Glen Powell’s Dark Transformation: What ‘Bad Mood Glen’ Really Means

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Over the past few years, Glen Powell has charmed audiences with his cool demeanor and infectious smile in roles like Hangman from Top Gun: Maverick and cowboy Tyler Owens in Twisters. However, later this year, he will be seen in a starkly different light as Ben Richards in the remake of Stephen King’s The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright. Instead of his usual bright and energetic persona, Ben Richards portrays a character with a gritty, somber demeanor, earning the moniker “Bad Mood Glen” on set.

For this week’s The King Beat, we’re focusing on Glen Powell’s transformation, one aspect among many. His chat about ‘The Running Man’ is combined with an impressive sneak peek at Mike Flanagan’s ‘The Life Of Chuck’, a production that premiered last fall to fantastic reception and will hit theaters this summer. There’s plenty to explore, so let’s dive right in!

Glen Powell Discusses The Importance Of Practical Stunts In The Making Of The Running Man And Embracing Bad Mood Glen

Earlier this month at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Glen Powell discussed “Grumpy Glen” during a panel discussion. This event took place after the Paramount Pictures showcase at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace, where they unveiled the initial footage from The Running Man. Joining him on stage were Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, and Edgar Wright for a conversation during a lunch arranged for convention participants.

In contrast to the 1987 movie with the same title, the forthcoming Stephen King film is being made due to Edgar Wright’s eagerness to create a more accurate portrayal of the book. One aspect of this change is that Ben Richards won’t resemble Arnold Schwarzenegger or frequently use one-liners (a side note: I believe The Running Man has the finest assortment of one-liners in all of Schwarzenegger’s movies). Instead, Richards is a character with a sense of pride, and it was when discussing his demeanor that Wright earned his three-word nickname. As Powell mentioned, this is how Wright came to be known by this brief title.

In a different phrase, Edgar refers to the location as ‘Glen of Grumbles.’ However, I need to amp up a bit of grumpiness for the scene to feel authentic. Frankly, I couldn’t have been so lively and jovial on this set. Yet, we had an enjoyable time. Ben Richards was an entertaining character to portray.

First published under the pen name Richard Bachman by Stephen King, “The Running Man” paints a grim picture. The story revolves around a man who, in desperation, decides to participate in a deadly reality TV show in order to provide for his hungry wife and sick child. As he eludes the skilled hunters on the game show “The Running Man,” Ben Richards earns increasingly larger sums of money for his family’s survival. However, the story does not end with him living happily ever after with his loved ones, as his fate remains uncertain.

In his struggle for survival, Richard found himself in a literal inferno. Glen Powell’s keen insight into Edgar Wright’s filmmaking style significantly boosted his meticulous preparations for the role. While The Running Man is undeniably rich in visual effects, as most major studio productions are, Edgar Wright appreciates the significance of practical effects and capturing moments authentically on camera. Powell took this challenge seriously, but he admitted that he felt somewhat under-prepared for the task at hand.

One aspect that truly excites me is the long-awaited opportunity to collaborate with Edgar, whom I’ve admired for years due to his unique approach of executing a significant portion of his work in-camera. While there are undeniably impressive visual effects in the film, a large part of it is practical, which I anticipated given our upcoming practical stunts. To prepare for this role, I got into what I call peak physical condition, aware that I might need to endure some impacts. However, I underestimated the challenges we’d face on this project.

In the presentation of “The Running Man,” there was an abundance of thrilling scenes, such as a brawl involving several groups on a flying aircraft and a sequence where Richard endures a brutal fall into a sewer network. Inspired by his training at Tom Cruise’s Film School (for “Top Gun: Maverick”), Glen Powell was eager to execute as many stunts as possible, understanding that audiences can discern and appreciate the authenticity. Whether intentionally or instinctively, viewers are sensitive to cinematic illusions, and embracing practical effects can significantly enhance a film’s influence. Powell further explained…

As a passionate film enthusiast, I take immense pride in crafting experiences that immerse audiences deeply into the story. When it comes to action sequences, nothing beats the raw authenticity of real stunts and explosions. The thrill of a genuine fall or leap through actual fireworks transports viewers to another level, making them truly invested in the narrative. It’s not just watching a movie anymore; it becomes an intense, emotional journey they feel part of. With this project, we aim to deliver that immersive experience tenfold.

Unfortunately for those not attending CinemaCon, the premiere of The Running Man is still a ways off; it’s not set to hit theaters until November 7. At this point, Paramount Pictures isn’t quite ready to kickstart its marketing campaign in full swing. However, there’s some good news for Stephen King enthusiasts! Over the next few months, two feature adaptations based on his works will be released to keep you entertained. The first, The Long Walk, directed by Francis Lawrence, is scheduled for release on September 12, and prior to that, another adaptation will come out.

The Life Of Chuck Trailer Fills One’s Heart With All Kinds Of Wonderful Emotions

2025 will see a majority of film adaptations based on Stephen King’s works lean towards the “extremely gloomy” or “very dark” side of storytelling. For instance, the ominous undertones in The Running Man; Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey centers around the unavoidable theme of loss; The Long Walk might as well be titled Death March: The Film; IT: Welcome To Derry revives the chilling character of Pennywise The Dancing Clown, a recurring nightmare; and The Institute revolves around a group of children who are abducted by a secretive government institution.

The Life of Chuck carries an entirely distinct vibe, and the sensation of warmth that arises simply from viewing the brief trailer provided is truly remarkable.

Just like the Stephen King novella that inspired it, The Life Of Chuck isn’t a film that’s straightforward to market with a trailer. However, I must commend the creators for skillfully editing this piece together, as they have effectively conveyed the movie’s ambiance and the profound message woven into its narrative. The dialogue between stars Mark Hamill and Kate Siegel about glimpsing the future and the worlds hidden within us is as captivating as the scenes of radiant skies and exuberant dancing.

As a dedicated cinephile, I must confess that the structure of this Life Of Chuck trailer has caught my attention. If you were to watch it blindly, without knowing the source material, it might seem like a typical coming-of-age story tracing the life of our titular hero from childhood to maturity. However, that would be a misleading conclusion. The narrative structure presented by Mike Flanagan in this preview closely mirrors the style found in Stephen King’s 2020 collection, If It Bleeds. This means that the story unfolds not chronologically, but rather in three distinct chapters that are revealed in reverse order.

The trailer emphasizes Chuck’s childhood significantly, yet it’s the third act where we delve into his background, including his unexpected passion for dance. The initial part of the movie focuses on a teacher, portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who resides in a deteriorating society and is intrigued by recurring advertisements displaying an eyeglasses-wearing man with the slogan, “Charles Krantz, 39 Great Years! Thanks, Chuck!” This suggests that Chuck plays a crucial role in the story as well.

In the second part of the story, the lives of three individuals intertwine delightfully – one being Charles Krantz, portrayed by Tom Hiddleston. A spark is created when Charles gets drawn into the rhythm of a street musician (Taylor Gordon) playing drums in a town square, and he begins an impromptu dance with an attractive passerby (Annalise Basso).

In the climax, I found myself reflecting on Chuck’s intricate journey, mirroring the essence of Walt Whitman’s profound words: “I am large. I contain multitudes.” This poignant moment encapsulated the rich tapestry of experiences that shaped Chuck’s childhood and ultimately defined his character.

Chuck’s Life took everyone by surprise when it debuted without a distributor during the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, yet its powerful impact resulted in Neon acquiring it, making its theater release scheduled for June. This heartwarming cinematic journey is not to be missed – it appeals not only to fans of Stephen King and Mike Flanagan, but to all movie enthusiasts alike.

This concludes this week’s installment of The King Beat. If you’re always on the lookout for updates and insights about Stephen King, make sure to visit TopMob each Thursday to find a new column filled with the latest headlines from the past week.

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2025-04-17 19:08