Glen Powell reveals how his new film updates an iconic British comedy “in all the best ways”

by

Glen Powell quickly returns to cinemas this week with a new film inspired by a classic from the past, following his recent role in Edgar Wright’s exciting update of ‘The Running Man’.

I recently read John Patton Ford’s “How to Make a Killing,” and it’s fascinating! It’s actually based on a really clever old movie called “Kind Hearts and Coronets” from 1949. In that film, Alec Guinness plays eight different family members who all get… well, let’s just say eliminated, by this guy trying to inherit a title. It’s a darkly funny story about someone murdering their way to the top!

This new movie updates the classic story for today’s audiences. Powell now plays the character previously known as Price, renamed Beckett Redfellow, and he’s joined by Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, and Topher Grace in other important roles.

Want to see this content?

Hey, just so you know, this page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA to help keep things safe. Before it loads anything, they’re asking for my permission – it’s because reCAPTCHA uses cookies and things like that. If I want to see the content, I need to click ‘Accept and continue’ to let it work as intended.

In a recent interview with TopMob, Powell shared his appreciation for how Ford updated a classic story for modern audiences.

Powell, in a recent interview, praised director John Patton Ford, noting his strong and consistent ability to create a distinct and compelling mood, especially as demonstrated in his film, Emily the Criminal.

He’s exceptionally skilled at balancing the delicate tone of this film. It was a very challenging movie to make work, and because he both wrote and directed it, he ultimately controlled how it would be perceived by audiences.

Powell mentioned that while the classic film Kind Hearts and Coronets was a major influence, it feels like a product of its time. He believes this new adaptation successfully updates the story for a contemporary audience in a compelling way.

He felt John did an excellent job of reinventing it, making it feel new, exciting, and delightfully quirky, in a really positive way.

Like the first movie, I think viewers will probably end up sympathizing with Powell’s character, even though he definitely commits murder. The actor himself said he really enjoyed exploring that strange contradiction – how we can still care about someone doing terrible things.

He believes that if a script feels immediately obvious, it’s likely not a good project. He explained that a strong script should be open to interpretation, making you think about different approaches and how the audience might experience the story’s unfolding.

He continued, saying it’s always exciting to wonder how everything will come together. You don’t truly know if a film works until you start editing it and ask yourself, ‘Did we succeed?’ He expressed real pride in this particular movie, calling it a fantastic experience, and said that’s what makes the process so enjoyable.

I remember reading that Harrison Ford actually wrote the script over ten years ago! It was a really popular script on the Black List back in 2014, meaning a lot of people in the industry thought it was great, but it hadn’t been made yet. What’s cool is that Josh Powell, the director, knew about the project even before it hit the Black List – he’d been following it for a while, apparently.

He explained that the film was initially titled ‘Rothchild.’ He first encountered the script shortly after moving to Los Angeles, likely around 2009 or 2010. He originally tried out for a different part, but didn’t get it, and ultimately, that version of the movie was never made.

It was amazing to revisit this story after all this time. I’ve always loved it – it’s always been a bit wild, fun, and exciting, with interesting characters and a really immersive world. Surprisingly, the script hadn’t changed much at all – it was already fantastic!

How to Make a Killing is released in UK cinemas on Wednesday 11 March 2026.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona writes about films for TopMob, covering new releases in theaters and on streaming services. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time he’s interviewed many famous actors and reviewed all kinds of movies.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-03-11 15:10