Key Highlights
- Lee Pace and Josh Brolin are reprising their roles from Guardians of the Galaxy in a new Stephen King adaptation.
- Their characters, Dan Killian and Evan McCone, share similarities with Thanos and Ronan the Accuser from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Brolin’s character is described as violent and money-hungry, while Pace praises Powell’s dedication to his role in the film.
Reuniting with Guardians of the Galaxy
Josh Brolin and Lee Pace, who famously portrayed Thanos and Ronan the Accuser respectively in Guardians of the Galaxy, are set to reunite for a new film adaptation. According to an exclusive interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, Pace elaborated on the similarities between their characters in The Running Man and their roles from Marvel.
The Dynamics of Their Characters
“Evan and Brolin’s character, Dan Killian, in The Running Man have a very similar relationship to the one that Thanos and Ronan the Accuser have in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Much like the upcoming Stephen King adaptation, the Kree warlord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film essentially just follows the orders of The Mad Titan.”
Brolin’s Character and His Energy
“Twice in a row I’m running nasty errands for Josh Brolin. The thing is, this is the second movie as well where we have scenes together and we never see each other on set. We film at different times.
We only ever meet at premieres and these things.” Pace added, highlighting the unique dynamics between his character, Evan McCone, and Brolin’s Dan Killian.
Brolin’s character in The Running Man is described as violent and money-hungry, bringing a manipulative energy to the role. According to Pace, “He brings such a slimy, kind of manipulative energy — he’s just hard to predict what’s truthful. I mean, nothing’s truthful, is the point.”
Powell’s Dedication and His Character
Lee Pace also praised Glen Powell for his dedication to his role as Ben Richards in The Running Man. “What I love about Glen Powell in this role is that— I mean, what he does, signing up for The Running Man, it’s insane. It actually makes no sense.” Pace further explained, “But there’s something about the character that he brings to it — this sense of, ‘I’m going to put myself in the middle of the mess, and I’m going to be fine. I’ll figure out a way out of this impossible scenario.’ So even though the world is hostile and everyone’s trying to kill him, I’m not worried about him. I just kind of want to see him solve the problem.”
Release Date and Production Details
The Running Man, a remake of Stephen King’s 1982 novel, follows Ben Richards (Glen Powell) as he joins a TV program where contestants are chased by assassins. Evan McCone is portrayed by Lee Pace, leading the group of killers hired to hunt down the show’s contestants. Brolin’s character, Dan Killian, serves as the violent, money-hungry producer of the show.
The film will be released in theaters on November 14, 2025, directed by Edgar Wright and written by Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall, and Stephen King himself. The cast includes Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, and Jayme Lawson as Sheila Richards.
Expert Analysis
The similarities between The Running Man’s characters and those from Marvel’s universe highlight the versatility of actors like Brolin and Pace in portraying complex and morally ambiguous roles. This adaptation not only pays homage to Stephen King but also showcases how these character dynamics can translate across different genres and franchises.
With the film set for a 2025 release, audiences will have the opportunity to witness the chemistry between Brolin and Pace once again on screen. The Running Man promises to be an intense sci-fi thriller that combines elements of both King’s literary works and the action-packed universe established in Marvel films.
