Glen Powell is set to lead Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man, which will premiere later this year, showcasing a gripping tale of survival and resilience. Powell credits much of his preparation for the intense physical role to the influence of Tom Cruise, whose guidance helped him approach acting as a demanding physical challenge.
In portraying Ben Richards, Powell committed to rigorous training to embody the character’s toughness. He explained,
“I knew that based on the Stephen King book, Ben Richards was a tank. I was like, Okay, I got to be a bit of a weapon. And so that’s why I trained the way I trained on this. I put on a lot of muscle. A lot of it was functional. A lot of it was so I could absorb hits. But a lot of it was also authentically for an audience.”
This intensity was inspired by Powell’s experience working alongside Tom Cruise on Top Gun: Maverick, where Cruise instilled a mindset of physicality in acting. Powell shared,
“It was Tom who taught me to think about the job of acting as an inherently physical one. I went from going, ‘Oh, I’m an actor on a movie,’ to ‘I’m a high-performance athlete.’ And I’m just very lucky that I have someone like Tom who I could literally go, ‘Hey, what do I do to survive something?’”
Producer Simon Kinberg reinforced the connection between Powell’s dedication and Cruise’s influence, noting it was a perfect example of
“the Tom Cruise school of doing your stunts.”
Kinberg praised Powell’s energy and presence, stating,
“It’s a really great cast, but it rests on Glen. He is the Running Man. He is in almost every scene of the movie. It’s a cool new gear for Glen.”
The Story Behind Edgar Wright’s Adaptation of The Running Man
Edgar Wright’s version of The Running Man differs markedly from the 1987 action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, closer aligning with Stephen King’s original novel. The story follows Ben Richards, not as a brute force hero, but as a desperate father who enters a ruthless, televised competition to secure money for his sick daughter.
The film promises a relentless, high-stakes survival drama, with Powell embodying a character under extraordinary pressure. Wright described Powell as
“such a relatable, charming actor, and it’s fun to put him through the mill and see him spend the movie literally on the run.”
He added,
“The whole film is more exciting with Glen being your everyman at the heart of the action. You see him sweat, you see him think, you keep him on his back foot for the whole adventure. I’m so thrilled with Glen’s performance in the lead.”
Powell leads a talented ensemble cast including William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin, with Wright co-writing the screenplay alongside Michael Bacall and producing with Kinberg.
Key Cast Members and Their Roles
- Glen Powell as Ben Richards
- Josh Brolin as Dan Killian
- Jayme Lawson as Sheila Richards
- Lee Pace as Evan McCone
What to Expect When The Running Man Premieres
The Running Man will arrive in theaters on November 14, presenting audiences with a thrilling, intense story of endurance and survival, anchored by Glen Powell’s dynamic and physically demanding performance. With the backing of a skilled cast and crew, including the influence of Tom Cruise on Powell’s preparation, this adaptation aims to honor Stephen King’s original vision while delivering fresh, high-adrenaline entertainment.
