*Edgar Wright’s upcoming adaptation of “The Running Man” throws audiences into a near-future society obsessed with a deadly televised competition. Among the new faces shaping this high-stakes world is Daniel Ezra, who plays Bradley Throckmorton, a pivotal figure determined to expose hard truths beneath the entertainment spectacle. His character becomes a crucial force in the chaotic orbit surrounding Ben Richards, the desperate father-turned-contestant played by Glen Powell.
Ezra describes his character as someone fueled by conviction and rebellion. “He is a young rebel. He’s a wannabe revolutionary. He is someone who has tasked himself with getting the truth out to the people and he’s determined to do that at any cost. So when Ben Richards arrives in his life, he sees him as a vessel to help him get his message out, and he takes full advantage,” he said.
Stepping into this reimagined version of Stephen King’s story felt surprisingly timely to Ezra. “It just felt like the story we need right now. The book was written in the 80s, but it’s actually set in 2025, which was crazy to me when I found that out,” he explained. “It feels like the perfect movie for 2025. I felt that way when I read the script, and I felt that way when I met Edgar. I felt that way when we were filming, and I still feel that way,” he added.
Sharing the screen with a powerhouse ensemble challenged Ezra in the best way. “It was intimidating. These are veterans. There’s people in this movie who have been making movies before I was born,” he said. But that pressure became motivating rather than overwhelming. “It was scary, but in the best kind of way… You always want to be with people who are so much further ahead of you because there’s more to learn. And I learned so much on this movie.”
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Central to Ezra’s storyline is the unlikely alliance between his character and Ben Richards, a partnership rooted in shared ideals rather than convenience. Building that dynamic with Glen Powell required thoughtful collaboration. “We sat down with Edgar Wright, our director, and talked through the different characters’ motivations,” Ezra said. He noted that both characters are driven by similar personal stakes: “We realized that so much of our motivations were the same, which was family.”
Ezra added, “Both Ben and Bradley are trying to create a better world for their family. As the movie goes on, it becomes a better world for everyone. But the root of it is out of love for the people they can see and touch. We realized that we were on the same path and that bridged the gap really well.”
“The Running Man” brings its dystopian world to the big screen on November 14.
Watch our conversation with Daniel Ezra below.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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