It's no secret that Glen Powell is a student of the Tom Cruise school of movie stardom. The 37-year-old's career has been on a remarkable upward trajectory after he popped in a key supporting role in Top Gun: Maverick – which, given the similar impact it had for co-stars Miles Teller, Lewis Pullman, and Monica Barbaro, sits alongside Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood as a key launchpad for today's rising stars. But of them, Powell especially has been open about his efforts to learn from Cruise, who has become a mentor.
Since Maverick, he's been particular about his projects. His 2023 rom-com Anyone But You paired him with Sydney Sweeney to great success, financially if not critically, to the point that the two have a Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan streak in the genre waiting for them if they want it. In 2024, Twisters put him front-and-center in a big-screen thrill ride, while Hit Man, which Powell co-wrote with director Richard Linklater, showed off the full extent of his leading man charm.
His choices speak to his desire to be an old-school movie star, the kind that the industry supposedly can't mint anymore. He's aiming to become someone audiences trust to deliver a good time, and if he succeeds, whatever movie Glen Powell will be a "Glen Powell movie." So far, he's been working to develop our sense for what a Glen Powell movie should be.
The Running Man, his latest film, stretches him into some important new territory. And it's the closest he's come to testing himself at Cruise's level since starring alongside him.
The Running Man Could Be A Turning Point In Glen Powell's Career
One of the most fascinating things about true movie stars is their on-screen specificity. They bring an energy to a film that is uniquely theirs, and they carry it with them regardless of the role. As such, they aren't quite as free to do anything as their character actor counterparts. Films either use their energy well or they don't; if stars try out a new genre or tone, audiences can either embrace it or reject it.
Powell's star image is distinct from Cruise's, and following his advice hasn't meant trying to slot himself in as Cruise's successor. But he does want to be the kind of actor who can headline a splashy action blockbuster, even without the benefit of franchise IP, and convince audiences it's worth their time.
If Twisters helped establish his footing, The Running Man is his first time testing this out. This dystopian action thriller is being sold as an explosion-filled thrill ride, in IMAX, fueled by Powell's personality. Portions of the trailer are even his character speaking directly to camera. It also, notably, features plenty of him doing stunts and sprinting at full speed. (Come to think of it, The Running Man would be a great title for Cruise's biography.)
It may be an Edgar Wright film, and it may be a Stephen King adaptation, but the message being sent to prospective viewers is, Come follow Glen Powell on this dystopian action adventure. Reviews remain embargoed, but first social media reactions to The Running Man have been positive. If the execution is there, the rest is being put on the shoulders of its leading man.
Even if he's been building to it, this is a big gamble. If The Running Man is a hit, Powell will inevitably get the credit, and he'll have taken a big step forward in terms of the projects he can get greenlit. If it fails, he, his team, and the industry at large will undoubtedly be questioning whether he is the Tom Cruise kind of movie star, and he'll have to prove himself all over again.
