Current box office ‘it’ man Glen Powell (“Twisters,” “Hit Man”) has been tapped to guest star on the first of two “Family Guy” holiday specials set to run exclusively on Hulu. In a Halloween-themed episode that will premiere on October 14, Powell will play “Patrick McCloskey,” the reigning champion in Quahog’s annual Pumpkin Contest. Also guesting on that episode: Derek Jacobi (“Gosford Park,” “Gladiator”) as the voice of Stewie’s beloved teddy bear, “Rupert.”
Per the logline, the Halloween episode follows Peter and his friends as they “aim to unseat the reigning champion (Glen Powell) in Quahog’s annual Pumpkin Contest by any means necessary.” The Powell and Jacobi castings were announced Saturday during the “Family Guy” panel at San Diego Comic-Con. (After the Halloween special will be a Christmas event as well.)
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“Family Guy” voice stars including Alex Borstein (who came out with a “Saggy Naggy” Lois Griffin doll, available for purchase on the Comic-Con floor), Seth Green, Jennifer Tilly, Gary Cole and Mike Henry joined executive producers Rich Appel, Alec Sulkin, Steve Callaghan and Kara Vallow for the panel, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the series.
The Halloween episode will help fans bide the time as Fox waits until midseason to bring “Family Guy” back for Season 23. (That marks the first time the animated staple hasn’t been on the network’s fall schedule since 2005 — when it returned to the air after being canceled for a few years).
Among teasers for Season 23: “Peteraccidentallyexposes his inability to throw a ball, Meg starts dating the giant chicken’s son and Chris loses his earring in a ‘Lord of the Rings’-inspired escapade. Additionally, Stewie finds out his stuffed bear Rupert was made in China and makes it his mission to take him back there to meet his family. The series will also parody ‘The White Lotus,’ as the Griffin family vacation at a luxury resort, where Stewie worries that his wealthy new friends plan to sacrifice him in a volcano.”
Other parodies include takes on “Top Gun” (“Fat Gun”) and “Alone,” plus bits on the Supreme Court (and in particular, Ginni Thomas) and George Santos. Also seen briefly is the real Pete Davidson, who reveals his dating secret (“I just text back promptly!”) Also, Stewie partakes in some weed, and Lois then joins in — and as they get stoned together, Lois can hear Stewie talk for the first time.
At the panel, Bornstein brought down the house by singing her own version of the signature “Barbie” song “What Was I Made For,” in the voice of Lois Griffin. The rendention was inspired by the moment in the episode “You Can’t Handle the Booth where MacFarlane tells the characters that they’re not real.
