The Running Man struck a prominent figure Don and Marvel Cinematic Universe star to portray his main villain, starring opposite Glen Powell in the remake of Stephen King’s novel. Originally written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, the dystopian novel was loosely adapted into a film of the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987. A remake of The Running Man Directed by Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Last night in Soho) is currently in development, with Powell of Top Gun: Maverick Fame set to portray Ben Richards.
now, Term confirmed Josh Brolin, best known for his roles as Thanos in the MCU and Gurney Halleck in the Don Movies, will be portraying the villain of The Running Man. Details about his role are sparse, although it is reported that he will portray a producer behind the deadly reality show in which Powell’s Ben will participate. Justin Kroll Also confirmed that he will not be portraying Richard Dawson’s Damon Killian from the previous adaptation.
Along with him and the main actor will be Cathy O’Brien and Daniel Ezra, whose roles also remain unknown.
What Josh Brolin’s casting means for The Running Man remake
The actor can draw from his past villainous roles
One of Bralin’s best-known roles in recent years is Thanos, the antagonistic alien who tried to wipe out half of the world’s population in a misguided attempt to make natural resources less scarce. The complexity of this role makes him the perfect fit for an equally intriguing villain in Powell’s The Running Man Remake. As the novel, The movie will focus on Ben willingly participating in a violent reality show In order to get enough money to pay for medicine, his sick daughter is necessary.
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The premise of The Running Man Remake indicates a much darker version than SchwarzeneggerWhich could mean a darker role for Brolin. Since some of Brolin’s best movies feature the actor portraying morally gray characters, his portrayal as a producer for the reality show could be layered and nuanced, offering a different perspective on the dystopian show. Because he won’t be playing Dawson’s character from the original, there’s a lot of room for how his character is presented and what his overall impact on the plot will be.
Our take on Josh Brolin getting cast in The Running Man
He will make an intimidating antagonist
Although nothing definitive has been revealed about his character, Brolin’s acting career makes him perfect for a villainous role in The Running Man. Although the movie isn’t slated for release until November 21, 2025, his early casting shows how important his casting must have been to the film’s vision. Because of this, it seems that his villainy will be a key element of the story, potentially one of the most difficult obstacles that Ben will have to deal with when he tries to win the deadly game.
Source: Term
The Running Man (2025)
A man competes in a game show where killers hunt contestants as they move freely around the world. The movie, directed by Edgar Wright, is the second big-screen adaptation of the novel written by Stephen King under his pen name, Richard Bachman.
- Release date
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November 21, 2025