Cinemacon - CinemaCon 2025 : A Star-Studded Creative Community Lunch Shines Spotlight on The Running Man and the Power of Theatrical Experiences

By Mulder, Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, 03 april 2025

CinemaCon 2025 continues to be the ultimate gathering point for celebrating both the artistry and business of filmmaking, and nowhere was that more evident than during the Industry Insights Creative Community Lunch Program. Hosted by Rotten Tomatoes editor Jacqueline Coley, this year’s luncheon offered more than just a meal—it delivered an unforgettable moment of cinematic camaraderie. At the heart of the event was a spirited and insightful conversation featuring director Edgar Wright and the electrifying cast of the upcoming reimagining of The Running Man, including Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin. Their chemistry, humor, and sincere reflections reminded everyone why theatrical storytelling still matters, and why audiences keep returning to the big screen, popcorn buttered fingers and all.

As Edgar Wright took the stage, he exuded both his signature enthusiasm and deep reverence for film history. His love for theatrical screenings is far more than professional—it’s personal. Wright described his admiration for directors like Quentin Tarantino, who remain loyal to the in-theatre experience, frequently attending screenings with a live audience. For Wright, it’s not just about the visuals and sound; it’s about the communal reaction, the energy, and the unpredictable magic that happens in a darkened room with strangers. That philosophy seems to be at the core of The Running Man, a project that blends satire, action, and commentary on spectacle—concepts Wright has long excelled at deconstructing.

Colman Domingo, who plays the showman-style game show host in this new version of The Running Man, offered both humor and depth while discussing his role. He revealed that he and Wright spent considerable time discussing the psychology and performance style of real-life game show hosts, understanding how charisma and control work in tandem. It was, in his words, a highly strategic collaboration. Remarkably, Domingo learned about his BAFTA nomination while filming a scene in full character—an experience he described as both surreal and joyful. This juxtaposition of prestige and absurdity seemed fitting for a film that examines the performance of power in dystopian media. Domingo also brought levity to the panel with his unfiltered love for movie snacks, proclaiming a fondness for wings at the theatre and jokingly demanding, I want the worst that you can bring me and lots of it. His celebration of the indulgent side of the moviegoing ritual reminded the audience just how sensory and physical the cinematic experience is.

Glen Powell, ever the relatable everyman, shared an unexpectedly clever cinema hack—wearing a hoodie to the movies to catch errant popcorn and Butterfingers. It’s like a second meal, he joked, endearing himself further to fans who love their snacks almost as much as their action scenes. Powell also reflected on the legacy of theatrical decisions, citing the impact of Tom Cruise’s choice to delay Top Gun: Maverick for a proper theatrical release as a defining moment that shaped his own appreciation for the big screen. That gesture, according to Powell, reaffirmed how some movies are simply meant to be experienced collectively, in a space where tension and emotion ripple through a crowd.

Josh Brolin, ever candid and laced with dry wit, shared a particularly vivid memory of his father taking him to see Apocalypse Now at the age of 11, shaking his head with a smile as he asked aloud, Why the f*** would he do that? The anecdote drew laughter but also underscored the kind of profound, if accidental, formative experiences that theatrical cinema can provide. Brolin also confessed to watching The Warriors 65 times on VHS before finally seeing it in a theatre—a moment that, to his surprise, rivaled seeing Star Wars for the first time. His words illustrated just how different, and emotionally rich, an in-theatre experience can be—even with a film one knows by heart.

The panel also took a more nostalgic turn when Domingo recalled being nine years old and seeing Carrie in theatres—a film that left him so electrified he could barely sit still afterwards. Wright chimed in with his own story about attending a preview screening of Rumble in the Bronx with a crowd of British Jackie Chan superfans in the mid-90s, emphasizing how contagious and euphoric audience energy can be. And in between all this sincere praise of the theatre experience, there was, naturally, talk of concession obsessions. Wright praised the refrigerated Junior Mints in American theatres, while Brolin got a laugh by confessing his love for chocolate-covered caviar clusters—a delightfully absurd indulgence worthy of a dystopian elite in The Running Man.

CinemaCon 2025’s Creative Community Lunch wasn’t just a platform for plugging a film—it became a vibrant tribute to the joy of watching movies in a theatre. From the emotionally resonant stories of childhood screenings to the guilty pleasure of buttery snacks, the conversation painted a picture of a film industry that, despite its digital shifts, still finds its beating heart in the shared darkness of cinema halls. And with The Running Man set to deliver a new spin on a cult classic, one thing is clear: Edgar Wright and his team are not only honoring the power of cinema—they're inviting us all to fall in love with it again, together.

Synopsis Running Man :
First quarter of the 21st century. A dictatorship has been established in the United States. Television, the supreme weapon of the new power, reigns supreme over the people. A single channel broadcasts a game show watched by millions of fans: it's The Great Chase. Ben Richards, a man with nothing left to lose, decides to enter the deadly competition. For thirty days he will have to flee from the fearsome hunters on his trail, actively aided by a population encouraged to inform on him. All means are good for eliminating Ben Richards...

The Running Man
Directed by Edgar Wright
Written by Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall
Based on The Running Man by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman)
Produced by Edgar Wright, Nira Park, Simon Kinberg
Starring  Glen Powell, Katy O'Brian, Daniel Ezra, Karl Glusman, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Jayme Lawson, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, William H. Macy, David Zayas,,Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo
Cinematography : Chung Chung-hoon
Edited by Paul Machliss
Production companies : Genre Films, Complete Fiction
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date : November 5, 2025 (France), November 7, 2025 (United States)

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Photos : Getty Images for Cinemacon