'Running Man' action star Glen Powell on why scaling Burj Khalifa in Dubai like Tom Cruise is on his 'bingo card'

Dubai: In a world where superheroes in capes and tights dominate, sometimes all you really need is a man who’s willing to jump off cliffs, endure real explosions, and fight against a system that's rigged from the get-go. Enter Glen Powell. The actor, known for his charismatic charm and next-level action sequences, is currently throwing punches and kicking down walls (literally) in The Running Man remake.

If you think action movies are all about CGI and flashy effects, think again. Powell and director Edgar Wright aren’t here for shortcuts—this film out in the UAE cinemas on November 13 is as raw as it gets.

In a candid chat with Powell, we dove into everything from the heart of the movie (family, of course) to the brutal behind-the-scenes action. And let me tell you, this guy is as honest as they come.

"I'm all About that family life"

You can take the man out of Hollywood, but you can’t take the family-first mentality out of Powell. When I asked him about the emotional core of The Running Man, he didn’t hesitate.

“Anybody that knows me knows that I love my family,” he said with the kind of sincerity that’s rare in an industry known for its gloss. “The heartbeat of this movie... no matter who you are around the world, we can all identify with how far you'd be willing to go for your family.”

And he’s right. I’m not talking about the kind of "family" that gathers for Sunday brunch, posting perfectly curated pictures on Instagram. No, this is the real deal. Powell’s character in the film, Ben Richards, signs up for a game show where, spoiler alert, no one survives. All to provide for his family. The stakes don’t get higher than that.

So, why is that so relatable? “It's a universal thing,” Powell explains. “We all think about how far we’d be willing to go for our loved ones. What would you do? Would you risk it all?”

Now, that’s the kind of high-stakes action I can get behind. Forget the capes. Give me a hero who’s ready to sign his life away for his family—and who’s also game for taking down a corrupt system while he’s at it.

"Does it hurt? Oh yeah, but it’s a blast"

Now, let’s talk pain. Because while Powell is out here jumping off bridges and getting thrown into explosions, you know it’s not all just fun and games. Trust me, I had to ask. "Did it hurt, Glen?" I mean, come on—those action scenes looked real. His response?

“Action movies are very painful to shoot,” he admits, with a chuckle. “But they’re really fun. The physics don’t change just because you know an explosion’s coming. It still hurts when it lands.”

The man’s out here getting punched, kicked, and stomped on (even if it’s all in the name of entertainment), but hey, no pain, no gain.

But here’s the thing: Powell and director Edgar Wright were determined to do things the old-fashioned way. Forget about all that green-screen wizardry. This film is about real action. No shortcuts. No fancy visual effects to mask the grit.

“We wanted it to be caught in camera with the real actor, the real hero,” Powell says. And that’s what sets this movie apart. It’s raw, it’s real, and you feel every punch and explosion in your bones.

"The Anti-Establishment Hero We Need"

But let’s talk about the most interesting part of the film: the character of Ben Richards. He’s not your typical "hero." He’s messy, rebellious, and unapologetically anti-establishment—traits we can all root for, especially in a world that often feels stacked against us.

When I asked Powell if he thought Richards was a rebellion icon for the modern age, he didn’t miss a beat. \

“I think we all feel that the world can be a bit of a rigged system,” Powell said, eyes sparkling. “It’s a world that can feel like it’s against us. And that’s what makes a guy like Ben Richards so relatable. He’s willing to stand up to the big bully.”

Now, let’s pause here for a sec. Because if you’re anything like me, the thought of a world where jobs are slowly getting replaced by AI and our very humanity is under threat hits a little too close to home. That dystopian future Stephen King imagined when he penned the novel in the '70s? It’s not so far-fetched anymore.

Powell drives it home: “All those things that Stephen King saw in the future? They’re happening right now. The idea that the system’s out to take away your job, your family, and your humanity—that’s a very real thing.”

But here’s the kicker: What makes Ben Richards stand out as a hero isn’t just his willingness to defy the system—it’s his humanity. “Ben Richards is so full of humanity,” Powell says. “It’s what makes him such a compelling hero. He’s not perfect, but he’s willing to stand up to the system that wants to crush him.”

And, honestly, who doesn’t want to be that guy? I know I do.

A Touch of Bollywood, but no song and dance

Before we wrapped up, I couldn’t resist bringing up the Bollywood element. Yes, you heard that right. Because The Running Man has that same high-emotion, family-first vibe that Bollywood films are known for (minus the catchy dance numbers, of course). Powell laughs when I mention it, agreeing wholeheartedly.

“There’s no song and dance,” he says with a grin, “but I get what you mean. It’s all about the heart—family and emotion.”

And, let’s be real, isn’t that what makes action films like this so enduring? You can have all the explosions and car chases you want, but if there’s no heart at the center, it falls flat.

The Burj Khalifa moment

Before we wrapped up the conversation, I had to throw in a little cheeky question, hoping for a fun answer. “Are you hoping to scale the Burj Khalifa in Dubai like Tom Cruise did?” I asked, already picturing Powell up there, hanging off Dubai’s iconic skyscraper. He chuckled and replied, “Yeah, it’s on my bingo card. I’ll see what we can do.”

I’ll take that as a “maybe.” But, knowing Powell, he’d probably nail it with style—just another day in the life of an action hero.