Glen Powell, former high school football player, to star as hotshot quarterback in Hulu comedy

Powell better brush up those "Top Gun: Maverick" moves.

Glen Powell is taking his pigskin from the beaches of San Diego to the gridirons of the South.

The actor, who had a memorable seaside football scene in Top Gun: Maverick and also played the sport in high school, is set to star as a hotshot college quarterback in a new Hulu series titled Chad Powers.

Based on a sketch from the ESPN+ show Eli's Places, the half-hour comedy will follow Russ Holliday (Powell), a high-profile college QB who obliterates his own career with bad behavior. Desperate for a second chance, he disguises himself as Chad Powers, an affable, talented walk-on to a struggling Southern football team. The original sketch featured NFL star Eli Manning going undercover as Chad Powers, a walk-on prospect at Penn State.

Powell co-created and is producing the series alongside Loki creator Michael Waldron. "We're both diehard college football fans," the two said in a statement. "When we saw Eli as Chad Powers, we knew that was the way into a big, fun story about this world. We're excited to be part of this team, and can't wait to get Chad in the game. Think fast, run fast."

Manning is also on board as a producer. "The love for Chad Powers has surprised me in spectacular ways," he said. "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."

The Emmy-winning comedy Ted Lasso was also based on a brief sports-related sketch, so anything is possible for Chad Powers. This will mark Powell's second major writing project, after Hit Man, which he co-wrote with director Richard Linklater. Powell began his career as an assistant and script reader for producer Lynda Obst, helping hone an ear for comedy and dialogue.

The actor has a long association with football as well. In addition to playing in high school, he's known in Hollywood circles as a devout Texas Longhorns fan. And of course he made quite the splash as part of the crew playing a pickup game in a Top Gun: Maverick montage — and as he once put it, "montages are forever."

Powell previously told EW that the most intense preparation for Maverick wasn't in the cockpit, but for the beach football scene. "There was more pressure leading up to that scene than any in the whole movie," he said. "It was every cast member, until about midnight the day before, in that gym, trying to do crunches and pull-ups."

We'd imagine he's putting in some reps in the gym right about now. Maybe Manning can give him a few pointers.

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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.