If you’re a director and need an actor who can take a hit, get a laugh, and fall in love over and over again, Glen Powell’s your guy. The Texas–born actor’s latest collaboration is with director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver): The Running Man, an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel, follows Ben Richards (Powell) as he volunteers for a life-or-death competition show to save his sick daughter’s life. It involves donning disguises, dodging bullets, and, yes, running. So much running.
Powell has said he turned to his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Tom Cruise for running tips, but he already had plenty of experience: He was thrown around by Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, kicked butt alongside Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Expendables 3, wrangled tornadoes in Twisters, and flew in a real F/A-18 jet in the Top Gun sequel. Oh, and he portrayed the real Navy fighter pilot Tom Hudner in Devotion. For more action-packed, swoon-worthy Powell performances, you can watch these movies on Netflix.
Powell co-wrote Hit Man with its director, Richard Linklater (Boyhood); it was their second creative collaboration after Everybody Wants Some!! (2016). Hit Man — inspired by a true story — follows mild-mannered professor Gary Johnson, a contractor for the New Orleans police department who goes undercover as a fake hit man while wearing elaborate costumes. When a woman (Adria Arjona) trying to escape her abusive husband comes to him for help, they strike up a romantic relationship that gives them a new perspective on life. Austin Amelio (The Walking Dead), Retta (Parks and Recreation), and Sanjay Rao (Bad Romance) co-star.
This historical romance directed by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) is based on the 2008 novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Lily James (Pam & Tommy) plays Juliet, a London-based writer who becomes close with a group of friends on the island of Guernsey, which was under German occupation during World War II. She exchanges letters with one member, Dawsey (Michiel Huisman), and they form a romantic connection. Powell plays Juliet’s fiancé, Mark, who doesn’t understand her preoccupation with the group.
This war drama follows Nicholas Hoult (Superman) as Private Matt Ocre, a civil affairs soldier with the US Army who’s tasked with restoring water to an Iraqi village. Powell plays Sergeant Dylan Chutsky, a member of Ocre’s squad. The movie is based on writer Chris Roessner’s experiences as a soldier in the Iraq War and also stars Henry Cavill (Enola Holmes) and Logan Marshall-Green (The Invitation).
So you’ve got a bad boss. Most people would try to find a new job. Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Powell), two fed-up personal assistants in New York City, are not most people. Instead, they scheme to set up their horrible bosses — played by Taye Diggs (The Best Man) and Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels) — so they can be free to live their lives. And if Charlie and Harper develop feelings for each other along the way? Even better. This 2018 rom-com also co-stars Pete Davidson (Saturday Night Live), Jon Rudnitsky (Stealing Pulp Fiction), and Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt).
