if this transports me back to the early 2010s, that’s a gift in itself.
The series is set to premiere on Hulu on September 30.
(featured image: Hulu)
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