Glen Powell says he received Arnold Schwarzenegger’s full approval before stepping into the lead role for The Running Man, a new film directed by Edgar Wright and based on the 1982 novel by Stephen King.
Powell, who co-starred with Schwarzenegger in The Expendables 3, said he had not spoken with him in years but wanted to reconnect out of respect. “Patrick Schwarzenegger is a great friend of mine and I asked Patrick if I could talk to Arnold,” Powell told People during an interview at CinemaCon. “Arnold gave us his full blessing.”
Schwarzenegger starred in the 1987 adaptation, which was loosely inspired by King’s novel. Powell said he and Wright wanted to honor that version while approaching the new film from a different angle. He also mentioned that he plans to give Schwarzenegger a personalized item related to the production. “We get to give Arnold a very specific, fun gift from the movie in a couple of weeks here,” Powell said.
Powell joined Wright, along with actors Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo, on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 3 to promote the film and share early footage. The project is set for release on November 7.
Wright’s version of The Running Man stays closer to King’s original story, which was published under the name Richard Bachman. The narrative follows Ben Richards, a man who agrees to participate in a deadly televised game to earn money for his ill daughter. In a future society ruled by media-driven punishment, contestants on the show must evade professional killers in exchange for financial rewards.
Powell plays Richards, the reluctant contestant drawn into the competition. The film’s supporting cast includes William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, and Jayme Lawson. Wright directed the movie and co-produced it with Simon Kinberg and Nira Park. George Linder, James Biddle, Rachael Prior, and Audrey Chon served as executive producers.
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The original 1987 version emphasized satire and action, featuring Schwarzenegger as a framed man forced into a brutal game show. The upcoming adaptation uses the novel’s framework but shifts the motivation of the lead character toward providing for his child. This reworking of the story was part of what prompted Powell and Wright to speak with Schwarzenegger in advance.
Powell and Wright have continued to promote the film while keeping details limited. Early footage shown at CinemaCon focused on the high-stakes tone and action set pieces, along with glimpses of the show’s format and characters. The footage also introduced Powell’s interpretation of Ben Richards, which contrasts with the version portrayed by Schwarzenegger nearly four decades ago.
