Two recurring problems in contemporary cinema have to do with the lack of movie stars and romance. Of course, in the mainstream, the superhero monopoly has all but wiped out movie star power and sex appeal. All of our actors in mainstream films have never looked prettier or in better shape, and yet the big screen has never felt so sterile. The types of actors that should be elevated to fame are limited by the limitations of the franchise they represent. While promoting his new film Magic Mike’s last dancea film that quenches the thirst for sexuality in cinema, Steven Soderbergh asked: “How are we going to create new movie stars, if the main motivation for people to go to the movies is intellectual property, not actors?” To the detriment of adult audiences, movie stars have become action figures designed solely to be in good shape, but devoid of any romantic appeal. This crisis calls for the rise of the modern king of romantic comedy, a genre that needs a proper revival on the big screen to bring back the sexiness of male stars. Enter, Glen Powell.

Glen Powell has potential for lead role

Glen Powell in Top Gun: Maverick
Image via Paramount Pictures

Recently, the actor got the opportunity to showcase his talents in mainstream cinema as “Gallows” in the film “Gallows”. Top Shooter: Maverickand he has proven his potential as a leading man. Powell is majestic in his figure, not to mention traditionally handsome and picturesque. It would be a shame if the studios decided to only use his looks and ignore his personality. In an ideal world, Powell would never get sucked into a plethora of franchises, but that’s easier said than done. There is nothing wrong with being attracted to leading men with a handsome physique. The problem is that this feature is solely focused on selling merchandise as part of a superhero line. Unfortunately, for comic book franchise executives, this can be a lost cause. The stars will continue to be genderless figurines as long as the profit is profitable. This is where the emptiness of a true romantic protagonist comes in.

‘Set It Up’ Shows Glen Powell Is Perfect For Romantic Comedies

Harper and Charlie from Set It Up stand together and smile

Powell still has enough untapped resource to easily slip into the role of king of romantic comedies. The 34-year-old actor rose to fame in 2015-16 with prominent roles on the Fox series. scream queens And Richard Linklatercoming of age comedy Everyone wants some!! His breakthrough role in the latter is the Rosetta Stone to his potential mega star. The role of Walt Finnegan, the tough baseball team captain and partygoer, was written as a standout shining star, and Powell capitalized on it. Then he starred in front of his Everyone wants some!! co-star Zoey Deutch V Customize it, a romantic comedy for Netflix, and this is where Powell became the new face of the genre. What seemed to be a rudimentary story of indecisive lovers was received more favorably by critics and the public thanks to the discovery of Powell and Deutsch as romantic heroes.

Glen Powell may breathe new life into the romantic comedy genre

jonathan majors glen powell devotion social
Image via Sony

Powell fits the bill for the perfect masculine face of a romantic comedy and, ultimately, a true movie star. It has innate qualities that are traditionally liked by all demographics. Adult-oriented films in the last decade seem to have abandoned the idea of ​​openly appealing to a unisex audience. Powell is contemporary enough to draw in new audiences and keep romantic comedies fresh, yet still classic enough to make the genre feel like a refreshing throwback to its glory days. The genre is usually classified as streaming, in part because it has been limited as a channel for developing new stars. Only when familiar faces like George Clooney And Julia Roberts paired for a movie like ticket to heaven whether the genre gets a wide theatrical release and financial success as a result. Although he is still relatively unknown in terms of a household name, he has previously worked in a variety of genres, from Richard Linklater’s indie film to action adventure films such as Maverick and his other 2022 output, Devotion. Throughout his performances, Powell displayed a youthful bravado that can breathe new life into any run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. His Texan upbringing gives him that Southern warmth that, generally speaking, satisfies the interests of both men and women.

This speculation regarding Powell’s promise to be the new face of romantic comedies has value as it was announced that he would be starring opposite Sydney Sweeney in an R-rated romantic comedy Will Gluck. Although all the details of the project have been kept under wraps, this is a fantastic breakthrough for the genre and an improvement on adult studio images as this film is being produced under Sony. Since Sydney Sweeney is one of today’s actresses, this project could be a huge step on the actor’s path to superstardom. The Powell/Sweeney duo could be as huge a success as Powell/Deutch, though we’re still hoping they get back together for another romantic comedy!

We need more movie stars and romantic comedies!

Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell in Get Ready
Image via Netflix

It’s not that the fate of filmmaking hinges on Glen Powell’s ability to become a breakout male character in a romantic comedy. However, the void in the film landscape that it best fills is integral to the recovery of movie stars and the healthy depiction of sexuality on the big screen. The real problem is not the current crop of actor and movie star talent. The stars that emerged in the 21st century had the ability to sell films due to their charisma, but they were consumed by the capitalist demands of franchised filmmaking. Undoubtedly, there is a post-pandemic resurgent movie audience that is craving a traditional form of Hollywood entertainment that takes advantage of the star’s physical and personable appeal. Promising box office returns in 2022 for the aforementioned ticket to heaven And lost city testify to the pursuit of a classic sensibility, and the genre is ripe for a new star. Before he’s tempted by the promise of a cape movie, Glen Powell deserves to take on the mantle of the next face of modern rom-com and possibly the future line of movie stars in general.