Before Netflix's Hit Man, Glen Powell Was a Scream Queen

Glen Powell is arguably one of the busiest actors working today, and his rise, at least for some, came out of nowhere. Following a scene-stealing turn in a supporting role in Top Gun: Maverick, Powell helped make the romantic comedy financially viable again on the theatrical front with Anyone But You, and almost every headline since has been about all the roles he’s stacking up for the future.

He’s currently charming audiences as Gary Johnson in the Netflix film Hit Man, but before portraying an undercover mole in the Richard Linklater film and romancing Sydney Sweeney in his rom-com hit, Powell showcased his considerable comedic chops as frat boy Chad Radwell in the short-lived, but fan-favorite series, Scream Queens. While it only lasted for two seasons, the series was a showcase for its young, talented cast, particularly Powell, who managed to turn a character that could’ve easily been a caricature into someone who was oddly charming.

The Idea Behind Scream Queens

Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, Scream Queens was a satirical horror series that aired on Fox from 2015-2016. The first season took place at Wallace University and followed the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority, known as the Chanels, as they became the target of a serial killer using the university’s Red Devil mascot as their signature Ghostface disguise.

The show was a fun look at the horror genre, particularly slasher films such as Scream, Halloween, and Friday the 13th, with “Scream Queen” herself, Jamie Lee Curtis, headlining the series as Dean Cathy Munsch. The series was packed with young talent, including Emma Roberts, Skyler Samuels, Lea Michele, Nick Jones, Ariana Grande, Diego Boneta, Abigail Breslin, Keke Palmer, and Powell himself, who got to get his fair share of scenery chewing as Chad Radwell, hinting at a level of charm and comedic timing that the actor continues to utilize today.

Scream Queens Played to Glen Powell’s Comedic Strengths

The role plays to Powell’s strengths, as the actor has managed to display a balanced, cocky persona that is never off-putting. Chad is the president of the Dickie Dollar Scholars fraternity, and he, of course, is in a relationship with Chanel Oberlin (Roberts), the sorority’s queen bee and the namesake of the Chanels, the other popular girls who seem to serve her every whim.

Their relationship is naturally volatile but never in a serious way. Since this is all played for comedy, the duo gets to play the humorous side of pretty people and their superficial problems. Chad, on paper, isn’t very smart and could easily be played as a caricature of the frat boy, but Powell also makes him likable. Think the anthesis of Trent, Travis Van Winkle’s character from the Friday the 13th remake.

Chad plays into some stereotypes, but it makes the character funny, something Powell does with ease. He’s a psychology major, although he wears it more like a badge of honor to prove he’s above his classmates. Once you learn that he repeated second grade eight times and likely only got into Wallace University for being wealthy (and Caucasian), you can see what Scream Queens is poking fun at when discussing Chad’s place at the school. He’s a product of privilege and isn’t necessarily afraid to show it.

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Where Powell also shines as Chad is the level of heart he can put into the role. Despite his frat boy tendencies being played for laughs, Chad isn’t afraid to put his life on the line to protect his girlfriend and fellow frat brothers when they become the target of a serial killer on campus. Some of this is because Chad doesn’t have the brain to realize the true danger of the threat, but what is played primarily straight is his desire to do away with anyone who threatens the sanctity of their college lives. Call it stupidity or pure machismo, but Chad shows no fear when he comes across the chainsaw of two would-be killers. Somehow, despite the silliness of it all, Powell makes Chad’s convictions completely believable. It also helps that all of this is done with his fellow frat bros to the tune of NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.”

Glen Powell and Jamie Lee Curtis in Scream Queens

Powell showcased his talent alongside the rest of his peers and had a fun moment with Curtis on the series, matching the veteran actresses’ comedic chops for every beat. The first thing the actor shot in the series was a sex scene with Curtis, which the actress had a bit of fun with when the series wrapped. During an appearance on The Late Show With James Corden, the actor revealed that Curtis gifted him a wrap gift that was a direct reference to their sex scene. Curtis gave him a DVD copy of her 1985 film Perfect, mostly known for an aerobics scene featuring the actress that is now the stuff of legend, and a custom-made condom with her face on it.

Another funny play the series makes is that “Chads,” typically in pop culture and maybe a little bit in real life, usually aren’t the nicest guys. Chad Radwell showcases this on more than one occasion, but it was a bit of a creative stroke of genius to have a real-life Chad play his brother, Brad Radwell, in the series’ Thanksgiving episode. One Tree Hill’s Chad Michael Murray guest-starred in the episode as Chad’s brother, and both actors match wits in the best way as they play up the narcissism of their characters to ultimate heights.

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The pairing also goes a long way to making Chad more likable on the show because Brad comes off as much more entitled and kind of signals that Chad built up his cocky persona to keep up with his brother. One scene at the Thanksgiving dinner table proves to be one of the best for both actors, with Murray one-upping Powell at every turn as he brags about his accomplishments. The result is two actors at the top of their comedic game who completely understood the assignment.

Could Chad Radwell Make a Return?

Season 2 of Scream Queens changed the setting from Wallace University to the C.U.R.E., a hospital Cathy Munsch opens after leaving the university. Chad is a recurring character in Season 2, and he gets to propose to Chanel before meeting a grisly demise. While Scream Queens did end after two seasons, Murphy said in 2020 that he was interested in reviving the show for a potential third season, something he confirmed in a comment on an Instagram post. Whether or not Powell’s Chad Radwell could return remains to be seen, but we all know that in some horror stories, death isn’t necessarily always the end.

Powell has also maintained a professional relationship with Murphy, revealing that he was getting ready for his Broadway debut with the help of the writer and producer. The actor told Vogue in 2023, “Ryan Murphy and I, we’re actually making a musical together. We don’t really have any plans to be back in the television world together, but we’ll be on Broadway together.” Powell was even asked if the musical would be focused on Chad Radwell, and the actor played with the idea, noting how many people still ask him about the horror series.

Scream Queens showed that Powell could be in on the joke and also make a less-than-desirable character, somehow someone you could begrudgingly root for. He’s certainly not the hero, and he’s definitely not a frat boy with a true heart of gold, but the actor made you want to see Chad make it out alive by the end of each episode. The audience felt like something would be missing without him there, and that’s a testament to Powell’s talents and natural charisma. It also shows that Glen Powell possessed the “It” factor even during his humble beginnings. Scream Queens can currently be streamed on Hulu.