Movies - Runner: Alan Ritchson Races Against Time in Explosive First Trailer for Angel Studios' High-Stakes Action Thriller

By Mulder, 16 july 2026

Angel Studios has officially unveiled the first trailer for Runner, an adrenaline-fueled action thriller that pairs relentless action with a deeply human race against the clock. Scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on September 11, 2026, the film stars Alan Ritchson in the lead role alongside Owen Wilson, with Rodrigo Santoro, Leila George, Adriana Barraza, Sullivan Stapleton, Peta Sergeant, and Geraldine Hakewill completing an international ensemble. Directed by Scott Waugh, the filmmaker behind Need for Speed and Expend4bles, Runner promises a tense blend of survival thriller, road movie, and character-driven action built around a deceptively simple premise: a former soldier has just three hours to transport a donor liver across the city before a seven-year-old girl loses her only chance at survival, while a ruthless crime syndicate launches an all-out assault to seize the priceless organ for the black market. The newly released trailer immediately establishes the film's relentless pace, throwing audiences into a brutal pursuit where every minute matters and every decision could mean the difference between life and death.

Rather than relying solely on large-scale spectacle, Runner grounds its action in a remarkably tangible objective. Alan Ritchson plays Hank Malone, a former soldier whose routine courier assignment quickly spirals into chaos when the medical delivery places him directly in the crosshairs of cartel forces led by the menacing Rodrigo Santoro. Adding an unexpected dynamic is Owen Wilson, who portrays Ben Bishop, an ordinary man suddenly caught in extraordinary circumstances after becoming Hank's unlikely traveling companion. The trailer cleverly balances intense action with flashes of humor born from the contrast between Ritchson's stoic, battle-hardened veteran and Wilson's bewildered civilian, creating a classic mismatched partnership without undermining the urgency of the mission. One memorable exchange teased in the preview perfectly encapsulates that chemistry, suggesting that beneath the explosions and high-speed chases lies a character relationship that may become one of the film's greatest strengths.

The screenplay arrives with considerable pedigree. Written by Miles Hubley and Tommy White, Runner first attracted industry attention after being selected for the prestigious 2023 Black List, the annual survey highlighting Hollywood's most admired unproduced screenplays. That recognition often signals projects with particularly strong storytelling foundations, and the concept itself stands apart from conventional action films by replacing the familiar "save the world" narrative with something far more intimate yet equally compelling: saving the life of a single child through an impossible delivery mission. The life-or-death countdown naturally injects constant urgency into the story while allowing the action to remain emotionally grounded rather than purely destructive.

For director Scott Waugh, whose background includes years as a stunt performer before moving behind the camera, Runner appears tailor-made for his strengths. His films have consistently emphasized practical action, physical stunt work, and kinetic chase sequences over excessive digital spectacle, and the trailer reflects that philosophy with bruising hand-to-hand combat, vehicle pursuits, and tightly choreographed confrontations that feel immediate and visceral. Cinematographer Lorenzo Senatore, who also serves as editor on the production, reinforces that approach through dynamic camera movement and rapid pacing that mirrors the ticking-clock structure of the narrative. The newly released production stills further showcase this grounded style, depicting bloodied protagonists, improvised survival, and dangerous close-quarter encounters rather than larger-than-life superheroics.

The production itself followed an eventful journey. Scott Waugh officially boarded the project in late 2024 with Alan Ritchson already attached not only as star but also as one of the producers. Owen Wilson joined the cast in early 2025, bringing an unexpected presence to what initially appeared to be a straightforward action vehicle. Soon afterward, Rodrigo Santoro, Leila George, Adriana Barraza, Sullivan Stapleton, Peta Sergeant, Geraldine Hakewill, and Goran D. Kleut completed the principal cast. Filming began in Australia during April 2025 and wrapped the following month, with Brisbane and surrounding areas doubling as the backdrop for the film's relentless pursuit. During production, producer Dan Spilo departed the project following an HR investigation into allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior, leaving the producing team led by Todd Garner, Mark Fasano, Jeffrey Greenstein, and Alan Ritchson to complete the film.

The film also represents another step in the evolution of Angel Studios. Best known for audience-driven releases such as Sound of Freedom, the distributor announced Runner as part of its expanding 2026 theatrical slate during its CinemaCon presentation earlier this year, signaling a continued effort to diversify beyond faith-based and historical dramas into broader commercial entertainment. While Runner retains themes of sacrifice, courage, redemption, and hope that align with the studio's identity, the trailer makes clear that this is first and foremost a muscular action thriller designed for mainstream audiences. The combination of Alan Ritchson's commanding physical presence, Owen Wilson's unexpected comic energy, a screenplay already praised within Hollywood, and Scott Waugh's experience staging large-scale practical action positions Runner as one of the more intriguing late-summer action releases on the calendar.

Clocking in at 99 minutes, Runner appears built around momentum, refusing to let either its characters or its audience catch their breath. The premise may sound deceptively simple—a courier delivering a donor liver—but the trailer reveals a film that transforms that straightforward mission into a relentless gauntlet of betrayals, ambushes, and increasingly desperate choices. In an era where many action films rely on globe-spanning conspiracies or universe-ending stakes, Runner finds tension in something far more immediate: the desperate effort to ensure that one little girl receives the organ that could save her life before time runs out. That emotional foundation may ultimately prove to be the film's greatest weapon when it races into theaters on September 11, 2026.

Synopsis :
A courier has three hours to transport an organ to save a seven-year-old girl who needs an immediate transplant. But a crime syndicate boss is determined to get his hands on the organ.

Runner
Directed by Scott Waugh
Written by Miles Hubley and Tommy White
Produced by Alan Ritchson, Todd Garner, Mark Fasano, Jeffrey Greenstein
Starring Alan Ritchson, Owen Wilson, Rodrigo Santoro, Leila George, Adriana Barraza, Sullivan Stapleton, Peta Sergeant, Geraldine Hakewill
Cinematography : Lorenzo Senatore
Edited by Lorenzo Senatore
Production companies : A Higher Standard, Broken Road Productions, Industry Entertainment, Nickel City Pictures, 2521 Entertainment
Distributed by Angel Studios (United States)
Release date : September 11, 2026 (United States)
Running time : 99 minutes