Glen Powell’s comedy Chad Powers scores a Season 2 renewal at Hulu

Hulu has officially greenlit a second season for the fan-favorite college football comedy, Chad Powers, with star and co-creator Glen Powell set to return as the titular character.

The announcement comes just over a month after the six-episode first season wrapped up its run on the streaming service. The quick renewal demonstrates Hulu’s major confidence in the series, which has clearly connected with American audiences despite drawing mixed reviews from critics.

Powell’s rising star power, coupled with the show’s viral origins, made this a highly anticipated and now confirmed sophomore season. Chad Powers offers a unique blend of sports drama, slapstick comedy, and heartfelt redemption. The series takes a deep dive into the absurd lengths one man will go to for a second chance at glory.

Here’s what you need to know about the renewal, the show’s unique background, and what’s next for the South Georgia Catfish.

What Is the Core Premise of Chad Powers?

The series follows Russ Holliday, a former star college quarterback whose promising career was instantly nuked after a catastrophic, career-ending mistake in a national championship game.

Eight years later, Russ is still defined by his failure and the massive public backlash that followed, leaving him an industry pariah who struggles to find a footing in life. In a desperate, last-ditch effort to get back in the game and find redemption, he devises a plan that is as ridiculous as it is brilliant.

Russ uses his father’s professional Hollywood makeup skills to physically transform himself into a new identity: the talented, oddly charming walk-on player, Chad Powers. The heavy prosthetics and wig allow him to infiltrate the struggling South Georgia Catfish team, giving him a chance to rewrite his story and reclaim his lost glory.

It’s an imposter narrative with high stakes, full of the comedic chaos that comes with maintaining such an elaborate disguise.

Where Did the Idea for Chad Powers Originate?

The entire concept for the Hulu show is based on a viral ESPN+ segment from 2022 featuring NFL legend Eli Manning.

The two-time Super Bowl champion famously went undercover, wearing a wig, fake mustache, and full prosthetics to try out as a walk-on quarterback for the Penn State football team, all for his docuseries Eli’s Places. The skit was an immediate sensation, creating the meme-worthy figure who introduced himself with the now-iconic phrase, “Think fast, run fast!”

Powell and co-creator Michael Waldron, known for his work on Marvel’s Loki, seized on the viral momentum. They adapted the comedic bit into a scripted, half-hour series that explores the deeper, darker themes of failure, reinvention, and personal accountability.

Executive producers Eli and Peyton Manning were heavily involved in the show’s development, lending authenticity to the football elements and ensuring the show didn’t “veer off track,” according to Powell.

What Happens in the Season 1 Finale?

The first season’s six episodes followed Chad Powers’ journey with the South Georgia Catfish as the team began a surprising winning streak, turning them into an unlikely underdog story.

Along the way, Russ Holliday, as Chad, formed genuine, heartfelt connections with his new teammates, and the team’s offensive assistant coach, Ricky Hudson, played by Perry Mattfeld. The central conceit, however, began to show cracks as the team’s success increased the public scrutiny on their mysterious, talented quarterback.

In a thrilling and controversial Season 1 finale, the secret was finally exposed to one major character. Ricky discovers Chad’s true identity, learning that he is actually the disgraced former quarterback Russ Holliday, but she chooses to keep the secret to herself. The season concluded on this massive cliffhanger, with Russ’s redemption hanging in the balance, a lie that’s about to break the hearts of his new family.

What Can Fans Expect from Season 2?

The second season is expected to pick up immediately following the intense finale, continuing the chaotic saga of Russ trying to maintain his double life.

Co-creators Powell and Waldron had previously discussed having a multi-season arc planned for the show, sharing that they wanted to see the Catfish “through this season of college football” in the next installment. This means the show will likely delve deeper into the fallout from Ricky’s discovery and the ethical tightrope Russ must walk.

Powell has enthusiastically spoken about the fun and challenge of creating the show, praising the show’s ability to find sincerity beneath the absurd humor. The new season is anticipated to escalate the comedic stakes as the truth about Chad Powers threatens to be exposed to Coach Hudson, the team, and the media.

Production for Season 2 is reportedly scheduled to kick off in early 2026, with filming expected to take place once again in Atlanta, Georgia. An official release window hasn’t been announced yet, but fans are already buzzing for the next chapter of this ridiculous yet earnest sports story.

Who is Expected to Return for the Next Season?

Glen Powell is confirmed to be returning in the dual role of Russ Holliday/Chad Powers.

The strength of the series lies heavily in his performance, which balances the narcissistic former quarterback with his oddball alter ego. The show’s ensemble cast is also expected to reprise their roles for the sophomore season.

This includes Perry Mattfeld as Ricky Hudson, Steve Zahn as the Catfish’s Head Coach, Jake Hudson, Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd, and Frankie A. Rodriguez as Danny, the team mascot who is Russ’s unwitting accomplice in maintaining the disguise.

TL;DR

• Hulu has officially renewed the Glen Powell-led comedy series Chad Powers for a second season, just over a month after the Season 1 finale.
• The show follows Russ Holliday (Powell), a disgraced ex-quarterback who uses heavy prosthetics to go undercover as a walk-on player “Chad Powers” for a small college team.
• The series is an adaptation of a viral 2022 ESPN+ sketch where NFL star Eli Manning posed as the fictional player at a Penn State tryout.
• Season 2 will pick up after the cliffhanger finale, which saw the team’s offensive assistant coach, Ricky Hudson, discover Chad’s true identity.
• The renewal highlights Hulu’s confidence in the show’s high audience engagement, and production is expected to begin in early 2026 in Atlanta.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.