Glen Powell is showcasing his action star talents in Edgar Wright’s highly anticipated film The Running Man. In this movie, Powell takes the lead as one of the numerous American participants in a deadly game show where ruthless Hunters pursue contestants worldwide. Colman Domingo features as the host of the reality show, while Wright reunites with his Scott Pilgrim vs. the World collaborator Michael Cera, who is also part of the ensemble cast.
Based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel that was published under the pen name Richard Bachman, The Running Man has been adapted by Wright alongside Scott Pilgrim vs. the World screenwriter Michael Bacall. Wright has previously stated that this adaptation will remain truer to the original material than Paul Michael Glaser’s 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Both the novel and the earlier film were set in 2025, with Wright’s version set to premiere this year.
The cast also includes Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Katy O’Brian, William H. Macy, Emilia Jones, David Zayas, and Sean Hayes.
In a December 2023 appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Wright expressed his belief that the novel deserved a proper cinematic adaptation. “While I enjoy the film, I prefer the book, and it didn’t genuinely reflect the source material. Even as a teen, I thought, ‘This isn’t like the book at all!’ after watching the Schwarzenegger movie,” Wright stated. “I think it’s time someone truly adapted that book.”
At CinemaCon 2025, lead actor Powell hinted that The Running Man was one of his most challenging roles to date, declaring, “I’ve never put in as much effort on a film before.” Powell also shared with IndieWire that shooting the blockbuster felt “surreal,” particularly his experience at Wembley Stadium.
“We’re working on a pretty wild sequence in The Running Man, he mentioned. “For a week, we practically took over Wembley. That venue became my office. One of the boxes at Wembley served as my holding area, and that was where I got my hair and makeup done. We filmed an action scene inside the building, which made for a pretty surreal day.“
Paramount Pictures is scheduled to release The Running Man in theaters on Friday, November 7.
Be sure to check out the trailer below.
