(L to R) Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo star in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man.’
‘The Running Man’ is not necessarily the movie you might expect director Edgar Wright to make; he’s brought his own zippy visual style to genre comedies set in the horror, cop and alien invasion world, but has also plowed his own lane with the likes of ‘Last Night in Soho.’
Still, he does everything he can to liven up a fairly –– yet not completely straightforward studio wannabe blockbuster.
Script and Direction
Director Edgar Wright on the set of Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man,’ starring Glen Powell.
Wright, working alongside Michael Bacall (with whom he adapted the box office flop-turned-cult favorite ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’) here sets his sights on Stephen King’s darkly dystopian tale of a working man trying to help his family by entering America’s most dangerous game show.
In places, it’s almost surprising that Paramount, with its recent, shall we say, political moves, is still putting this one out, since it takes the prescient King book as its basis and mostly smartly updates it for our trying times.
There is a problem inherent in movies such as this which the new ‘Running Man’ (let’s not forget there was a much looser adaptation in the 1980s starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) in that it is tempted to batter you over the head with its message as much as possible. Wright and Bacall don’t entirely escape that particular sinkhole, but they do at least inject plenty of dark humor in to the screenplay.
And as a director, Wright has always been a dynamic craftsman –– while he tones things down here from the days of ‘Shaun of the Dead,’ there is plenty of his flare on display.
Cast and Performances
Glen Powell stars in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
Glen Powell is really the only person who gets much screentime, and he’s a charismatic central figure who can get across the burning anger of his character.
But on the supporting front, the likes of William H. Macy, Colman Domingo and particularly the director’s ‘Scott Pilgrim’ star Michael Cera have fun in different types of roles.
Final Thoughts
Colman Domingo stars in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
‘The Running Man’ certainly delivers on the action side of things, and some of its satirical message really hits home. It’s just a problem that it goes on too long with diminishing returns and ultimately wimps out (no spoilers) on King’s big finish.
‘The Running Man’ receives 70 out of 100.
Josh Brolin stars in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
What’s the story of ‘The Running Man’?
Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by The Running Man’s charming but ruthless producer to enter the deadly competition game as a last resort.
But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite – and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Running Man’?
Glen Powell as Ben Richards
Josh Brolin as Dan Killian
Colman Domingo as Bobby “Bobby T” Thompson
William H. Macy as Molie Jernigan
Lee Pace as Evan McCone
Michael Cera as Elton Parrakis
Emilia Jones as Amelia Williams
Katy O’Brian as Laughlin
(L to R) Josh Brolin and Director Edgar Wright on the set of Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
Glen Powell is attached to a new movie about firefighters.
Ron Howard is aboard to direct.
Amazon MGM has picked up the project.
Glen Powell could truly be described as one of the hottest rising stars around right now, and his plan to team up with veteran filmmaker Ron Howard could be something really hot –– literally.
According to reporter Jeff Sneider, Powell and Howard are joining forces to develop a new movie about firefighters that the former would star in and the latter would direct.
The new movie, which is currently untitled, will come with a script from ‘Birds of Prey’ and ‘Bumblebee’ writer Christina Hodson, who Powell and Howard got in touch with and asked to pitch ideas. And Amazon MGM Studios has snapped up the pitch project with the three attached.
Powell would produce via his Barnstorm company, alongside Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment.
(L to R) Kurt Russell and William Baldwin in ‘Backdraft’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Hodson’s script is largely under wraps, but we do have a few details.
The story is apparently about disparate childhood friends, now elite firefighters, who must rekindle their fractured relationship when a series of deadly fires sweep across Texas.
Certainly sounds like something that would fit Powell’s style, and it’s not like Ron Howard doesn’t have experience bringing fearsome cinematic fire to life.
That movie was so successful that it spawned an attraction at several Universal Studios theme parks. A 2019 sequel popped up, featuring some of the cast (including Baldwin and Donald Sutherland) but Howard had little involvement beyond an executive producer credit.
And indeed, there was chatter last year about a potential ‘Backdraft’ remake with Brian Grazer’s backing, and that included talk of Powell potentially being involved.
Here’s what Grazer had to say:
“Imagine [Entertainment] has always played in that zone where there is that chance, high probability of chance, that it [a movie] will be successful in a movie theater. It’s great for us because we’ve built, over 30 years, over 100 different products –– brands. Whether it’s ‘Backdraft’ which I’m now going to do today with Glen Powell, or whether it’s 24, a movie that we’re going to do in a very interesting way with Disney-Fox.”
We haven’t heard anything about a formal ‘Backdraft’ remake since then, but this sounds awfully like a new take on that concept, given it’ll be about strained relationships between firefighters who must team up to tackle new blazes.
Where else can we see Glen Powell?
Glen Powell as Tyler in ‘Twisters’, directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
Even though he’s said he’s trying to take a break of late, Powell has been as busy as ever.
The actor, who was last seen in ‘Twisters’ will next star in the Hulu comedy series ‘Chad Powers,’ which follows a disgraced college quarterback named Russ Holliday who disguises himself as Chad Powers and walks onto a struggling southern football team to revive his football career.
On the big screen, he’ll be seen in Paramount’s adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘The Running Man’ from director Edgar Wright. That one will be in theaters on November 7th.
There is also John Patton Ford’s ‘Huntingdon’, about a young man who hatches a murderous plot to inherit his family’s wealth, which has yet to score a release date.
And he’s been working on J.J. Abrams’ mysterious new movie, which might be called ‘Ghostwriter’ and co-stars Jenna Ortega.
Beyond those, he recently entered a first-look deal through Barnstorm with Universal, which will begin with the upcoming ‘The Natural Order’ directed by Barry Jenkins.
Finally, he’s attached to the likes of John Lee Hancock’s ‘Monsanto’ and an untitled new comedy that Judd Apatow has been developing to direct.
What else is Ron Howard working on?
Ron Howard in ‘The Studio,’ now streaming on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
Howard is no slouch in the working hard department either. You might have caught him recently playing a version of himself on Apple TV+ series ‘The Studio’ and he also has a thriller called ‘Eden’ on the way.
That movie follows a group of people fueled by a profound desire for change; in order to turn their back to society they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos.
It’ll be out on August 22nd.
And given how active Howard is as a producer, there is a laundry list of projects that he’s involved in, too many to document here.
When will the new firefighter movie be on screens?
Despite the seeming drawing power of both Powell and Howard, Amazon MGM has picked this up as a pitch and there’s still a chance it could fall into development limbo.
(L to R) Seth Rogen and Ron Howard in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
Paramount offered news on some of its upcoming movies at its CinemaCon Presentation.
‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ and ‘The Running Man’ were among those hyped.
Surprisingly little was said about ‘Scream 7’ and a few other big titles.
Paramount had a very mixed 2024. Though the likes of ‘Gladiator II,’ ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ and ‘Smile 2’ did decent business, the studio also had its share of disappointments –– despite a compelling subject matter in musician Robbie Williams (albeit one unfamiliar to many in the States) and the intriguing choice to portray him entirely as a CGI ape, ‘Better Man’ became a domestic flop.
The studio is also dealing with being in flux in terms of management, with Skydance merger battling its way to closure.
More importantly, 2025 is ‘Mission’ critical, and by that, we mean ‘Mission: Impossible –– The Final Reckoning,’ which needs to reassure theater chain owners that the franchise can get back to its glory days after the disappointing returns for 2023’s ‘Dead Reckoning.’
Tom Cruise attends the Abu Dhabi Red Carpet and Premiere of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ presented by Paramount Pictures and Skydance at Emirates Palace Hotel on June 26, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Darren Arthur/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.
Not to mention that this is potentially the actual final ‘Mission: Impossible,’ at least starring Tom Cruise in his ongoing collaboration with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie. The big question: would the company announce that this really is the last chapter in a saga that began back in the 1990s (at least in movie terms), as a way to goose interest? Or would it confidently confirm that, like James Bond, Ethan Hunt would return?
Either way, the CinemaCon presentation was likely to feature Tom Cruise in some fashion –– be it on stage, or on video clinging to a plane, train or automobile (or building).
Or even, possibly just on screen holding his breath underwater during the entire panel, simply to prove he can.
Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
And now, on with the show…
Stunts are often something studios like to roll out, so Paramount kicked off with Chris Aronson, president of domestic distribution riding a motorcycle on stage. He rode off to be replaced by three other riders, who did jumps off ramps and flips, all with smoke and explosions. Aronson was back to announce, “that’s right, I do my own stunts!”
He also talked up the company’s efforts to make 2025 a rebound year after the strikes and pledged to show fewer ads and trailers in theaters (phew!), plus other deals such as discount Wednesdays and extended matinee hours.
Following a sizzle reel of Paramount Pictures past and future, Brian Robbins, president and CEO took the stage to announce big news… Four ‘Paw Patrol’ movies for each pup to compete with Sony’s Beatles movies. He was joking of course. Or was he???!!
(L to R) Callum Shoniker as “Rocky,” Christian Corrao as “Marshall,” Luxton Handspiker as “Rubble,” Nylan Parthipan as “Zuma,” Christian Convery as “Chase,” McKenna Grace as “Skye,” Marsai Martin as “Liberty,” Alan Kim as “Nano,” Finn Lee-Epp as “Ryder,” North West as “Mini,” and Brice Gonzalez as “Tot” in ‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’ from Spin Master Entertainment, Nickelodeon Movies, and Paramount Pictures.
Robbins also said that the studio’s guiding principle is shareholder… Sorry, that people love going to the movies.
Co-writer/director Edgar Wright was on stage to tout the Glen Powell-starring new version of the dystopian King story where civilians compete in deadly games to win cash prizes.
‘The Running Man,’ is per Wright is “the kind of movie that gives everyone something to cheer for.” He explained that since the source novel is set in 2025, so is the movie.
And talking of cheering, he was joined by star Powell on stage.
Powell said:
“This is the full meal. What Edgar has cooked up with this one is nothing short of extraordinary,”
The actor joked that he asked pal and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ boss Tom Cruise for advice on using a stunt double –– and has paid the price for doing so much himself.
“We knew we were part of something really special,” gushed Domingo, while Brolin admitted it was a thrill to play a wonderfully maniacal character.
Despite the movie having wrapped three short weeks ago, Domingo (dropping into character as show host Bobby Thompson) was able to cue up some footage, and a first look played.
In an extended trailer, Brolin’s executive character recruits Glen for show to protect his family. Lots of action. We see him in show and then being chased.
‘The Running Man’ sprints into theaters on November 7th.
The latest take on the little blue creatures features, as previously mentioned, Rihanna (who touted the movie in a video introduction) as the voice of Smurfette, in the story of Papa Smurf being kidnapped and the others having to find him.
The first trailer for the new animated/live-action outing was shown, showing how our diminutive heroes travel to the real world in search of Papa and encounter Ken, his brother (Offerman).
‘Smurfs’ will smurf its way into theaters on July 18th.
The latest SpongeBob film had voice star Tom Kenny on stage to talk up the movie, (he called it a “coming of age” story), joined by fellow performer Mark Hamill. Cue the ‘Corvette Summer’ jokes!
Hamill –– who plays the Flying Dutchman –– made the crowd laugh by saying,
“I did an episode in Season Five and I did such a good job they asked me back 18 years later!”
We got a first look at the film itself. Like ‘Smurfs,’ (and some other SpongeBob outings) it blends animation with live action, and features Clancy Brown as Blackbeard. The story finds out hero wanting to grow up and embrace his macho side by having more adventures –– including to the underworld.
‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ will sail into theaters on December 19th.
Liam Neeson plays Frank in ‘The Naked Gun’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
The new reboot of the classic comedy franchise –– spawned, let’s not forget from the files of ‘Police Squad’ is a Seth MacFarlane-produced take on the idea with Liam Neeson and Paul Walter Hauser among the cast.
‘Naked Gun’s presentation kicked off with a saxophone player on stage pumping out noir-y music as Chris Aronson stood silently on stage, while a recorded voice-over played over the speakers as if his internal monologue was happening in real time.
Best line?
“This musician sounds expensive, but this is Vegas, you have to pay for good sax…”
The teaser was shown, which you can find here:
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It’s a funny clip, introducing Neeson’s badass Frank Jr taking out bank robbers, only slightly undercut by being dressed as a Catholic schoolgirl complete with panties. Bonus points for a fun final gag featuring a wall of tributes to dead cops, crying sons honoring their fathers and possibly the best way to incorporate OJ Simpson (who played Nordberg in the original).
‘The Naked Gun’ stumbles on to screens on August 1st.
He cued the first trailer for the movie, a biopic of the fugitive Jeffrey Manchester, a former United States Army Reserve officer, known colloquially as “Roofman” due to his propensity to steal from branches of McDonald’s after entering their premises via the roof, and, after he was jailed and got out evaded further capture from police by hiding in the wall of a Toys ‘R’ Us store.
(L to R) Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, Greg Tarzan Davis plays Degas, Simon Pegg plays Benji Dunn and Hayley Atwell plays Grace in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Paramount’s Robbins returned to the stage to introduce the one, the only Tom Cruise, who got a rapturous reception.
Instead of launching into promotion, Cruise took a moment to memorialize friend and ‘Top Gun’ co-star Val Kilmer, who recently died.
“I can’t tell you how much I respected his work and to have him in ‘Top Gun’ and back for ‘Maverick.’ Thank you, Val. I wish you well on your next journey.”
(L to R) Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
From there, he enthused about ‘Mission’ writer/director Chris McQuarrie, with Cruise mentioning how long they’ve been collaborating (on the Ethan Hunt movies and beyond). He even joked that people think “McQ” (as Tom calls him) is Jonathan Lipnicki from ‘Jerry Maguire’ all grown up!
Cruise went on to talk about how the ‘Mission’ movies are a puzzle and a Rubik’s Cube made under intense pressure, living breathing things where endless discoveries are made in the process.
(L to R) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
They also discussed how Cruise brought McQuarrie in to rewrite scenes in ‘Ghost Protocol’ but didn’t tell Brad Bird or the rest of cast. Brad and Simon Pegg said on set, “who is this guy?” Tom replied, “That’s McQ”. Apparently McQuarrie came up with the “Blue is glue, red is dead” stunt scene on the spot in Dubai.
There was also time for Cruise to add that he’s looking forward to seeing ‘F1’ and his recollections of racing go-karts against friend Brad Pitt (who stars in that movie) while making ‘Interview with the Vampire’ together.
(L to R) Damson Idris and Brad Pitt in ‘F1’. Photo: Warner Bros. and Apple Original FIlms.
Switching tracks back to ‘Mission,’ Cruise stressed the challenges and importance of shooting in the pandemic, keeping crews working and the industry going.
“We were able to deliver these movies to theaters despite being shut down by pandemic and two strikes.”
Cruise then introduced McQuarrie himself, who strode on stage and quipped:
“Tom knows I can’t stand compliments, he’s enjoying this immensely…”
He’ll have to suffer more, as he’s receiving the Director of the Year award at the CinemaCon awards later.
Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
He offers that he was ready to quit the business, but Cruise saw potential in him.
Cruise: “I’m here today because if your vision and trust.”
And for McQ’s side:
“It’s been fun to work with you and put you in harm’s way for everyone’s pleasure.”
The new ‘Mission’ movie contains some of the most complex practical sequences on celluloid –– not that that should be surprising from these two.
(R to L) Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Admitting that they’d be nowhere without audiences, Cruise introduced the new ‘Final Reckoning’ trailer, but not before name-checking every writer and director who has worked on the franchise so far, plus the executive likes of Sherry Lansing, Sumner Redstone and Paula Wagner too.
Then, it was time for the trailer itself, which sometimes felt like an expanded version of the teaser that arrived last year.
Lots of Ethan Hunt action (of course!) with Tom leaping off and onto things, plus a look at some newer cast members including Nick Offerman and Janet McTeer. It also serves as a love-letter to the whole franchise.
(L to R) Nick Offerman, Charles Parnell, Angela Bassett, Mark Gatiss and Janet McTeer in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Indeed, the ‘Mission’ portion of the presentation felt like that too –– while no one said directly it’s the end, this felt pretty final. Until they announce the next one, that is…
‘Mission: Impossible –– The Final Reckoning’ speeds into cinemas on May 23rd.
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And talking of finality, there ended the Paramount CinemaCon 2025 presentation!
(L to R) Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt and Simon Pegg plays Benji Dunn in ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
(Left) Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in ‘Rustin.’ Photo: David Lee/Netflix. (Right) Richard Dawson in ‘The Running Man’. Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.
Preview:
Colman Domingo has joined the cast of director Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man,’ a new adaptation of the early dystopian novel by Stephen King.
Domingo will play the host of a deadly TV reality show in which one person is pursued around the world by hunters, with all looking to win a cash prize.
The role of the host was played by actor and real-life game show host Richard Dawson in the 1987 version of the story, opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin “Ben” Richards in ‘The Running Man.’ Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.
‘The Running Man’ is based on an early novel by Stephen King, published in 1982 under the name Richard Bachman. The book, set in a totalitarian United States in the year 2025 (!), follows a man named Ben Richards who, out of work and desperate for money to get medicine for his gravely ill daughter, becomes a contestant on the enormously popular title program, in which one person is pursued by a team of assassins sent to kill them. Paid $100 for every hour he survives and for every hunter he kills, Richards can earn $1 billion if he stays alive for 30 days.
The 1987 film based on the novel, directed by former ‘Starsky and Hutch’ star Paul Michael Glaser and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Richards, took a lot of liberties with King’s novel, turning his grim thriller into a much more colorful and even campy action-adventure ride. Wright’s adaptation seems likely to stay more faithful to the original text, although it seems to have retained the element of having multiple contestants in the game instead of just one.
(L to R) Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Dawson in ‘The Running Man.’ Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.
In the novel, the main villain is Dan Killian, the head of the TV network, while the game’s host, Bobby Thompson, is a less important character. For the 1987 film, the two were combined as Damon Killian, played by Richard Dawson. An actor by trade, Dawson was best known at the time as the host of the real-life game show ‘Family Feud,’ and his scenery-chewing antics in the movie arguably stole the show from its muscle-bound star.
Josh Brolin will play Dan Killian in Wright’s ‘The Running Man,’ but with the hiring of Domingo, the role of Thompson seems likely to be a more important part of the proceedings as well. Domingo is currently favored for a best actor Oscar nomination for his lead role in the acclaimed ‘Sing Sing,’ and in addition to his Emmy-winning recurring character on HBO’s ‘Euphoria,’ his other credits include ‘Rustin’ (for which he was also Oscar-nominated), ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ ‘The Color Purple,’ and a main role on ‘Fear the Walking Dead.’
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin “Ben” Richards in ‘The Running Man.’ Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.
Glen Powell is starring in a new erotic thriller called ‘Homewreckers.’
It’ll adapt a short story by Neil M. Paik.
Various studios are vying for the rights to produce it.
Though his star has been rising for some time –– partially thanks to a big breakthrough in ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ 2024 can be said to be the year of Glen Powell.
And it looks like it’s ending on a positive note, as a film he’s attached to star in is now at the center of a bidding contest between various studios.
The movie in question is an adaptation of a Neil M. Paik short story called ‘Homewreckers,’ which has been recently picked up by Legendary Pictures.
Paik’s story –– an unpublished three-chapter tale –– is being kept under wraps for now, at least outside of those who are trying to buy the movie project.
Legendary, Lionsgate, New Regency, Sony and Warner Bros. are among the companies making offers and in the mix for the project, which was unveiled to the town earlier this week.
Paik is one of those authors who has developed a talent for turning his short stories into coveted projects: ‘Reawakening,’ published by Six by Eight Press, was set up at Amazon as a series with ‘The Chi’s Lena Waithe overseeing it, also after a competitive situation. Another short story, ‘Rainbowfish,’ was set up at Warners.
With Powell aboard this one, it has an even better chance of making it through development, though obviously needs a writer and director attached.
What else has Glen Powell been seen in?
Glen Powell as Tyler in ‘Twisters’, directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
As mentioned, Powell is having a great year –– he began with ‘Anyone But You’ (technically released at the end of 2023 but a box office sensation by the time 2024).
It continued thanks to ‘Hit Man,’ the Netflix romantic comedy thriller, which he also co-wrote and produced.
That landed strong reviews and earned him a Golden Globe nomination earlier this week. And he starred in ‘Twisters,’ Universal’s update to the 1990s tornado flick. It proved popular with summer audiences, whipping up more than $370 million worldwide.
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Despite taking some time out to complete college courses, Powell shows no sign of slowing down, having shot TV series ‘Chad Powers’ and comedy thriller movie ‘Huntington.’
With the director is busy building the cast for his latest movie (more on that below), he’s now adding Jackson to the list.
What’s the story of J.J. Abrams’ new film?
(L to R) Composer Michael Giacchino and director J.J. Abrams on the set of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’ Photo courtesy of Michael Giacchino’s Twitter.
In keeping with much of J.J. Abrams’ past work, this new movie is wrapped in secrecy for now –– while there was some chatter about time travel as a subject matter, that has been debunked (unless Abrams went back in time to fix things!)
But his return to theatrical features is a welcome one –– since wrapping up the ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy with ‘The Rise of Skywalker,’ Abrams has been pretty quiet on the movie front, at least as director.
He’s been throwing himself more into TV as a producer, and helping shepherd a few other filmmakers’ projects to screens.
Who else is in Abrams’ new movie?
Glen Powell stars in ‘Hit Man’. Photo: Netflix.
As with Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Abrams is the sort of director who can lock down pretty much any talent that he requires, short of them being unavailable.
As with everything to do with the movie, we don’t know what roles that ensemble will be taking, as the only concrete information appears to be a plan to shoot in the tax-break friendly studio spaces of the UK next spring.
The latest project under the writer/director/producer’s longstanding deal between his Bad Robot company and Warner Bros., the movie has yet to confirm a release date.
(Left) William H. Macy in ‘Fargo’. Photo: Gramercy Pictures. (Center) Michael Cera in ‘Superbad’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing. (Right) Emilia Jones in ‘CODA’. Photo: Apple Original Films.
Preview:
William H. Macy, Michael Cera and Emilia Jones are joining ‘The Running Man’
Glen Powell is starring alongside Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Katy O’Brian and Daniel Ezra.
Edgar Wright co-wrote and will direct the Stephen King adaptation.
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin “Ben” Richards in ‘The Running Man.’
‘The Running Man,’ which King published in 1982 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses.
The story centered on one desperate man, needing money for his gravely sick daughter, who joins the most popular show, ‘The Running Man,’ in which teams of killers hunt down contestants. The longer that a contestant survives, the more money that person makes. But as the game show’s producers and killers will find out, our conflicted hero will break all the rules and expose the show’s dark secrets.
Powell is playing the main character, while O’Brian would be one of the other contestants.
What do we know about the new recruits for the movie?
Brolin, meanwhile, stars as the ruthless producer of the game show, and Pace is the brutal chief hunter tracking down Powell.
Cera (who starred in ‘Scott Pilgrim’ for the director) will be a naïve rebel who tries to help the desperate man, while Jones is playing a privileged woman blind to the oppression of the government.
The dystopian tale has already seen screens before –– it was adapted into a 1987 action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (then at the height of his movie stardom), which, while it’s far from excellent, has long developed a cult following.
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin “Ben” Richards in ‘The Running Man.’
‘Running Man,’ which King published in 1982 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses.
The story centered on one desperate man, needing money for his gravely sick daughter, who joins the most popular show, ‘The Running Man,’ in which teams of killers hunt down contestants. The longer that a contestant survives, the more money that person makes. But as the game show’s producers and killers will find out, our conflicted hero will break all the rules and expose the show’s dark secrets.
Powell is playing the main character, while O’Brian would be one of the other contestants.
Ezra and Glusman’s roles have yet to be revealed, but Brolin, making an appearance at the New York Comic-Con, announced he’ll be playing the villain in the movie, and Deadline has heard that means the antagonist behind the whole show.
The dystopian tale has already seen screens before –– it was adapted into a 1987 action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (then at the height of his movie stardom), which, while it’s far from excellent, has a cult following.
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin “Ben” Richards in ‘The Running Man.’
‘Running Man,’ which King published in 1982 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses.
The story centered on one desperate man, needing money for his sick daughter, who joins the most popular show, ‘The Running Man,’ in which teams of killers hunt down contestants. The longer that a contestant survives, the more money that person makes. But as the game show’s producers and killers will find out, our conflicted hero will break all the rules and expose the show’s dark secrets.
Powell is playing the main character, while O’Brian would be one of the other contestants –– though given her background in bodybuilding, we could also see her as one of the show’s stars whom Powell has to defeat.
While ‘Love Lives Bleeding,’ (in which she co-starred opposite Kristen Stewart) brought her a lot of attention, Katy O’Brian has been working steadily for years.
Next up for her in release date terms is an unknown role in the next ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie, which lands in theaters on May 23rd next year.
And ‘The Running Man’ won’t even represent her first collaboration with Powell, as she was also seen as part of his crew in this summer’s disaster movie hit ‘Twisters.’
Jenna Ortega as Cairo Sweet in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘Miller’s Girl,’ a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Zac Popik.
Preview:
Jenna Ortega is reportedly in final talks for J.J. Abrams’ new film.
Glen Powell is making his own deal to star.
Warner Bros. is backing the new movie.
If we know anything about J.J. Abrams, it’s that the man loves a mystery. In fact, he became famous for his “mystery box’” filmmaking as both a director and producer.
It’s perhaps not shocking then, that much about his next movie –– his first as a director since 2019’s ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ –– is being kept under wraps.
But according to Deadline, we are at least learning –– assuming it all works out –– who could end up starring, as both Jenna Ortega and Glen Powell are reportedly making deals to appear.
Can the polar bear from ‘Lost’ be far behind? Okay, probably not, but you can already sense Abrams’ old friend and frequent cinematic lucky charm Greg Grunberg waiting to see how he might be included.
(L to R) Composer Michael Giacchino and director J.J. Abrams on the set of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’ Photo courtesy of Michael Giacchino’s Twitter.
As we mention above, this one is a big ol’ mystery. No plot details have emerged (there was some chatter about it being a time travel tale, but that has since been denied) and the title remains locked in a vault somewhere.
Abrams wrote the script for the new movie and his Bad Robot company is naturally involved to produce. It’ll be released by Warner Bros’. but beyond that… your guess is as good as ours.
What else are Jenna Ortega and Glen Powell working on?
Glen Powell as Tyler in ‘Twisters’, directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
Ortega is in high demand of late thanks to her star-making turns in the recent ‘Scream’ outings and Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’.
Next up for her in terms of release date is a reunion with ‘Wednesday’ director Tim Burton for ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’, with the supernatural comedy sequel due to premiere at the Venice Film Festival ahead of its September 6th arrival.
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She’s also part of the cast for Taika Waititi’s sci-fi pic ‘Klara and the Sun’ and Alex Scharfman’s comedy ‘Death of a Unicorn’ which also stars Paul Rudd and Will Poulter. Finally, she’s been busy shooting a second season of ‘Wednesday’.
As for Powell, he’s enjoying success on screen with ‘Twisters’, which is doing solid business. The actor has been working on comedy thriller ‘Huntington’ and will star for Edgar Wright in a remake of ‘The Running Man’ and John Lee Hancock’s legal true story ‘Monsanto’. Plus, he’s been talking of late of having been told the date he’ll need to be ready to shoot another ‘Top Gun’ movie.
When will the new Abrams movie be in theaters?
Among the many details that Abrams and co. are keeping quiet for now is any potential release date for the movie. We have to assume that someone at Abrams’ level can demand not to lock down a date until he’s ready to commit to something, though Warners will no doubt hope this can hit cinemas as soon as possible.
Jenna Ortega attends the world premiere of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ on November 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix.
