Glen Powell’s Barnstorm Inks First-Look Deal With Universal Pictures

Anthony D'Alessandro

7 January 2025 at 2:00 pm·3-min read

Universal Pictures is entering a first-look film production pact with its Twisters star Glen Powell and his Barnstorm production company. At the same time, 21 Laps veteran Dan Cohen is set to join Barnstorm as the label’s partner.

The news comes in the wake of Powell being nominated for his first Golden Globe, for Best Actor in a Comedy and Musical for Netflix’s Hit Man, which he produced and co-wrote.

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Twisters overperformed against industry expectations, becoming the biggest opening for a natural disaster film ever at the domestic box office with an $81.2 million domestic start, a $267.7M stateside final and near a $371M global take. The sequel debuted on Peacock in November, becoming the service’s biggest Pay 1 film ever in its first 14 days on the platform.

“Barnstorm has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I want our company to be a destination for world-class theatrical entertainment,.” said Powell, Barnstorm’s founder. “Throughout the process of making Twisters, I was so impressed with the leadership of Universal and the vision and ambition of their team across so many departments. We are so honored to call them home. Dan Cohen is someone I’ve been a fan of for over a decade. His passion for storytelling and storytellers is inspiring and I’m so proud to call him my partner in this exciting new chapter.”

Said Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer: “Glen is the complete package: a talented, charismatic producer, creator, writer and actor at the top of his game, who is committed to entertaining global audiences across all genres. He was an ideal partner throughout the production and release of our hit Twisters, and we know that he will continue to expand on his success in the years to come. We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with him, Dan, and the Barnstorm team to create compelling new stories for the big screen.”

Added Cohen, “I’m incredibly grateful for the nearly 15 years I’ve spent at 21 Laps with Shawn Levy, Dan Levine & the 21 Laps entire team for everything we’ve made together and I wasn’t looking to leave. Glen is somebody I’ve admired for a long time and who’s earned every ounce of his success. Partnering with him at Barnstorm is an extraordinary opportunity. We share a passion for pushing creative boundaries, amplifying fresh voices, and telling bold, impactful stories that connect with audiences around the world. People often talk about doing ‘One for me … and one for them.’ But in looking forward to building Barnstorm, the philosophy is ‘All for me. And all for them.’

At Levy’s 21 Laps, Cohen served as EP on Netflix’s Stranger Things and was an EP on the streamer’s movie The Adam Project, as well as an EP on the Oscar-winning The Arrival. Cohen was also a co-producer on 20th Century Studios’ Levy-directed hit The Free Guy. His other producer credits include Never Let Go, The Boogeyman and Kin.

Prior to this deal, Barnstorm produced The Blue Angels and the forthcoming Hulu series Chad Powers; Powell wrote and is an EP and stars on Chad Powers. The actor is currently shooting Edgar Wright’s The Running Man in the UK. He’ll stay in the UK into the spring for J.J. Abrams’ untitled sci-fi Warner Bros movie that also stars Jenna Ortega.

In the wake of starring in the near $1.5 billion-grossing Top Gun: Maverick, Powell resurrected the rom-com on the big screen with Sydney Sweeney with last Christmas’ Anyone But You, which grossed $220.3M worldwide and was a profitable hit for Sony netting $103M after all ancillaries.

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