Brief
Glen Powell says he avoids politics and blames Paramount marketing cuts for The Running Man’s weak box office
Powell says political talk divides people and points to a month‑early marketing department layoff at Paramount for the film’s disappointing earnings.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Glen Powell told Esquire that he deliberately avoids political conversation, saying it "divides people" and is "not presently possible" for him to engage. In the same interview, Powell blamed Paramount’s decision to cut its entire marketing department a month before the release of The Running Man for the film’s weak box‑office performance.
Powell noted that Paramount’s staff reductions, announced on Oct. 29, 2025, affected roughly 1,000 jobs amid a merger, leaving the movie without a full marketing push after its Nov. 14, 2025 debut. The actor added that his mother’s Treasury work under Reagan never brought politics to the family dinner table, reinforcing his stance to stay out of political discourse.
Powell’s co‑star Sydney Sweeney also declined to discuss politics in a recent Cosmopolitan cover interview, echoing a broader trend among Hollywood talent. The article referenced comments from Jennifer Lawrence about the limits of celebrity political influence, but the focus remained on Powell’s personal view and the alleged marketing shortfall.
Key facts
- Glen Powell says he avoids political discussion, calling it divisive. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Powell attributes The Running Man’s weak box office to Paramount cutting its marketing department a month before release. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Paramount’s staff cuts on Oct. 29, 2025, impacted about 1,000 jobs during a merger. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- The Running Man was released on Nov. 14, 2025. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Sources
- [1] hollywoodreporter.com — originally reported as “Glen Powell Says He Doesn’t Want to Talk Politics, Blames Paramount Marketing Cuts for ‘The Running Man’ Box Office Performance”
