Topher Grace says longtime friend Glen Powell is “exactly the same” since blowing up

Topher Grace has been in Hollywood long enough to know that fame changes people. So when he ran into Glen Powell again, right as Powell was hitting a whole new level of stardom, Grace did what a lot of us would do. He checked to see if his friend was still himself.

Turns out, in Grace’s eyes, Powell passed that test with flying colors.

A night at the Los Angeles premiere

Grace spoke with PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere of “How to Make a Killing” on Saturday, Feb. 14. The movie is an A24 thriller, and it also marks the first time Grace and Powell have acted together, even though they have known each other for years.

Grace, who is 47, sounded genuinely happy to be sharing this moment with Powell, 37. It was less about the red carpet and more about the kind of friendship that can survive time, career shifts, and all the weird stuff that comes with Hollywood.

A friendship that started back in 2009

Grace says he first met Powell in 2009, and he remembers that early impression clearly. “I’ve known Glen for a long time,” Grace says of his friend and costar in the A24 thriller. “I’ve known him for years. Yeah, we’ve never acted together, up until now.”

That detail feels surprising, since both actors have been around for a while. But it also makes their reunion in this film feel a little more meaningful. This was not just two names paired up for a project. It was two people finally sharing the screen after a long stretch of separate paths.

Grace also shared that his life looks very different now than it did when they first met. He is a father of three, and that shift changes everything from your schedule to your social circle.

“I remember being very impressed by him when I met him,” he recalls. “I have kids now, so I don’t know anyone I knew back then,” he adds.

The moment Grace realized Powell had not changed

Grace explained that he was curious about what he would find when they crossed paths again, since Powell has been blowing up in a major way lately. Some people get famous and start moving differently. They get more guarded. Or more self-important. Or they just start acting like they are always in a meeting.

Grace wanted to see if that had happened here. “I remember thinking, ‘Okay, let’s go over there and see if Glen is the same,’ because he was really blowing up at that moment, and he was exactly the same human.”

That one line says a lot. Grace is not just talking about being polite at a party or doing the right thing in an interview. He is talking about the core of who someone is when the spotlight gets brighter.

Then he took it a step further and made it clear how rare that is. “All my time in Hollywood, I’ve never seen someone handle it so well and just be the same guy,” Grace says.

Why Grace sees Powell as a true leading man

Grace also gave Powell credit for what he brings to the film itself. Powell has the kind of presence that can hold a story together, especially in a thriller where the pace and the tension need a steady center. “The thing that ties it all together is Glen,” Grace tells PEOPLE. “He’s a great leading man.”

That is high praise coming from someone who has watched a lot of careers up close. Grace’s comments make it sound like Powell is not just getting big roles. He is actually earning them with the work.

What How to Make a Killing is about

In How to Make a Killing, Powell plays Becket Redfellow, a blue-collar man who was disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family and will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance.

The setup leans into big emotions and bigger stakes. It is about power, money, family, and what someone is willing to do when they believe they have been wronged.

It is the kind of premise that can go dark fast, and it gives Powell a lot to play with. If the movie delivers on that promise, audiences are in for something sharp and intense.

A cast filled with familiar faces

Powell and Grace are not the only reasons to pay attention here. The rest of the cast is stacked, with a mix of rising talent and seasoned actors.

Along with them, the film features Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris, Zach Woods, Jessica Henwick, Raff Law, Bill Camp, and Sean Cameron Michael.

That lineup suggests a movie that is aiming for more than just thrills. It sounds like something that wants strong performances across the board, with characters who feel specific and memorable.

The real takeaway from Grace’s comments

Grace could have used this premiere to talk only about the movie, or only about the industry, or only about how exciting it is to work with A24. Instead, he focused on something more personal.

He talked about a friend who stayed grounded. A friend who, in his words, remained the same human. That kind of consistency is not flashy, but it is impressive. And in a town built on reinvention, it might be one of the rarest traits of all.

TL;DR

• Topher Grace spoke with PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere of “How to Make a Killing” on Saturday, Feb. 14.
• Grace says he has known Glen Powell for years and first met him through a friend in 2009.
• Even as Powell’s career has taken off, Grace says Powell has stayed “exactly the same human” and handled fame well.
• “How to Make a Killing” is the first time Grace and Powell have acted together.
• Grace credits Powell as the key force in the movie, calling him a great leading man.
• The film follows Becket Redfellow, a man seeking revenge after being disowned by his extremely wealthy family.
• The cast also includes Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris, Zach Woods, Jessica Henwick, Raff Law, Bill Camp, and Sean Cameron Michael.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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