Glen Powell Producing Croc Thriller named The Death Roll for Lionsgate

Glen Powell is the new most in-demand leading actor in action movies these days, especially after his success in The Running Man (2025) and How to Make a Killing (2026). And now, with Glen Powell producing croc thriller making headlines, he’s expanding his influence beyond acting into high-stakes creature horror.​

Powell has an active production company named Barnstorm. He has co-produced and co-written the 2024 Netflix film, Hit Man.

Plot details of The Death Roll​

The film’s story follows a couple whose dream vacation turns into a nightmare when they encounter the unexpected and encroaching saltwater crocodile that is 15 feet long.

Glen Powell will executive produce The Death Roll, a creature feature survival horror film. Dan Cohen will also support the executive production under their Barnstorm banner. Together, Powell and Cohen are also producing A24’s TV series Texas Chainsaw Massacre, developed by JT Mollner.​

Bryan Haas is also among the producers, and the script is written by Kas Graham and Rebecca Pollock. No official casting has been released.​

The film is in early development phases, and Lionsgate has acquired the distribution rights. Trailer and release date details are not present at the moment.​

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Glen Powell on his struggles, passion, and love for filmmaking​

Indie Wire reported his love for movies has been deep-rooted since his childhood days. Powell opened up about his love for theaters as he used to beg his parents to stay in one all day. He loved summer days and summer blockbusters. He went on to explain,​

“It sounds silly, but when you have a great passion, it’s not really work. I’ve loved movies my whole life…I [was] an unemployed actor for a really, really long time, so I know what it’s like to dream of [being a working actor] and not be able to do it. As long as I can stay in the game, I’ll be happy.” [Source]​

He elucidated that he was deeply in awe whenever he was on a film set, which shows his acknowledgement of this cinematic art. He truly loves the process of filmmaking and finds himself genuinely invested in it.

Further, he disclosed his 15-year struggles to be where he is today. He had been through the ups and downs of Hollywood before his recent major hits. He didn’t get it all in an overnight success, and his lifelong dream to be an actor has impacted his acting choices as well.

Movies are his “love language,” and that is the reason he has loved going to the cinema all his life, Powell explained. He finds these two places the happiest places to be, as he loves to be a part of this creative process, particularly when he is the lead.​

Are creature features still popular—and will Glen Powell producing croc thriller change that?​

Creature feature horror films saw a surge in their popularity from the 1950s onwards when classic monster movies evolved into modern, high-tension, and high-concept hits like Jurassic Park (1993), Anaconda (1997), Godzilla (1998), The Host (2006), Cloverfield (2008), and Pacific Rim (2013).

The subgenre is still loved by many, having thrived from the recent big-budget blockbusters such as Prey (2022), Meg 2: The Trench (2023), Godzilla Minus One (2023), and Jurassic World Rebirth (2025).

Though the storyline of The Death Roll seems very cliché, a couple’s vacation turns into a nightmare due to a deadly creature, which could seem like a repetition. Still, a creature feature could be successful with such a plot if the formula is executed well with high-quality practical effects/CGI, intense pacing, and a memorable creature, as seen in Jaws (1995).​

The genre still remains a niche rather than dominant, as the audiences are selective. Mid-budget survival horror like Crawl (2019) performs well with tight storytelling rather than grand spectacle. However, not every creature feature becomes a blockbuster, as the concept is raw and intense.​

Now, Powell is attached to the project, which means someone who is passionate about movies will bring high energy and a must-watch theatrical event. He is someone who loves theaters and would certainly want to produce audience-friendly entertainment. His connection to the project means that he can reposition the creature feature from a particular “niche horror pick” into something more appealing to the younger audiences who follow rising stars more than genres themselves.