Glen Powell may be on his way to becoming the biggest action star in the world, and is always a prime casting possibility for any action thriller. However, his upcoming movie, The Running Man, doubles as a Stephen King adaptation, which comes with its own set of rules. While Powell seemed like the perfect choice for the lead role, the King of Horror had to weigh in first.
The Running Man is based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel and was previously adapted into a movie in 1987, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. It revolves around a televised compeтιтion where contestants called Runners go on the run for 30 days, pursued by professional ᴀssᴀssins all over the world — and if they survive the month, they win a life-changing fortune.
Powell stars as Ben Richards, who is convinced to compete for the money to pay for his sick daughter’s treatment. Powell’s adaptation of The Running Man is directed by Edgar Wright, who offered Powell the role — provisionally. Powell said at New York Comic Con 2025:
Edgar offered me this movie, and I was like, “Yes.” […] And then, like, later that night [Edgar says], “By the way, like, you have to be approved by Stephen King. He’s gonna watch Hit Man’ tonight.”
Powell continued: “And so I had to wait overnight for Stephen King to watch Hit Man and hope that I still had the role in the morning. It’s terrible.” However, King reportedly “loved” Hit Man and approved Powell for the lead role in The Running Man, which releases theatrically on November 14.
Since his breakout in Top Gun: Maverick, Powell has appeared to be the most sought-after actor for classic action roles in Hollywood. After playing Iceman’s successor Hangman, Powell won lead roles in Twisters, Anyone But You, Hit Man, and the TV series Chad Powers, and has several more upcoming projects.
The 2023 comedy crime romance that King surveyed to ᴀssess the actor’s talent, also starring Adria Arjona, was a hit on Netflix when it debuted and maintains a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, cementing it as one of Glen Powell’s best movies. Hit Man follows a professor moonlighting as a hit man who falls in love with a new client, markedly different from The Running Man.
On a different note, Powell and Wright are a very promising new collaboration that could allow The Running Man to hold up against the best Stephen King adaptations. Wright is known for directing such hits as Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and Last Night in Soho, but nothing illustrates his talent with stylish high-speed action better than 2017’s Baby Driver.
The Running Man also stars Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Katy O’Brian, Michael Cera, and Colman Domingo. While many moviegoers are likely already convinced that Powell will shine in the new adaptation, they will soon get to see exactly how he makes this role his own.
