In late 2024, Glen Powell made a decision that surprised many in Hollywood but felt deeply natural to him: he packed up his life in Los Angeles and moved back home to Austin, Texas. For a star riding high after blockbuster successes and industry acclaim, the move might have seemed counterintuitive. Yet for Powell, returning to Texas was less about stepping away from fame and more about grounding himself in the place that shaped him.
Powell admitted he expected an emotional response when he told his parents, Cyndy Powell and Glen Powell Sr., about his decision. Instead, their reaction left him completely speechless. Rather than focusing on his career achievements, they joked, “We’re just glad you’re back to help with the lawn and finally finish your degree.” The humor was classic Powell family energy—loving, supportive, and relentlessly down-to-earth. No matter how famous their son becomes, to them he’s still the kid with chores and unfinished homework.
In Hollywood, Powell is known as the confident Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick and the charismatic storm chaser in Twisters. In Austin, however, he’s simply Glen—the son who still owes his mother a college diploma. His return wasn’t just symbolic; it was practical. Powell re-enrolled at University of Texas at Austin, where he is completing his Bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film through the Moody College of Communication, with additional focus on Spanish and Early American History.
The move was also inspired by advice from fellow Texan and longtime mentor Matthew McConaughey, who famously warned Powell about Hollywood being a “fake world” where people are constantly “plugged in.” Austin, by contrast, offers a place where actions matter more than optics. Powell bought a home just 30 minutes from his parents’ ranch, creating a clear separation between career chaos and personal peace.
Balancing stardom with student life hasn’t been easy. While filming The Running Man in London under director Edgar Wright, Powell has been Zooming into classes and flying back to Texas several times a semester for proctored exams. He’s set to graduate in Spring 2027 and has already promised co-stars Josh Brolin and Lee Pace a massive Austin graduation party.
Powell’s parents have also become unexpected stars in their own right. At the Austin premiere of Hit Man, directed by Richard Linklater, they famously held up signs reading, “Stop trying to make Glen Powell happen.” It was a perfect reminder that fame may open doors, but family keeps you humble.
As Texas continues to grow as a major filmmaking hub—and with Powell’s induction into the Texas Film Hall of Fame—his move feels both personal and prophetic. Glen Powell may be a global movie star, but back in Austin, he’s still worrying about history exams, mowing the lawn, and making his parents proud.