Glen Powell Auditioned For Tim Riggins In ‘Friday Night Lights,’ But Admits Taylor Kitsch “Smoked” The Roll: “It Was Iconic”

I’m sorry, but no… just no.

Ever since I first watched the TV series Friday Night Lights many, many years ago, I fell in love with the show and have rewatched it an embarrassing number of times.

Set in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, it has an almost cult-like following, even over 10 years after the last episode aired. Some of the situations on the show are so realistic (others not so much), but either way, the show has an uncanny ability to make you feel like you’re actually back home in high school… whether that’s a good or bad thing is a whole other article.

And if you’ve ever watched it before too, then you know that one of the fan-favorite characters (especially among the ladies) is Tim Riggins, played by Taylor Kitsch, the troubled, rebellious, yet surprisingly sensitive and sweet fullback who is best friends with star quarterback Jason Street.

But another very famous Hollywood actor also auditioned for the role, as Glen Powell revealed on Jake Shane’s Therapuss podcast this week that he was in high school playing football in Austin, Texas, where the show was filmed, and he first tried out as Riggins:

“My ‘Friday Night Lights’ audition, I just wanted it too much, and I just literally… I auditioned for, my original audition here in Austin was Tim Riggins. It was the, ‘You and me Street, forever in Texas.’ That bit. That was the audition scene.

But I mean, Taylor Kitsch obviously smoked that roll, it was iconic. I was also in high school, those guys were like mid 20s playing high school. They looked the part. I was not a cool looking Tim Riggins in high school, even though I was playing high school football.

Tim Riggins, like, whenever you see like who gets these things you’re like, okay, that actually makes more sense.”

I wholeheartedly agree… absolutely no one could’ve played Riggins other than Taylor Kitsch.

Powell went on to reveal that he also auditioned for two different quarterbacks in J.D. McCoy and another one he didn’t name (I could’ve maybe seen him as Matt Saracen I guess), though I think he was probably just too young for any of those roles (even though he was in high school):

“I auditioned for two different quarterbacks, like J.D. McCoy and something else. Then I was kind of at an age where I was like, ‘OK, I could I could do this.’ And I just crashed both times.”

Ultimately, he admits he thinks he just wanted it too bad and it hindered his performance:

“There’s a relaxation to acting that sort of have to have. It’s like a weird job because you’re in front of all these people and yet, it has to be very private, it has to feel very intimate.

I was just so hyperaware that this was like a job that I wanted too much, and so I was aware of everybody in the room, you’re aware of all these things happening. And I just couldn’t settle into it.”

Clearly, it all worked out for him in the end, and I think it’s obvious that Kitsch was the man for the job, and Powell admits that he’s a super fan of the series, calling it “one of the best shows ever,” and I wholeheartedly agree:

“I watched all of it. I loved it. I mean, it’s a brilliant show. One of the best shows ever, I think.”

I like some of Powell’s movies, but there’s just no one else who could’ve pulled off Tim Riggins like Taylor Kistch…

@pagesixShook over the fact Glen Powell auditioned to play Tim Riggins on “Friday Night Lights.” ♬ original sound – Page Six

The full podcast is available below.

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