Glen Powell Interview for Ben Richards in The Running Man
We spoke with Glen Powell about his upcoming film The Running Man and the unique honesty of his character, Ben Richards. This Stephen King adaptation follows Ben, a father desperate to obtain medicine for his sick daughter, who ends up on a deadly game show fighting for his life.
Glen Powell’s Biggest Role Yet
Powell takes on the lead role as Ben Richards in Edgar Wright’s film. The character stands out for his straightforwardness and apparent indifference to others' opinions, except when it comes to his wife and daughter.
Contrasting Personalities
Unlike Powell himself, who has spoken openly about social anxiety and second-guessing interactions, Ben Richards seems free from such worries.
"Ben Richards in The Running Man is almost the complete opposite of that. With the exception of his wife and daughter, I don’t think he has thought once about what people think about him."
Playing Ben Richards
When asked about embodying a character who thrives on honesty and a disregard for others’ opinions, Powell explained how he selectively adopts traits from the character:
“Every time you play a character, you take aspects from that character. You say ‘okay, these are things I’ll leave at the door and these are things I’ll take.’ And I love the candor of Ben. I love how he kind of cuts through the bs. He just kind of says what he means.”
Powell’s Reflection
This role allowed Powell to explore a different mindset—one marked by directness and a refreshing lack of care for external judgment.
Author's summary: Glen Powell discusses embodying Ben Richards in The Running Man, highlighting the character's honesty and fearlessness in contrast to his own social anxieties.