Glen Powell Is Desperate to Win a Killer Competition Show in ‘The Running Man’ Trailer

Edgar Wright reimagines Stephen King’s dystopian thriller with Glen Powell racing for survival in a brutal, televised manhunt.

The game is survival — and Glen Powell is playing for keeps.

Paramount has dropped the first official trailer for The Running Man, Edgar Wright’s bold new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 dystopian novel. The film, set in a near-future America where contestants are hunted on live television for a growing cash prize, stars Powell as a desperate father competing to save his sick daughter — and himself.

“I have never worked harder on a movie in my life,” Powell told audiences at CinemaCon in April, where early footage first screened. With its November 7 release date locked, The Running Man looks primed to shake up the fall slate with a sharp mix of action, social satire, and heart.

This isn’t just another remake. Wright, known for stylish, high-concept hits like Baby Driver and Last Night in Soho, co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Bacall, crafting a new vision that’s more faithful to King’s original novel than the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger version. That version leaned into campy, high-octane thrills. Wright’s take is darker, smarter — and surprisingly emotional.

Powell, riding high from recent breakout roles in Anyone But You and Top Gun: Maverick, leads a formidable cast: Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, and Jayme Lawson all join the lethal proceedings. Behind the scenes, Wright produces alongside Simon Kinberg and Nira Park.

In this iteration of The Running Man, Powell plays a man who voluntarily enters the bloodsport in a final, harrowing attempt to secure funds for his daughter’s medical care. The contest is simple: survive for 30 days while being hunted by elite killers — and do it in front of millions of bloodthirsty viewers. As the trailer hints, he’s not just running from assassins. He’s running from a system designed to crush the desperate and reward spectacle over humanity.

King’s novel has long been hailed for its eerily accurate foresight into the rise of reality TV, influencer culture, and our appetite for violent entertainment. Wright’s version seems poised to tap into that commentary while delivering visceral, cinematic thrills.

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Powell has also shared that he reached out to Schwarzenegger for his blessing before taking on the role — and got it. “Arnold gave us his full blessing,” Powell said, noting the pair even coordinated a special nod to the original film.

Whether The Running Man will ignite awards buzz or simply dominate the box office remains to be seen. But with Wright at the helm and Powell in full sprint, this is one dystopian showdown you won’t want to miss.

The Running Man hits theaters November 7, 2025.

Watch The Trailer Below: