Current box office star Glen Powell (Twisters, Hit Man) has been tapped to guest star in the first of two special episodes of Family Guy set to premiere exclusively on Hulu. In the Halloween-themed episode, which premieres October 14, Powell will play Patrick McCluskey, the reigning champion of Quahog’s annual pumpkin patch competition. Also starring in the episode: Derek Jacobi (Gosford Park, Gladiator) as the voice of Stewie’s beloved bear, Rupert.
According to the main plot, the Halloween episode follows Peter and his friends as they “aim to unseat the current champion (Glen Powell) at Quahog’s annual pumpkin patch by any means necessary.” Powell and Jacoby’s casting was announced Saturday during the “Family Guy” panel at San Diego Comic-Con. (Following the Halloween special, there will also be a Christmas event.)
Family Guy's voice cast, including Alex Borstein (who launched the “Sage Naggy” Lois Griffin doll, available for purchase at Comic-Con), Seth Green, Jennifer Tilly, Gary Cole and Mike Henry, joined executive producers Rich Appel, Alec Sulkin, Steve Callahan and Cara Vallow at the panel celebrating the show's 25th anniversary.
The Halloween episode will help fans pass the time while Fox waits until midseason to bring back “Family Guy” for Season 23. (This marks the first time the animated staple has not been on the network’s fall schedule since 2005 — when it returned to the air after being canceled for a few years.)
Among the teasers for Season 23: “Peter accidentally reveals he can’t throw a ball, Meg starts dating the son of a giant chicken, and Chris loses his earring in a Lord of the Rings-inspired adventure. Additionally, Stewie discovers that Rupert the teddy bear was made in China and makes it his mission to take him there to meet his family. The series will also parody The White Lotus, with the Griffin family vacationing at a luxury resort, where Stewie fears his new wealthy friends are planning to sacrifice him in a volcano.”
Other parodies include scenes from “Top Gun” (“Fat Gun”) and “Alone,” as well as scenes about the Supreme Court (particularly Jenny Thomas) and George Santos. The real Pete Davidson also briefly appears, revealing his dating secret (“I respond to your texts right away!”). Stewie also drinks some pot, and Lois joins him—and while they drink together, Lois hears Stewie speak for the first time.
At the panel, Bornstein electrified the audience by singing her own version of the Barbie hit “What Were You Made For,” performed by Lois Griffin. The version was inspired by the moment MacFarlane tells the characters in “You Can’t Handle the Booth” that they’re not real.
