Actor Glen Powell is opening up about the adrenaline-fueled experience of filming his latest movie, The Running Man — and it sounds like audiences will be seeing some very real reactions on screen.
The Twisters and Top Gun: Maverick star spoke exclusively to PEOPLE during New York Comic Con 2025, held at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, where he previewed the intense production process and the action-packed stunts that define the upcoming Paramount Pictures film.
Glen Powell Talks About Real Reactions During Dangerous Stunts
Powell, 36, shared that not every moment on set went as planned — but those unexpected twists made the film even more thrilling. “There were a few explosions that hit me in the face,” he admitted with a laugh. “And a fire extinguisher that exploded before it was supposed to — that definitely took me by surprise.”
The upcoming dystopian thriller, directed by Edgar Wright, reimagines the 1987 cult classic originally starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Powell takes on the role of Ben Richards, a man forced to compete in a brutal televised game show where contestants must outrun deadly “hunters” to win a life-saving prize for his sick daughter.
The film is based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel, written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, and features Wright’s signature blend of fast-paced visuals, dark humor, and high-octane action.
“They Let the Cable Loose a Little Early”
Among the movie’s many jaw-dropping sequences, Powell recalled one moment that gave him a literal scare — a scene that left him dangling from a skyscraper.
“They let a cable loose a little before I thought it was going to be let loose,” he said. “If you fall even just a couple of feet down the side of a building when you’re not expecting it, it’s a little nerve-racking.”
Those authentic moments, Powell said, add realism and energy to the finished product. “I always try to keep myself surprised because that’s all the good stuff,” he explained. “You never want to be too surefooted on a set.”
Explosive Action and “Badass” Fight Sequences
Powell promised fans a relentless pace from start to finish. “There’s a lot of action — it’s non-stop,” he teased. “Lee Pace and I have a really cool action scene in the third act that’s pretty badass.”
The actor also highlighted a memorable stunt involving a bridge explosion and a sequence of intense hand-to-hand combat, both of which left him exhilarated — and slightly bruised.
With Wright at the helm and a screenplay co-written by Michael Bacall, the creative team behind Scott Pilgrim vs. the World reunites to deliver a sleek, high-tech reinvention of the Running Man universe.
A Star-Studded Cast and New Vision
In addition to Powell, The Running Man features an ensemble cast that includes Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Katy O’Brian, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, William H. Macy, and Michael Cera.
The film blends satire, action, and futuristic spectacle, exploring media obsession, surveillance culture, and survival in a world where entertainment has deadly consequences.
Powell’s modern take on the Richards character combines emotional depth with physical intensity — a performance that promises to redefine the role made famous by Schwarzenegger.
Directed by Edgar Wright — In Theaters November 14
The Running Man marks another major directorial outing for Edgar Wright, known for Baby Driver, Hot Fuzz, and Shaun of the Dead. His fast-paced, music-driven filmmaking style is expected to inject new energy into the sci-fi thriller, making it one of the most anticipated releases of 2025.
Fans can catch The Running Man when it hits theaters November 14, 2025.
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