Robert Rodriguez Proudly Recalls 14-Year-Old Glen Powell’s Ambitions: ‘I'm Going All the Way'

Casual fans may only knowGlen Powellfor his superlative work as the cocky “Hangman” inTop Gun: Maverick,or from his successful rom-com teaming with Sydney Sweeney inAnyone but You. However, Powell has been a professional actor for over 20 years, and last week he was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame duringA Toast to Texas Filmon May 16. In attendance was filmmakerRobert Rodriguez,who cast a 14-year-old Powell in his movie,Spy Kids 3D: Game Over(2003). Rodriguez recounted the teenager’s confidence while on the event’s red carpet (viaIndieWire):

“I remember distinctly how surprised I was [by Powell]because we’d cast a bunch of people from L.A. And then to fill out the other roles [Spy Kids 3-D],we cast local actors who don’t get as much experienceas the ones who are working in L.A. So, you’re just trying to findsomeone locally that won’t get nervous,that’ll give a performance that kind of measures up to the other actors.He walks in with a stature and his confidence and just nails it.”

Spy Kids 3D: Game Over

Rodriguez continued:

“And I was just so surprised he was so goodthat I said aside to him and his mom afterwards, ‘What are you planning on doing?’ He goes,‘I’m going all the way. I want to be an actor,‘which was cool to hear from someone fromAustin.So now, it’s no surprise to see this.But he already had that quality at 14 and clarity of vision that that’s what he was supposed to be. I just love that.”

Glen Powell’s Success ‘Feels Good’ to Robert Rodriguez

Glen Powell’s induction into the Texas Film Hall of Fame not only included the attendance of filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, but the actor’s prankster parents, too.Cyndy and Glen Powell Sr. trolled their successful sonwith homemade, protesting poster boards while on the red carpet. All kidding aside, the event was a huge success, and Rodriguez told the press it “just feels good” to see all that Powell has achieved and how it has benefited the community of Austin, Texas. Rodriguez said in a separate story published byIndieWire:

“Rick [Linklater] and I have been in the business so long,we’re now giving the people whose careers we started awards.And it just feels good because both Rick and I made our first films here in Austin.And we decided, ‘Hey, we don’t need to go to L.A., let’s try and build our community here.Instead of building that community, let’s build our community.’

Best Robert Rodriguez Movies, Ranked

From humble beginnings to one of Hollywood’s most renowned directors, here are the best Robert Rodriguez movies, ranked.

“It’s the way original filmmakers would do…like George Romero in Pittsburgh or John Waters in Baltimore.We’re thinking on that level, but it blew up.This is a big, gratifying moment, not just for myself, Glenn and Rick, but for just Texas film in general, thatwe just invested in ourselves.”