Glen Powell’s Casting in The Running Man Approved by Stephen King

NEW YORK — Glen Powell‘s casting in the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King‘s “The Running Man” was contingent on the author’s approval. During a panel at New York Comic Con, Powell shared that he had to wait for King to watch a previous performance before he could officially secure the lead role in the film.

Powell explained that after director Edgar Wright offered him the movie, he learned that King needed to be on board. Wright told Powell, “By the way, you have to be approved by Stephen King. He’s gonna watch ‘Hit Man’ tonight.” Powell reported he faced an anxious wait overnight to learn if he would keep the role.

Fortunately for Powell, King not only gave his approval for the actor but also praised the screenplay. Wright described presenting King with the script as nerve-racking, saying, “This is so nerve-wracking to hand in our homework to him. But he loved the screenplay, and so it was great.”

Powell’s recent success includes roles in films like “Anyone But You” and “Hitman,” and he credits his “Top Gun: Maverick” co-star Tom Cruise as a mentor. In speaking about his current trajectory, Powell remarked, “It’s been a surreal year.”

Wright’s version of “The Running Man” aims to be more faithful to King’s original novel than the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The new film is set for release on November 14, 2025. Powell stated that compared to the original, their adaptation is more action-packed and broader in scope, saying, “Ours is…more globe-trotting. It’s big. It’s fun.”

King’s endorsement has heightened anticipation for the film among fans of his work. Having seen an early version of the movie, King called it “fantastic” and noted it retains the grim social commentary of his original story.