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A24 has unveiled the first still from its upcoming dark comedy thriller ‘How To Make A Killing’ starring Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley, which is hitting theaters on February 20. Director John Patton Ford is pushing the audience through a high-stakes world of family fortune and cutthroat ambition, bursting immediately the audience’s attention on the big screen and dragging a flood of hot debates online.
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The studio’s teaser was very encouraging and the tagline accompanying the announcement was “Heir today, gone tomorrow” which was a brilliant way to introduce the concept. The film portrays a cutthroat competition for a $28 billion inheritance and has a darkly comedic, tense vibe as it reveals the character of Glen Powell, a super-rich heir, who has a lot of strangers between him and the breathtaking fortune. The video is full of fast quick witted conversations with one of them being, “If I were to prune a few branches of the family tree… Between me and 28 billion dollars…” The story surely suggests that an heir is quietly eliminating his opponents.
The joining of Powell and Qualley and the collaboration with the famous indie studio A24 was no doubt an announcement of a significant motion picture event. The response of the public to the unveiling was highly positive, and almost everyone backed Powell whose career seems to be an unstoppable one. One person perfectly captured the feeling by saying, “Glen’s on a generational run.” Another person voiced his amazement about the actor’s commitment and asked, “When does this man sleep???” You could sense the thrill in one comment saying, “FUCKING SEATED IMMEDIATELY! That looks BADASS.”
Controversy about Peter Pan-like Glen Powell’s speedy ascension to the top of the list of the main actors has been rampant. Comments in support were overwhelming, for instance, one said, “I’ll watch anything with Glen Powell on it.” This was the very mood all over the thread. Another user did, however, say, “Guess Hollywood found their new Pedro Pascal replacement,” as he was making comparisons with the actor being the industry’s new “it” guy.
Then again, there were some who disliked the noise and cheered the actor’s side. A small group showed their doubts as to the actor’s physical appeal and the acting skill of his own. One of the skeptics said, “Stop trying to make Glen Powell happen. it’s not going to happen,” while another went even further and gave a more negative point of view, “I liked it better when it was called ‘Knives Out.’ Still, I am not convinced of the Glen Powell being a lead star of a movie thing.” This sparked a mini-debate in the comments regarding whether the actor’s success was organic or the result of industry pushing.
The discussion became even more like a comparison when one person commented in a way that he was stepping back from Powell being a better darling than the other young Hollywood stars. “Glen Powell is doing all the work Timothee Chalamet should be doing and not getting half the recognition. Yet, we are somehow suppose to worship Timothee?! Long Live Glen!” This provocation caused a heated discussion sub-thread in which both actors’ fans and critics stated their opinions and discussed their strengths and box office appeal.
In spite of the occurrence of Powell-centered conversations, another section of the audience pointed out the tiredness of the film’s idea. One cinephile reproachfully remarked, “Damn this should also have stolen the songs from ‘A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder’ not just the plot,” while another simply said, “Kind Hearts and Coronets got there first,” mentioning the 1949 British black comedy classic with a comparable inheritance-elimination plot.
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With A24 showcasing it, a buzzing star at his peak and a storyline primed for dark humor and suspense, ‘How To Make A Killing’ has already made its mark as one of the most anticipated releases of next year. The vigorous and mixed online reactions are a clear indication that whether you are a steadfast supporter or a doubtful watcher, you won’t be able to ignore the limelight on Glen Powell and his next move. The motion picture will be available in theaters on February 20. Fans can also look forward to his upcoming football comedy series, Chad Powers, which has been generating significant buzz.