Perry Mattfield & Frankie A. Rodriguez Join ‘Chad Powers’ Hulu Comedy Series

EXCLUSIVE: Perry Mattfield (In The Dark) and Frankie A. Rodriguez (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) have been tapped as leads opposite Glen Powell in Chad Powers, Hulu‘s upcoming half-hour comedy series based on an Eli Manning sketch that aired on ESPN+. In addition to Powell, Mattfield and Rodriguez join recently cast Steve Zahn.

Co-created and executive produced by Powell and Michael Waldron, the series follows a hotshot quarterback (Powell) whose college career ends after bad behavior. He then disguises himself as the talented and affable Chad Powers, who walks onto a struggling Southern football team.

Mattfeld will play the sweet and smart Ricky, the first female assistant football coach in Catfish History (University of Nashville) who is also the daughter of Catfish Head Coach, Jake Hudson (Zahn). On the job for two months, she is fast-talking, pumped and eager to play a key role in the upcoming season. Also canny, with a good head on her shoulders, she may find Chad (Powell) a tad odd, but is impressed by his tryout, later reminding him not to get too wrapped up in the newfound fandom. As a former college track star, she knows just how addictive it can be when one is idolized.

Rodriguez will play Danny, a sweet college student. Outsider and underdog, he is the mascot for the Catfish football team and an involved student of the theatre program who has hopes of parlaying his celebrity-status on the field into a career in showbiz. Quick to recognize Russ as the ostracized Trojan player, he is more than willing to help. Driven by his own simmering ambition, he gives a floundering Russ an inspiring pep talk and also provides him with tips because “if this works, you’ll owe me. And I like that.”

Manning serves as executive producer along with Omaha Productions’ Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ben Brown and ESPN. Waldron, who wrote the pilot script, and Adam Fasullo are producing for Anomaly Pictures while Powell is EPing under his production co-banner Brainstorm.

Mattfeld was the lead of the CW series In The Dark, which ran for four seasons and continues to stream on Netflix. She is currently filming Long Bright River opposite Amanda Seyfried and can be seen in Prime Video’s The Idea Of You opposite Anne Hathaway. Mattfeld is repped by Innovative Artists.

Rodriguez played Carlos on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. He also has appeared on Modern Family, Will & Grace and Bunk’d. Rodriguez is repped by Luber Roklin Entertainment and TalentWorks.