Submitted by spwf t3_z5fz1m in movies

I’m writing this after just having seen Devotion.

I think Powell killed it.

I looked up his IMDB and realize his career has been performing on an upward curve as of late, so I’m wondering if we’re seeing the birth of a new Hollywood powerhouse, or just another flash in the pan.

I get really interested in the career paths of actors and what their resumes say

Powell has had many voice-acting gigs and tv roles. I guess his biggest TV role would be a 16-episode stint in Scream Queens.

However, even before then, Powell was working alongside some of the biggest names in action in Expendable 3.

Then, Powell was in Hidden Figures, alongside a whole new batch of acting powerhouses.

Then, Powell took a stab at co-starring in the Rom-Com Set It Up.

Then, just 4 years later, Powell was cast in goddamn Top Gun: Maverick, in a major role. Some would say that the pecking order, in terms of character importance, in that movie was Cruise, Teller, Powell.

Now, Powell is the literal co-star in Devotion, alongside someone who’s experiencing his own career boom, Jonathan Majors.

Have we been seeing Powell creeping closer and closer to that movie star spotlight? The guy can act, and it seems like Hollywood is agreeing.

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-Lumos t1_ixw02w6 wrote

Can't believe you didn't mention Everybody Wants Some!! Arguably his most charismatic performance. I believe he has another film in the works with the same director (Linklater). If he picks the right roles I believe he has everything going for him to skyrocket to stardom.

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spwf OP t1_ixw0np1 wrote

Yeah that’s fair. I didn’t pick it because I don’t know if I’d call it a movie that’s ever spoken about as memorably as his other two projects that came out in the same year, Scream Queens and Hidden Figures

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Equal_Feature_9065 t1_ixweko6 wrote

That’s so funny. I’ve never once heard anyone talk about either of those films since they came out — let alone his performance in them. Yet both Everybody Wants Some and his performance remained beloved to this day, at least in my little corner of the world.

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spwf OP t1_ixwfro4 wrote

Well, that’s what happens when people equate all the “little corners of the world” to the world.

Just because someone hasn’t heard about something being talked about, doesn’t mean that it’s not being talked about.

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2Blitz t1_ixvt6hk wrote

Depends on what films he signs on to act. He has the charisma to play some roles I can think of but no one really knows what his offers are except for him.

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zeldafan144 t1_ixw3ky3 wrote

He is great in Scream Queens but Im not sure how big that was. He was up for Teller's part in Maverick but lost it apparently. V charismatic actor.

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spwf OP t1_ixw4pjo wrote

I didn’t watch it but it was a big show on MTV, and got 20 award nominations and 4 award wins throughout its tenure. I’d say that’s pretty big for a show wherein Powell had a 16-episode stint

And I wouldn’t characterize Powell not getting the role of Rooster as “losing it”. He still got a role in the movie and got direct acting advice from Tom Cruise.

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Turok1134 t1_ixwfxe3 wrote

Another romcom, probably.

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IamJacksReadIt t1_ixxgkrt wrote

I'm so glad he's getting recognized now. I first saw Powell in THE EXPENDABLES 3 in 2014. He was the only one of the 4 newcomers that stood out as someone with "future movie star" written on them.

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la_vida_luca t1_ixyml5y wrote

I think he’s building momentum. He first stood out to me with Set it Up, and I remember being pleasantly surprised at him getting good reviews/recognition which is not a given for a ‘straightforward’ (but well executed) romcom. Top Gun Maverick has clearly nudged him that level higher and I think both his performance and the backstory to him getting the role (auditioned for Rooster; didn’t get it but Cruise/Kosinski liked him so much they essentially gave him a new role) really boosts the idea that he’s an actor with charisma to burn.

He also seems to have a very likeable offscreen personality which is increasingly helpful. I’ve not seen Devotion yet but if it’s as good as you say, then I strongly suspect he’ll go from strength to strength and not just be a flash in the pan. As someone else mentioned, he has a friendship with Richard Linklater and recently co-wrote and produced a film with him; a collaborator of that quality is a pretty strong sign.

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