The Running Manlooks to be one of 2025’s biggest movies due to the star power of its cast. TheoriginalThe Running Mannovel was published in 1982, and it’s still commonly regarded as one of prolific horror authorStephen King’s best books. In this case, the book is one of his infrequent ventures into other genres, as it’s a dystopian thriller. Less than a decade after the novel’s release,The Running Manwas adapted into a film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which was fairly successful. The 2025 version already seems more promising.
Before diving into the cast, it should be mentioned thatThe Running Manis being directed by filmmaker Edgar Wright (Baby Driver,Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), so there’s prestige behind the scenes. Wright joins the company of directors like Stanley Kubrick and Brian De Palma, who have directedadaptations of Stephen King’s work. As usual, Wright is compiling an outstanding cast of movie star talent, including one of Hollywood’s biggest rising stars, Glen Powell, who will play the main protagonist.
Date of Birth: July 05, 2025
Actor:Raised in Austen, Texas, Glen Powell was the first person announced as part ofThe Running Mancast who will be the main protagonist, Ben Richards.Powell rose to prominence after his role as Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin in the $1 billion action movieTop Gun: Maverick.Powell’s post-Maverickcareer has become a story to follow, as he’s since starred in the hit rom-comAnyone But Youalongside Sydney Sweeney, the Richard Linklater filmHit Man, and the action movieTwisters.Glen Powell has rocketed to the top, and he’s just getting started.
Twisters
Tyler Owens
Character:Ben Richards is a desperate man in a dystopian future who enters a violent reality show called The Running Man in order to win money to save his dying daughter.
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Katy O’Brian as Contestant
Date Of Birth: June 21, 2025
Actor:Martial artist-turned-actorKaty O’Brian’s major breakout movie was 2024’sLove Lies Bleeding, but she gained attention shortly before the Kristen Stewart-led film for her role as Imperial Officer Elia Kane inThe Mandalorianseason 3. O’Brian has been in all sorts of movies and TV shows, including numerous superhero projects likeBlack Lightning,Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., andAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Most recently, O’Brian appeared alongsideThe Running Manco-star Glenn Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones in the summer blockbusterTwisters.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
The Mandalorian
Elia Kane
Character:Katy O’Brian’s current role is listed as “Contestant,” meaning she could be an ally to Ben Richards in The Running Man game show.
Josh Brolin as Ruthless Producer
Date of Birth: June 24, 2025
Actor:Josh Brolin is an actor from Santa Monica, California, and had his breakout performance in the ’80s classic,The Goonies, where he played Brand. Over the next two decades, Brolin struggled to find prominent roles beforehis career resurgence in 2007 in the Best Picture-winnerNo Country for Old Men. In 2008, Brolin received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dan White inMilk. The actor is perhaps most widely recognizable for starring as Thanos inAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame, as well asSicarioand theDunemovies.
Men in Black 3
Dune & Dune: Part Two
Gurney Halleck
Character:Josh Brolin was cast to play a villain inThe Running Man, and his role as “Ruthless Producer” likely means he’ll be the brains behind the deadly game show.
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Edgar Wright is directing an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man, which will be completely unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 version.
Lee Pace as Chief Hunter
Date of Birth: August 21, 2025
Actor:Lee Pace is an American actor from Oklahoma who first gained recognition for starring in 2006’sThe Fall. However, it wasn’t until the 2010s that Pace’s career really began to kick off, starring in major movie franchises likeThe Hobbittrilogy, where he played Thranduil,Guardians of the Galaxy, where he played Ronan, andTwilight, where he played Garrett. Some of his most extensive and sophisticated performances have been on television, where he’s found success in series likePushing Daisies,Halt and Catch Fire, and most recently, Apple TV+‘sFoundation.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Halt and Catch Fire
Joe MacMillan
Character:In the Running Man game show, Ben Richards will be chased by various hunters. Lee Pace’s character is “Chief Hunter,” and he’ll be one of the main antagonists.
Karl Glusman
Date of Birth: June 02, 2025
Actor:Karl Glusman is an American actor from New York City who’s had leading and supporting roles in the works of various auteur filmmakers. Hisfirst leading movie role was in Gaspar Noé’s controversial 2015 filmLove, and he followed it up with roles inThe Neon DemonandNocturnal Animals. Since then, he’s appeared in various films and TV series, including Alex Garland’sCivil WarandDevs. He was seen most recently inThe Bikeriders, behind Austin Butler and Tom Hardy.
Daniel Ezra
Date of Birth: July 16, 2025
Actor:Daniel Ezra is aBritish actor from Birmingham who’s best known for his leading role on the CW seriesAll American, where he’s played Spencer James for six seasons. Since beginning the project, Ezra hasn’t had many opportunities to shine outside of it, meaning his role inThe Running Manwill be a massive step for the actor. He also had a role onA Discovery of Witchesbetween 2018 and 2022.
Character:Daniel Ezra’s character is currently unknown.
The Running Man
The Running Man centers on a man participating in a perilous game show where contestants evade deadly “Hunters” in a global pursuit.
