‘The Running Man’: Edgar Wright on His Most Ambitious Film
Director Edgar Wright opens up about creating his most expensive film to date, The Running Man, featuring Glen Powell in a daring performance that tested both endurance and dedication.
Filming in Extreme Conditions
In one of the movie’s most challenging scenes, Glen Powell hangs from a rope eight stories high, nearly naked except for a towel, as temperatures drop below freezing in Bulgaria. Wright, wrapped in a parka and sipping espresso, monitors the performance from below.
The shoot took place in February, soon after a blizzard blanketed the country in snow. It marked the longest, costliest, and coldest production of Wright’s career.
Dedication and Grit
“It’s always temporary pain for eternal cinematic glory,” Powell jokes.
Portraying a desperate game-show contestant fighting to survive, Powell tracked the brutal weather ahead of filming, well aware of the physical toll the scene would demand. Wright’s perfectionism meant details mattered — every camera angle, movement, and beat had to be precise.
Wright’s Signature Style
Known for stylized hits like Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver, Wright has built a reputation for blending humor with sharp, kinetic action. His approach to The Running Man combines that same creative energy with a new level of scale and seriousness.
“He’s meticulous about choreographing action sequences and obsessive about getting the perfect shot,” a crew member remarks.
During one take, Powell hung suspended by a harness for over 30 minutes as the camera reset, a testament to both actor and director’s shared pursuit of cinematic excellence.
Author’s Summary
Edgar Wright’s The Running Man fuses bold ambition, extreme filmmaking, and Glen Powell’s fearless dedication into a visually striking reimagining of Stephen King’s dystopian story.