OPINION: Some critics might disagree, but Glen Powell’s latest film, The Running Man remake, is the exact role the Hollywood star needed at this stage of his career.
To be clear, I thought Powell put on a standout performance in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, also starring his friend and mentor Tom Cruise and the late Val Kilmer. He also proved himself an action man in last year’s Twisters.
However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of his work in the rom-com Anyone But You, co-starring Sydney Sweeney.
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Much as I like the lead actors, I found it a little cheesy at times and it didn’t fully show off Powell’s acting prowess.
But with Twisters and The Running Man – out in Australian cinemas today – the American actor, 37, has well and truly cemented himself as Hollywood’s next big action star. And that’s no mean feat.
Powell puts on a thrilling and intense performance, portraying Ben Richards: a dad competing in a wild TV show in which he’s chased by assassins to win money for his struggling family and sick daughter in a dystopian world.
At times, when there’s a small break from the action-packed scenes, Powell gives an emotional performance as his character goes through the ups and downs and motions of the life-threatening show, and it was a side I loved to see from the actor.
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The Running Man is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, and the original 1987 film starred action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger.
2025’s iteration, directed by Edgar Wright, has so far scored 61 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and 91 per cent of Google users “liked the film” according to the site.
Powell’s performance was aided by the strong performances of co-stars including Josh Brolin, Lee Pace and Colman Domingo.
The actor told People The Terminator star Schwarzenegger gave the project “his blessing”.
“Arnold gave us his full blessing and we get to give Arnold a very specific fun gift from the movie in a couple of weeks here. So I’m very excited to see him,” he told the outlet.
There’s another powerful man in Powell’s corner, too: Tom Cruise.
Cruise, 63, has publicly supported the actor during his promotional trail for this film, along with his previous projects, after they shared the screen in Top Gun: Maverick.
Powell shared pictures of the pair together at a screening just days ago.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQuZ5HxgLhR/?igsh=ajdjemM5YWM5MmF4
Powell previously revealed the megastar, known for films including the Top Gun and Mission Impossible film series, has been a mentor to him.
Speaking to People about Cruise’s help and his role in the Top Gun sequel, a role he initally turned down, Powell said: “We sat down for a couple hours and talked about his life and his career and how he chooses movies, and how he develops roles and those sort of things.”
“And it was really a series of those conversations that convinced me that this could be a role that could actually be exciting, that I could have a little bit of creative license.”
He added the actor truly pulled through for him.
“And I have to give Tom credit, a lot of times people just try to get you on the hook to get you in a movie and none of the promises are fulfilled. But he fulfilled every single one of those promises.”
When Powell was offered the role in The Running Man, his first call was to Cruise for some guidance on leading an action-packed blockbuster.
It’s likely too early to say, but if his latest role is anything to go by, Powell could very well follow in his mentor’s footsteps and seize Hollywood’s ‘ultimate action man’ crown.
If you ask me, it’s probably wise for him to steer clear of the rom-coms.
The Running Man is out in Australian cinemas now, from November 13.
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