On Sunday, in the bustling city of Austin, Texas, Glen Powell lent his star power to an intriguing event: a lookalike contest dedicated to his own likeness. The charismatic actor, known for his roles in films like "Twisters" and "Top Gun: Maverick," offered an unforgettable prize to the contest's winner – a cameo appearance in his forthcoming film. However, the twist in this tale was that the prize wasn't for the winner personally; rather, it was an opportunity extended to the winner's "parents or any family member of their choice," inspired by Powell's own penchant for including his folks in his cinematic endeavors.
Though Powell himself couldn't attend the Austin fray due to his commitment to filming the Edgar Wright-directed "The Running Man" remake across the pond in the U.K., his mother and aunt stood in as judges for the competition, which Fox 7 Austin reported culminated in physician's assistant Maxwell Braunstein being crowned the ultimate Glen Powell doppelgänger.
Braunstein's victory was sweetened with an array of rewards: a $5 bill, a cowboy hat, a year's worth of complimentary queso from Torchy's Tacos, and a personalized message from Powell himself, who was virtually present via FaceTime with his mom during the event. With his "Running Man" makeup still intact, Powell cracked a joke in the video, saying, "Welcome to the Justin Hartley lookalike contest!" He then transitioned to a more serious tone, adding, "I've gathered you all here today for a crucial mission. Let's pull off a heist – and we won't need masks because we all share the same face. It's the ideal crime! They can't catch us all because we're one and the same: a criminal Glen-enterprise!"
Powell then unveiled his extraordinary prize for the winner. "You might be aware that my parents make cameo appearances in every movie I make," he said. "But today, the winner of the Glen Powell lookalike contest gets to gift their parents, or any family member they choose, a cameo in my next film. I'm absolutely serious. This prize is worth a cash value of $6 billion!"
In addition to "The Running Man," which is in production and set for a November 2025 release, Powell will soon be seen in "Huntington," a dark comedy starring Margaret Qualley and Ed Harris.
Powell's lookalike contest joins a growing list of such events springing up worldwide, including recent Jeremy Allen White contests in New York and Chicago, and a Harry Styles-themed gathering in London earlier this month. It all began in late October when a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in New York City was unexpectedly joined by the actor himself, sparking a social media storm and inspiring numerous similar gatherings.
