How A Tiny Rescue Pup Named Brisket Became Glen Powell’s Unshakable Shadow

Sitting alone in an Oklahoma café after a quiet heartbreak, Glen Powell couldn’t stop staring at an adoption photo of a scruffy, palm-sized puppy waiting in a Los Angeles shelter kennel.

He grabbed his phone, rallied close friends to vouch for his character, and recorded an urgent video explaining why the tiny pup belonged in his life. The plea worked. In the middle of filming a high-stakes summer blockbuster, Powell hopped on a flight to Los Angeles to pick up his new companion from the Labelle Foundation, welcoming a dog who would soon turn a demanding season into something gentle and grounded.

From shelter kennel to a director’s chair

When Powell first introduced the scruffy pup on Instagram in July 2023, he playfully dubbed him “1.5 pounds of raw power” and introduced him as his new personal bodyguard. The little mixed-breed pup, christened Brisket, didn’t spend much time waiting in a quiet living room. Instead, he joined Powell on the set of Twisters, padding across soundstages and instantly winning over crew members across departments.

Powell later shared that caring for a tiny puppy while managing grueling production hours felt a bit like becoming a new parent, running on scarce sleep and constant attentiveness. Yet Brisket gave back far more calm than he cost in hours. He wandered between sound carts, curled up on Powell's director chair for midday naps, and became the unofficial mascot of the entire production. Powell jokingly called him “the Lassie of his generation” and the film's “best special feature.”

An accidental cover star steals the spotlight

Brisket’s journey quickly rolled from backstage companionship to center stage, as detailed by iHeartDogs. During an Entertainment Weekly cover shoot, co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones was briefly delayed for a wardrobe adjustment. While the production crew set up a lighting test, Powell casually held Brisket in his arms to check the camera framing. The resulting spontaneous portrait was so full of genuine warmth that the magazine scrap-booked the planned layout and chose the puppy test shot for the official cover.

From walking premiere red carpets to building a devoted following under @hotbrisket, the tiny pup has become an enduring symbol of how deeply a rescue dog can reshape daily life.

Dog lovers were quick to celebrate how much joy the little terrier blend radiates alongside his human companion:

The quiet comfort behind the Hollywood buzz

Behind the glamorous press tours and red carpet flashes, the heart of Brisket’s story remains remarkably simple. Welcoming a dog through adoption during a vulnerable chapter often provides an emotional anchor that routine alone cannot supply. Dogs have an uncanny instinct for grounding human stress, asking only for proximity, safety, and a steady hand.

For Powell, making room for a fragile 1.5-pound shelter pup transformed a lonely period into a partnership rooted in affection and laughter. Brisket may have stumbled into Hollywood fame, but his most cherished role is simply being the steadfast little soul waiting at Powell's side.

Moments with Brisket

Photo gallery, 5 images