Wed Oct 22 03:40:00 UTC 2025: Glen Powell Faced Stephen King’s Approval Before Landing Lead Role in “The Running Man” Adaptation
New York, NY – Glen Powell, star of the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Running Man,” recently revealed the unusual hurdle he faced before securing the lead role: Stephen King’s personal approval. Powell shared the story at New York Comic Con, explaining that director Edgar Wright informed him that King would need to sign off on his casting.
According to Powell, Wright told him: “By the way, like, you have to be approved by Stephen King. He’s gonna watch Hit Man tonight.” King watched Powell’s performance in Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” overnight, leaving the actor in suspense about whether he would keep the role.
King’s involvement in approving the casting is not uncommon for adaptations of his work, given his history of frustration with past adaptations. Wright also noted the pressure of submitting the screenplay to King, who he jokingly referred to as “the most famous English teacher in history.” King gave his approval and has since seen “The Running Man” and has given it his strong endorsement. “The Running Man” is set to hit theaters next month.
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