Ron Howardis heading back into the world of firefighters, but this time he’s bringingGlen Powellwith him. While theTop Gun: Maverickstar was once rumored to be circling a remake ofHoward’s 1991 hitBackdraft, the actor has instead signed on for an entirely new story from the Oscar-winning director. Collider’sMaggie Lovittcaught up with Howard andJude Lawto talk about their new survival dramaEden, and naturally,Powell’s firefighter film came up. Howard admitted there was a lot to be excited about when asked how this new project compared toBackdraft:
“I don’t know anything about the other film, and ours is just getting underway. So, at this point, it’s a lot of excitement. I think we have a really strong story. And yes, there is a relationship story that is informed by the past, but we’re a long ways from having definitively shaped what that movie is going to be. I just think Glen, who is also a good writer — he’s not writing this, but he has a good story mind — is going to be an exciting collaborator on this. I’ve always been a little reluctant, because it’s scary. It’s scary and hard. I’m also proud of the one that we made. But to be honest, when Brian Grazer and Glen and our writer and the rest of the team started presenting to me what it was, I kind of said, ‘Don’t hand this off to somebody else, please! I think this could be exciting,’ and I think it can be.”
What Do We Know About Glen Powell’s Firefighter Movie?
The new movie comes from writerChristina Hodson(Bumblebee, The Flash) and focuses on two childhood friends-turned-firefighters who face a wave of deadlyTexas blazeswhile confronting their complicated past. Producers includeHoward’slongtime collaboratorBrian Grazer, alongsideJeb BrodyandDan Cohen. Powell has been on a tear lately, balancing franchise fare likeTwistersandEdgar Wright’s upcomingThe Running Manremake with more original projects.
Howard’s originalBackdraft, starringKurt Russell and William Baldwin, was both a box office hit and an Academy Award nominee. But while talk of a remake has floated around for years, the director and Powell are instead pursuing an original idea. That choice gives them the freedom to build a fresh story without being boxed in by expectations. Powell has openly praisedBackdraft, even calling it a world “ripe for exploration,” but he’s been clear he was never attached to a remake. Now, he gets to pay homage to the genre while carving his own lane alongside one of Hollywood’s most reliable directors.
Stay tuned for more updates as Glen Powell fights fire… with fire? You can find streaming options forBackdraftbelow, and don’t miss Ron Howard’sEdenin theaters this weekend.
