‘The Running Man’: Edgar Wright on Directing His Most Expensive Movie Ever, Shooting Glen Powell Naked in the Freezing Cold and Getting Stephen King’s Approval

‘The Running Man’: Edgar Wright on Directing His Most Expensive Movie

Director Edgar Wright discusses making his largest-budget film yet, shooting intense scenes in freezing conditions, and receiving Stephen King’s approval.

Filming in Harsh Conditions

Glen Powell, wearing only a towel, hangs from a rope eight stories high in below-freezing Bulgaria while Edgar Wright observes from the ground, dressed warmly with an espresso in hand. The shoot, taking place in February, was the coldest and longest of Wright’s career.

“It's always temporary pain for eternal cinematic glory,” Powell jokes about suspending nearly naked in freezing weather.

Days before the scene, a blizzard covered the country in snow. Powell’s character, a game-show contestant fighting for survival in Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s dystopian novel, must escape hunters by jumping from a hotel window and rappelling down a building nearly unclothed.

Wright’s Directing Style

Known for his cult classics like Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver, Wright combines quirky humor with genre-bending action, often compared to “Tarantino on laughing gas.” He is highly meticulous about choreographing stunts and insists on perfect shots.

During this challenging scene, Powell stayed suspended by a harness for 30 minutes as Wright carefully adjusted the camera angles.

Summary

Edgar Wright’s dedication to authentic, high-stakes filmmaking shines through in ‘The Running Man,’ merging extreme conditions with his signature cinematic precision.

Variety — 2025-11-06