Tue Oct 21 01:10:00 UTC 2025: Summary:
Glen Powell had to undergo Stephen King’s approval after being offered the lead role in the upcoming adaptation of “The Running Man” directed by Edgar Wright. King watched Powell’s performance in “Hit Man” to determine if he was suitable for the role. This isn’t the first time King has retained casting approval rights for his book adaptations, as Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey also reportedly needed his approval for “The Dark Tower.”
News Article:
Glen Powell Awaited Stephen King’s Verdict for ‘The Running Man’ Lead
New York, NY – Hollywood heartthrob Glen Powell recently revealed that landing the lead role in the highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Running Man” wasn’t as simple as getting an offer from director Edgar Wright. The actor disclosed at a New York Comic Con panel that he had to first secure the approval of the master of horror himself, Stephen King.
“Edgar offered me this movie, and I was like, ‘Yes!’ I was ready to go,” Powell recounted. “And then, later that night, [Edgar says], ‘By the way, you have to be approved by Stephen King. He’s gonna watch ‘Hit Man’ tonight.'”
Powell, star of the recent Netflix hit “Hit Man,” spent a tense night waiting to hear if his performance had impressed the notoriously discerning author. “I had to wait overnight for Stephen King to watch ‘Hit Man’ and hope that I still had the role in the morning. It’s terrible,” he joked.
This isn’t the first time King has exerted control over casting decisions for adaptations of his work. Reportedly, both Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey had to await King’s greenlight before being officially cast in the 2017 film adaptation of his epic “The Dark Tower” series.
While it remains unclear what specific criteria King uses in his evaluations, Powell’s story highlights the author’s continued influence on the cinematic interpretations of his iconic stories. Fans eagerly await the official confirmation of Powell’s casting and any further details about Wright’s vision for “The Running Man.”
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