‘Running Man’ Star Shares Inspiration for His Despicable Character

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Stephen King’s 1982 novel, The Running Man, is back on the big screen! This new adaptation follows the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which famously included game show host Richard Dawson playing a cruel host for the movie’s deadly game. This time around, Colman Domingo takes on the role, portraying a similarly ruthless character who doesn’t care about the fate of the contestants.

Actor and Academy Award nominee spoke with GamesRadar+ about his new film, which also stars Glen Powell and Josh Brolin. The movie, titled The Running Man, centers around Ben Richards, who enters a dangerous reality TV show with a huge prize: a billion dollars. The catch? He has to survive being hunted across the globe by professional killers.

In this future world, the TV show The Running Man is incredibly popular, watched by millions nationwide. The show’s host, Bobby T, is charming but ruthless, always framing the people being hunted as the bad guys. Actor Domingo based his portrayal of Bobby T on real-life talk show hosts who publicly shame ordinary people for entertainment.

I began watching classic daytime talk shows, like those hosted by Ricki Lake and Jerry Springer, and similar programs.

The way people interact today, often with a lack of respect, has been heavily influenced by talk shows like Jerry Springer. Springer created a platform for conflict, allowing people to express their rawest emotions and engage in fights while maintaining a detached role as simply the questioner. It’s as if these shows tapped into people’s most basic, primal instincts.

Violence Sells in the Surreal Future of ‘The Running Man’


Paramount Pictures

The film The Running Man is set in a dark future where people are forced to compete in deadly games that are broadcast on TV for entertainment. While the premise is outlandish, director Edgar Wright believes the story is surprisingly relevant to issues we face today.

Lee Pace, who plays the villain Evan McCone, explained that his character uses violence as a show, rather than a genuine threat. He pointed out that truly dangerous people don’t flaunt their power, and McCone’s displays of aggression are meant to project a tough image. Pace also noted that the story’s depiction of violence as a built-in part of its world feels unsettlingly similar to how violence is often presented in today’s entertainment.

It bothers me how easily we accept violence and aggression in our society, and even find it enjoyable to watch. I believe seeing violence inflicted on others can make people feel powerful and secure, as if it reinforces their own safety by highlighting what they aren’t experiencing.

Our characters represent the side that usually experiences violence, not inflicts it. We aim to create a show where the audience can enjoy seeing the ‘good guys’ – us – take action, while Ben Richards plays the villain within the show’s unusual world.

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2025-11-16 18:33