’The Running Man’s Katy O’Brian Reveals Which Incredibly Important Scene Almost Didn’t Make the Cut [Exclusive]

Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for The Running Man.

Now outpacing the competition at the box office, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man is a pulse-pounding thriller that delivers non-stop action from the word “go.” Starring Glen Powell in the role of Ben Richards, the latest take on the celebrated Stephen King novel largely focuses on its primary protagonist as he races against all odds — and a bloodthirsty gang of hunters — to make it to the finish line and deliver financial security to his family. But, along with Powell in the driver’s seat pushing the narrative, the film is filled with top-tier supporting performances from names like William H. Macy, Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, and Katy O’Brian.

Although Powell’s character makes it out alive and inadvertently starts a revolution along the way, the same can’t be said for his fellow runner, O’Brian’s Jenni Laughlin. Charismatic, suave, and ready for the party, Laughlin is the embodiment of here for a good time, not a long time, but in the end, she’s brought down by two red-headed youngsters with flamethrowers. Although the lead-up to her demise is one deserving of the character, as it involves a knock-down, drag-out fight at a casino during which she escapes in a pink convertible, O’Brian felt that Laughlin got the short end of the stick when it came to a send-off that properly fit her character’s personality.

During a recent installment of Collider’s Ladies Night with Perri Nemiroff, the Love Lies Bleeding star said of Laughlin’s death, “It was cool and annoying at the same time.” Explaining how things shifted from the original script to what audiences will see at their local cinema, O’Brian added,

“I’m glad they let me come back for that because, originally, you didn’t even see it, which I was so bummed about. So, I got to come back, and they filmed a little extra. But yeah, when they’re going through, and they’re talking about the different types of runners, you’ve got the Negative Man. He goes out, like, guns blazing, bombs, whatever, and I was like, ‘This is how I…? Alright.’”

Katy O’Brian Had Revenge on the Mind

At the very least, O’Brian said she was hoping she’d be able to take out her assailants, telling Nemiroff, “I was like, ‘Can’t I at least get the kids? Something?’ But I get it.” As audiences will know, not only did Laughlin not make things even with the siblings who murdered her, but they were hailed as heroes on the stage of The Running Man by its host, Bobby T (Domingo), and were given a lifetime supply of the cereal, Fun Twinks.

The Running Man is now playing in theaters. You can watch O’Brian’s full episode of Collider Ladies Night with Nemiroff below.