NYCC 2025: What We Learned About Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man’
the year of stephen king adaptations continues with wright’s latest action film - a star vehicle for glen powell
Edgar Wright’s new take on Stephen King’s ‘The Running Man’ is one of the fall movie season’s biggest releases, serving as a star vehicle for the ever-popular Glen Powell, leading an action film for the first time. Many may be familiar with the source material from its 1987 film adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, a more colourful, heightened take on the dystopian game show story. Wright, Powell, and the film’s villain, Lee Pace, took to the convention’s prized Empire Stage to talk about what makes their new adaptation closer to the source material, while upping the ante, showcasing an elapsed twelve minutes of footage from the film, exclusively to the NYCC audience.
Panel host Perri Nemiroff recalled a tweet from many years ago in which Wright expressed interest in readapting The Running Man for the big screen, asking him what makes this new version worthwhile. Wright responded, “I always felt like there was a whole part of the story that hadn’t been adapted. My favourite remakes are the kinds that do something different from the other ones, so this is not an attempt to remake that (1987 film) but this is something that is more faithful to the book.” The footage screened at the panel showcases very frantic action sequences, laced with Edgar Wright’s knack for comedy, with a undercurrent of clear danger running throughout. The film’s main aesthetics show a more grounded and grungy take on The Running Man, with distinct citiscapes being juxtaposed to the artificial glamour of the totalitarian game show environment. Wright further revealed that a whopping 168 practical sets were used for The Running Man, the most of his career thus far. Wright acknowledged how topical the source material has become, with both ‘reality’ TV and exploitative powers prevalent as ever, also noting that the original story was set in 2025. “We’ve had nearly thirty years of reality shows that are closer to the book, and so it was an amazing thing to make this movie, picking things from reality shows from all over the world, with the formats and the designs… I think the game show set (in the film) looks like UFC meets American Idol.” Wright further teased that the film would aspire for a timeless quality despite the coincidence. “We don’t say in the movie, what year it is. It’s not in the script, and we don’t say it, and we kind of just act like it’s a different tomorrow.”
Powell has emerged as one of the decade’s leading men on-screen, shining in distinctly American action films such as Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters, as well as comedies like Anyone But You and Hit-Man. Powell revealed that when he first moved to L.A to start his acting career, he made a list of directors he’d dreamed of working with, and Edgar Wright was atop the list. Beyond being a fan of Wright’s work and the source material, Powell revealed what really compelled him to accept Wright’s offer to lead the film, quoting Wright’s request of his performance, which was as follows. “I need bad mood Glen. I need to turn on something different in you”. Powell further teased how his role in The Running Man would differ from the blockbuster persona he’s accumulated thus far, stating, “Ben Richards is the ultimate underdog. He’s a normal guy who is facing off against the most powerful, oppressive system there is, so there’s no greater stakes nor smaller odds. He’s very frustrated with the system. He’s been very pushed down, he’s trying to provide for his family, and every other option has been taken away from him to do that.”
Lee Pace stars opposite Powell as chief hunter Macone, a masked figure who leads the hunt for Richards and his fellow game show contestants. The panel lauded the presence of the supporting cast in the film. Oscar nominee Colman Domingo appeared to the panel as game show host Bobby T, via a prerecorded introduction video that showed off the audacious, sadistic nature of the game show. The film’s main villain, Running Man creator Dan Killian, is played by Josh Brolin, sporting veneers and plastic surgery, in a new kind of role that Wright wanted to challenge Brolin with. Powell also mentioned his Twisters co-star Katy O’Brian’s role in Running Man, claiming that she would be a standout character, while also praising Daniel Ezra (All American) as the heart of the film. Wright briefly teased his reunion with Scott Pilgrim star Michael Cera, who is set to play a pivotal yet secretive role in the film. Lee Pace praised the involvement of rising star Emilia Jones (Coda). Sinners breakout Jayme Lawson stars as Richards’ wife Sheila, who is featured on the film’s poster.