Retired New York Giants legend Eli Manning playfully created Chad Powers, an unlikely quarterback “tryout” for Penn State University, back in 2022 as part of his Eli’s Places series.
Unsurprisingly, Manning’s transformation went over well and became a hilarious viral sensation.
Eli Manning went undercover at Penn State as walk-on "Chad Powers" and it's absolute gold. pic.twitter.com/jaEYqBRcMh
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) September 19, 2022
Almost immediately after Powers burst onto the scene, Omaha Productions, the Peyton Manning-owned company that helped create Powers, was “flooded” with requests to create more content. One of the ideas pitched was to create a Ted Lasso-like show.
As it turns out, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Variety reports that streaming service Hulu has ordered a half-hour Chad Powers comedy series starring Glen Powell.
Hulu has ordered the half-hour comedy series “Chad Powers” from Glen Powell and Michael Waldron, Variety has learned.
Powell will star in the series in addition to co-creating and co-writing the pilot with Waldron, with both serving as executive producers. The show is based on the Chad Powers character created by Eli Manning for his EPSN+ docuseries “Eli’s Places.” Manning wanted to learn more about the walk-on process for college football, so he donned a wig and prosthetic makeup so he could go undercover during the Penn State football tryouts.
The official description for the series states, “When bad behavior nukes hotshot QB Russ Holliday’s (Powell) college career, he disguises himself and walks onto a struggling Southern football team as the talented, affable Chad Powers.”
Manning will not reprise his role as Powers (or in this case, Holliday) but is 100 percent behind the series.
“The love for Chad Powers has surprised me in spectacular ways,” said Manning. “I played 16 years in the NFL, but now when I’m in a restaurant or walking through an airport, it’s not uncommon for fans to scream, ‘Hey Chad!’ I’m so excited to team up with my friends Glen Powell, Michael Waldron and Omaha Productions to continue to tell the Chad Powers story and see what he does next.”
I saved America and you’re nitpicking me about the long ball. Talk to me when you win a championship lathered in coconut oil… https://t.co/Io7p4wciRG
— Glen Powell (@glenpowell) February 23, 2024
An estimated release date has not yet been revealed.
