Following his turns in “Hit Man,” “Anyone but You” and “Twisters,” Glen Powell is flexing his movie star chops as the lead of Edgar Wright’s remake of “The Running Man.”
Based on the the 1982 novel by Stephen King (which was then turned into a 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger), “The Running Man” takes place in a dystopian society where a game show pits contestants, called “runners,” against murderous killers (aka “hunters”).
According to the film’s synopsis, the Runners “must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the 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.”
Following “Last Night in Soho,” Wright is back in the director’s chair, bringing his usual energetic and stylized direction. In addition to Powell in the lead role, “The Running Man” also features Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”) as game show host Bobby Thompson, Katy O’Brian (“Love Lies Bleeding”) as a contestant, Josh Brolin (“No Country for Old Men”) as show producer Dan Killian, Lee Pace (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) as hunter Evan McCone and Michael Cera as Bradley, a rebel who helps Ben.
Wright co-wrote the script with Michael Bacall, known for writing “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” “21 Jump Street” and “Project X.”
“The Running Man” is set to release in theaters Nov. 7 from Paramount Pictures. Watch the trailer below.
Read the full article here
