Key Points:
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The Running Man cast features Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, and more in a high-stakes dystopian action story.
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The film includes runners, hunters, rebels, and powerful showrunners who shape the deadly game.
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The ensemble blends blockbuster stars, acclaimed performers, and rising talent across film and television.
Edgar Wright’s The Running Man brings together a stacked cast to reimagine Stephen King’s dystopian tale for modern audiences. Led by Glen Powell, the film follows contestants forced into a deadly televised competition where survival brings a billion-dollar prize. With hunters, rebels, and manipulative showrunners shaping the world around them, the cast carries the story with a mix of intensity, humor, and sharp character work.
Who Are the Main Actors in The Running Man Cast and What Roles Do They Play?
The ensemble in The Running Man spans action stars, award winners, stage veterans, genre favorites, and comedic performers. Each brings their own energy to the film’s high-pressure world of televised violence and rebellion.
Glen Powell as Ben Richards
Ben Richards is the desperate everyman who enters the Running Man competition to support his wife and sick daughter. Powell, coming off a major run that includes Twisters, Top Gun: Maverick, Hitman, and the rom-com favorite Set It Up, anchors the film with a grounded yet fiery performance. His TV roots include Scream Queens, while earlier films like Everybody Wants Some!! and Hidden Figures helped establish his range.
Josh Brolin as Dan Killian
Killian is the ruthless executive producer behind the deadly game show. Brolin’s career spans decades — from The Goonies to Sicario, Dune, and his Oscar-nominated role in Milk. Many viewers know him as Thanos in the MCU, but his body of work extends far beyond villainy. In The Running Man, he plays a man who manipulates the entire system from behind the curtain.
Colman Domingo as Bobby Thompson (Bobby T)
The charismatic host of the show, Bobby T brings flair and showmanship to the televised chaos. Domingo’s résumé includes standout roles in Rustin, If Beale Street Could Talk, Zola, Sing Sing, The Color Purple, and TV hits like Euphoria and Fear the Walking Dead. He also voices the Cowardly Lion in Wicked: For Good, adding to his already eclectic career.
Lee Pace as Evan McCone
McCone is a masked assassin and one of the main hunters pursuing Ben Richards. Pace is known for genre franchises like The Hobbit and Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as cult favorites such as Pushing Daisies, Halt and Catch Fire, and Foundation. His filmography ranges from indie gems like The Fall to blockbusters and horror-comedies.
READ MORE: The Running Man Ending Explained
Jayme Lawson as Sheila Richards
Sheila is Ben’s wife, portrayed as a hardworking club hostess. Lawson’s breakout roles include Till, The Woman King, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, and The Batman. She has also stepped into major historical roles, including Michelle Obama in The First Lady and Betty Shabazz in Genius.
William H. Macy as Molie Jernigan
Molie is an ally Richards encounters during the competition. Macy, an industry veteran, is widely known for Fargo, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Room, as well as his long-running lead role in Shameless. His decades-long TV and film career brings a sense of gravitas to the story.
Michael Cera as Elton Parrakis
Elton is a rebellious figure pushing back against the dystopian state. Cera’s comedic and dramatic credentials include Arrested Development, Superbad, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Juno, Barbie, and several stage productions. He’s appeared across genres but always brings a distinctive, unpredictable spark.
Daniel Ezra as Bradley Throckmorton
Bradley is another rebel working to challenge the corrupt system. Ezra, best known for All American, has also appeared in A Discovery of Witches and a notable stage production of Twelfth Night. His work blends athletic intensity with thoughtful character work.
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Emilia Jones as Amelia Williams
Amelia is a civilian caught in the crossfire when Richards takes her hostage. Jones starred in the Academy Award–winning CODA, led Netflix’s Locke & Key, and has appeared in films like Cat Person and High-Rise. She brings emotional nuance to a character pulled into chaos.
David Zayas as Richard Manuel
Manuel is Richards’ former boss before the events of the game show. Zayas is familiar to audiences from Dexter, Oz, and a significant body of stage work. His presence grounds the early parts of Richards’ journey.
Katy O’Brian as Laughlin
Laughlin is one of the runners competing alongside Ben. O’Brian’s star has risen fast thanks to roles in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Twisters, The Mandalorian, Quantumania, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She blends physical prowess with sharp on-screen presence.
Martin Herlihy as Jansky
Jansky is another runner in the deadly game. Herlihy, part of the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, has written for Saturday Night Live and appeared in films like Hubie Halloween and Happy Gilmore 2. His comedic background adds levity amid the chaos.
Sean Hayes as Gary Greenbacks
Gary Greenbacks hosts Spin the Wheel, another game show in the same universe. Hayes is widely recognized for Will & Grace, as well as appearances in films like Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and guest roles across major sitcoms. His comedic timing shapes the film’s satirical edge.
READ MORE: How Now You See Me Now You Don’t Connects to the First Two Movies
How Does the Running Man Cast Shape the Film’s Dystopian World?
A major part of The Running Man’s appeal comes from how its cast embodies a world obsessed with spectacle, profit, and survival.
Powell’s Richards brings underdog energy, but the supporting cast builds the broader ecosystem — from oppressive authority figures to unpredictable rebels. Brolin’s icy control over the game, Domingo’s theatrical hosting, and Pace’s silent menace create a layered structure of power. Meanwhile, characters like Elton, Bradley, and Laughlin show what resistance looks like inside a crumbling society.
The cast also helps distinguish the different tiers of this universe. Stars like Macy and Zayas portray everyday workers caught in the system’s gears. Lawson and Jones reflect families and civilians affected by the show’s reach. Each role, big or small, helps the world feel lived-in and dangerously plausible.
Wright’s casting choices blend genre familiarity with fresh faces, creating a mix that feels cohesive but not predictable. In a story built on tension and public spectacle, the actors embody viewers, participants, and orchestrators — the three pillars of a reality show fashioned as punishment.
READ MORE: How Now You See Me Now You Don’t Connects to the First Two Movies
Release Information:
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Title: The Running Man (2025)
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Director: Edgar Wright
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Based on: Stephen King’s novel The Running Man (1982)
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Release: In theaters now (as of November 2025)
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Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Thriller
