The Running Man Star Glen Powell's Mortifying Moment With Dustin Hoffman

The Running Man star, Glen Powell, recently revealed one of his most embarrassing moments in Hollywood. The actor claimed that his script reading with Dustin Hoffman went so horribly that he could see “the life drain from his eyes.”

During a recent episode of Hot Ones, hosted by Sean Evans, Powell recalled his early days in the entertainment industry. He explained being star-struck by celebrities back then, and Hoffman was no exception. He stated that the first time they met, the Kramer vs. Kramer actor praised his performance in The Great Debaters. His compliment stunned Powell. He was elated that he had such a positive reaction to the film and his acting skills.

My first week, I found myself at a dinner sitting next to Dustin Hoffman. I was sitting next to him, and he saw a movie I did called The Great Debaters. The fact that [he] saw this movie just blew my mind. I was like, ‘This is the coolest moment of my entire life.’ He said, ‘You’re a good actor.’ I was like, ‘Oh dude, thank you.’

Things only got better for him when Hoffman told him that he had a potential role that he would like him to read for (Powell never disclosed the name of the movie). “He goes, ‘I got something, I got something for you. Let’s keep in touch.’” And, much to his surprise, he actually got a phone call from the iconic actor shortly after, inviting him over to his house. “I’m losing my mind, I’m like, ‘This is the coolest thing.’ He’s like, ‘I’m gonna invite you to my office and I want you to read for something.’”

Of course, he jumped at the offer. Unfortunately, his excitement quickly turned into disappointment after he began to read. Powell said that his nerves got to him because he idolized Hoffman. “I started reading, but I was so in awe that Dustin Hoffman was sitting across from me. He’s one of my favorite actors of all time. As I’m reading, I’m watching the life drain from his eyes, being like, ‘This guy sucks so bad.’ And I was like, ‘Oh no,’” he explained.

He remembered how awful he felt by the time he left. “I’m watching him. I’m losing him. And then I’m being like, ‘Yeah, you’re losing him,’ and then I look back, and I’m losing him even more. And I left so defeated.”

While the experience was mortifying, Powell did learn from it. He said that he eventually came to realize that celebrities, even the major ones, are still just people at the end of the day. After working in the industry for so long, he has learned how to see them as colleagues rather than idols. He made it clear that he is still happy to meet and work with people whom he admires. However, he also knows how to act normally around them now.

You start looking at these guys as, like, legends, and then you start looking at them as collaborators who are just trying to make magic for audiences around the world, you know? I think that’s the difference. I think the excitement of this business hasn’t worn off, but my perspective has.

The Running Man will premiere in theaters on November 14, 2025.

Release Date

November 14, 2025

Producers

George Linder, Nira Park, Simon Kinberg