Glen Powell has set the record straight about his upcoming collaboration with filmmaker Ron Howard. The actor has revealed whether the project is a Backdraft sequel.
Esquire recently asked Powell whether the untitled Ron Howard film he is working on is Backdraft 2. The actor firmly confirmed, “It’s not,” adding, “It has no connection to that movie. It just happens to have fire involved.” Powell shared that he is excited about the project because he wants to shoot fire like Maverick shot fighter pilots. The Chad Powers stars further added, “Who hates a firefighter?”
Ron Howard’s 1991 film Backdraft also revolved around firefighters, which sparked speculation that his upcoming film with Powell might be a sequel. With the actor finally squashing the rumor, fans can look forward to an exciting new premise.
Additionally, a sequel titled Backdraft 2, a direct-to-video feature, in 2019 starring Joe Anderson, William Baldwin, and Donald Sutherland.
What else do we know about Ron Howard’s new firefighter movie with Glen Powell?
Amazon MGM Studios first confirmed that Glen Powell has joined Ron Howard’s new film in June 2025.
Last year, Howard discussed his upcoming project with Powell during an interview with Collider. “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 way from having definitively shaped what that movie is going to be,” the Apollo 13 director said.
“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,” Howard added.
Plot details of the film remain under wraps, and no additional cast has been announced. There has been no major update on the film’s production yet.
