Glen Powell Interview for Ben Richards in The Running Man
Glen Powell is starring as Ben Richards in Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man. The film follows Ben, a father who enters a deadly game show to secure medicine for his sick daughter.
Character Contrast: Ben Richards vs. Glen Powell
One notable difference between the actor and his character is their attitude toward others’ opinions. Glen Powell has spoken openly about his social anxiety, especially the tendency to second-guess himself after social events.
“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.”
This honesty and self-assurance define Ben’s character, who thrives without concern for how others perceive him.
Powell’s Perspective on Playing Ben Richards
When asked about embodying a character so candid and unaffected by social judgment, Powell shared his approach to roles:
“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.”
Additional Insight
Powell recently discussed his social anxiety during an interview on Jake Shane’s Therapuss podcast, highlighting a deeper personal contrast with his character’s straightforward nature.
Author’s summary: Glen Powell embraces the candid, fearless traits of Ben Richards, marking a striking contrast to his own social anxieties as he steps into the role in The Running Man.