‘Chad Powers’ Season 3 Renewal Status Explained as Glen Powell and Michael Waldron Map Out the Show’s Ending

‘Chad Powers’ has become one of Hulu’s more unexpected comedy hits, and now that the second season has landed, attention has turned to whether the sports comedy will get a third run. Chad Powers debuted on Hulu in the United States in September 2025, with a second season arriving a year later on September 3, 2026. The show follows Glen Powell as a disgraced quarterback hiding behind a disguise, and its creators have made clear this was never meant to be a one or two season story.

The series stars Powell as Russ Holliday, a former college quarterback whose career falls apart, who pretends to be a player named Chad Powers so he can chase his football glory days again, going so far as wearing prosthetics as a walk-on quarterback for the South Georgia Catfish. With season two now streaming, fans are left wondering what comes next for Russ, Ricky, and the rest of the Catfish, and whether Hulu will give the show room to finish the story its creators originally envisioned.

What We Know About A ‘Chad Powers’ Season 3 Renewal

As of late August 2026, there is no official word yet on a third season. At the time of writing, Hulu had not renewed Chad Powers for a third season. That is not unusual for a show whose second season just premiered, since streamers typically wait to see how new episodes perform before committing to another run.

The show’s future will likely depend on the viewership of the second season, and it may also hinge on Glen Powell’s schedule, since the actor has several projects lined up including Judd Apatow’s ‘The Comeback King’ and ‘The Great Beyond’ from director J.J. Abrams. Those commitments could affect how quickly a potential season three comes together, even if Hulu greenlights it soon.

Entertainment outlets tracking the show’s status have offered their own predictions. One outlet noted that the series has a naturally expandable sports comedy setup, with Russ’s ongoing deception still giving the writers plenty of material to work with beyond the current season, though everything ultimately comes down to viewing figures and how well season two performs for Hulu.

That uncertainty has not stopped the creative team from talking openly about where a third season could go, suggesting they remain confident in the show’s future even without an official pickup.

Glen Powell And Michael Waldron’s Three Season Plan For ‘Chad Powers’

Long before season two premiered, Powell and Waldron were already describing ‘Chad Powers’ as a story built for three chapters rather than an open ended run. In an interview with Variety, the show’s creators confirmed they had mapped out the series for three seasons, with Powell saying there is a beginning, middle and end, and that he knows how he wants the story to land for audiences rather than dragging it out until it can’t go anymore. That interview can be read in full at Variety.

The Hollywood Reporter heard a similar sentiment directly from Powell around the time season two was announced. He explained that there is a lot more story to be told, that there was an early construction for an arc of what the Catfish would look like, and that he and Waldron have a beginning, middle and end in mind, though he acknowledged people have to keep tuning in to show they want to see it.

ScreenRant reported comparable comments from the creators before the season two renewal was finalized. Chad Powers’ creators previously discussed their three season plan, sharing that they want to do at least two more seasons while acknowledging it is not a premise they can stretch for fifteen seasons.

More recently, Waldron gave Deadline a clearer sense of what a concluding season might actually look like. He said he imagines a third season looking at all the pieces the show has arranged and asking how they would realistically play out, and deciding from there whether the ending is a happy one or a tragic one. That conversation is available through Deadline.

How ‘Chad Powers’ Season 2 Sets Up A Potential Season 3

Season two picks up directly from where the first run left off, and the choices made this year could shape what a third season needs to resolve. Season one’s six episode run ended with a cliffhanger in which Ricky discovered that Chad’s true identity is Russ, though she decided not to expose him to the Catfish.

That decision put more pressure on everyone involved once season two began. With Ricky now involved in keeping Chad’s secret, Russ has to navigate injuries, college parties, difficult away games and growing suspicion from those around him, all while trying to guide the Catfish toward the Playoff.

The season two trailer reflects just how precarious that balancing act has become. With more people in on the secret than ever, the disgraced Russ is shown jumping through hoops to keep up his Chad disguise long enough to lead his team to the playoffs, even as fans line the barricades chanting his fake name.

Deadline’s conversation with the creators suggests season two intentionally pushes the story toward a breaking point. Waldron described the season as being built around the idea that the show could finally have a real conscience once Ricky knew the truth, giving the series someone to act as the voice of the audience questioning what Russ is doing. That framing hints at a season three built around consequences rather than new disguises.

Critical And Audience Reception Could Shape ‘Chad Powers’ Future

Reviews of the first season were mixed among critics but notably warmer among general audiences, a split that could matter as Hulu weighs another renewal. Critics gave mixed reviews to Chad Powers, leading to a 60 percent Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the show earned an 84 percent Popcornmeter score reflecting a more favorable audience reaction.

Viewer commentary on platforms like IMDb echoes that audience enthusiasm. Several viewers praised the season’s later episodes after a slower start, with one describing Glen Powell’s ability to transform from Russ Holliday into Chad Powers and back as impressive as it is funny, while another singled out Steve Zahn and Perry Mattfeld for elevating the supporting cast.

That kind of audience goodwill, paired with a creative team that has already outlined where the story goes next, gives ‘Chad Powers’ a reasonable case for a third season even before Hulu makes anything official. The show’s format, built around escalating stakes rather than a single joke stretched thin, appears to be exactly what has kept both critics and fans engaged through two seasons.

Whether Hulu ultimately gives Russ Holliday his final chapter may depend on how season two performs in the coming weeks, but Powell and Waldron have made it clear they already know how they want this story to end. With Ricky, Danny and the rest of the Catfish now fully entangled in Russ’s secret, how do you think the show should wrap up his double life if season three does happen?