Glen Powell Launched His Career With A Sylvester Stallone Blockbuster

Glen Powell has arguably become one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood today. Audiences know him well from massive hits like ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and the romantic comedy sensation ‘Anyone But You’. It is easy to forget that his rise to the top was not an overnight success story. Before he was charming audiences worldwide, he was a struggling actor looking for his big break in a ruthless industry.

That pivotal moment arrived in 2014 with an action movie packed with cinema legends. Powell landed a role in ‘The Expendables 3’ alongside icons such as Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Antonio Banderas. The film was the third installment in the franchise created by Sylvester Stallone. For a young actor, sharing the screen with these titans was both intimidating and a career-defining opportunity.

The story of how Powell secured his spot in the film is a testament to his determination. He knew that countless young actors were vying for the role of Thorn, a highly skilled hacker and climber. Powell decided to write a personal letter to Sylvester Stallone and director Patrick Hughes to make his case. In the note, he detailed his upbringing in Texas and his familiarity with weapons.

He explained to Stallone that he grew up with uncles who taught him martial arts and that he spent his childhood finding creative ways to cheat death. This bold move worked effectively and convinced the production team to cast him. Powell played the character of Thorn who serves as a younger, tech-savvy counterpart to the veteran mercenaries. Although his screen time was somewhat limited, the role allowed him to showcase his charisma and physical capability.

Beyond just giving him a job, Stallone provided Powell with advice that would shape his entire public persona. When Powell first moved to Los Angeles, previous agents had told him to hide his Texan roots to fit a more generic Hollywood mold. Stallone saw through this and encouraged the young actor to embrace his authentic self. He told Powell to lean into his Texan identity rather than shying away from it.

This guidance helped Powell overcome an early identity crisis and paved the way for the charming, authentic star fans love today. Despite landing the role, Powell was still relatively unknown at the time of the film’s release. He famously recounted a humorous incident that happened during the premiere party at the Cannes Film Festival. A bouncer physically removed him from the VIP section because he did not recognize the young actor.

The irony was that Powell was being kicked out of a party where his own face was printed on banners inside the venue. It serves as a funny reminder of how far he has come since those early days. Today, he is no longer the unknown face on a poster but a leading man carrying major blockbusters. His journey from a hopeful letter-writer to a global superstar is truly inspiring.

Tell us which Glen Powell performance is your absolute favorite in the comments.