Hulu has greenlit the half-hour comedy series 'Chad Powers' created by Glen Powell and Michael Waldron. Powell will not only star in the show but also co-create and co-write the pilot with Waldron, both serving as executive producers. The series is inspired by the Chad Powers character introduced by Eli Manning in his ESPN+ docuseries 'Eli's Places.' Manning's curiosity about the college football walk-on process led him to disguise himself as Chad Powers during the Penn State football tryouts.
The show's premise revolves around Russ Holliday, a talented quarterback whose college career is derailed by bad behavior. Holliday then adopts the persona of Chad Powers and joins a struggling Southern football team. Powell and Waldron expressed their enthusiasm for the project, citing their shared passion for college football and Manning's portrayal of Chad Powers as the catalyst for the series.
Eli Manning, along with his brother Peyton Manning through Omaha Productions, will executive produce the show, alongside Jamie Horowitz, Ben Brown, Adam Fasullo, and ESPN. Powell, under his Barnstorm Productions banner, will also serve as an executive producer. The studio behind the series is 20th Television.
Manning expressed his surprise at the popularity of the Chad Powers character and his excitement to collaborate with Powell, Waldron, and Omaha Productions to further explore Chad's story. Powell, known for his acting roles in 'Top Gun: Maverick' and 'Hidden Figures,' will make his debut as a writer on 'Chad Powers.' Waldron, the creator of 'Loki' and a writer for 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,' brings his expertise to the project.
'Chad Powers' marks the second streaming series based on a character from a sports program, following the success of 'Ted Lasso.' The latter, based on a character promoting NBC Sports' Premier League soccer coverage, garnered critical acclaim and multiple Emmy Awards during its three-season run on Apple TV+.
