Is Ron Howard's New Firefighter Film With Glen Powell A "Backdraft" Sequel?

Dan Lalonde
Jun 17
2 min read

When you think of firefighter TV shows and movies which stand out the most? Backdraft? Fire Country? Ladder 49? Chicago Fire?

Ron Howard, the acclaimed director behind 1991's Backdraft, is returning to the fireline with a new untitled firefighter movie for Amazon MGM Studios—sparking curiosity: is this Backdraft 2?

Not exactly. While Howard is reuniting with flame-filled drama, this new feature seems like this is not a continuation of the Backdraft legacy. Instead, it's said to be a fresh original story, scripted by Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson. The film follows two childhood friends-turned-firefighting heroes as they confront a wave of deadly Texas wildfires while navigating their complex relationship.

Starring Twisters and Hit Man actor Glen Powell, the project promises high emotional stakes and intense action, akin to Howard's classic.

In 2019, a direct-to-video sequel, Backdraft 2, had William Baldwin reprising his role without Howard's involvement. The Plot involved the nephew of Baldwin and the son of Kurt Russell's character now a fire investigator.

Produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody (Imagine Entertainment), Glen Powell, and Dan Cohen (Barnstorm), the film will blend heartfelt drama with pulse-pounding peril—echoes of Backdraft without being its sequel.

Glen Powell’s red-hot career continues to rise. Alongside this film, he’s leading Edgar Wright’s The Running Man, J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Warner Bros. project, and the Hulu series Chad Powers. His talent, paired with Howard’s fire-tested direction, is sure to ignite audience interest.

While fans of Backdraft may draw comparisons, Howard’s new project is shaping up as a standalone firefighter saga, powered by new flames and fresh faces. Comment below with your thoughts.