Gal Gadot stars as a mother forced into a desperate race across London to save her kidnapped son in the new thriller "The Runner," which opens in Ukrainian cinemas on September 17, 2026. The film is being released in Ukraine by distributor Adastra Cinema.
Gadot plays Maya Marten, a corporate lawyer and mother whose carefully ordered life falls apart in an instant. On the day her legal team is preparing for a major trial against a dangerous criminal boss, built around testimony from a key witness, Maya heads out for her usual morning run. During the run she receives a terrifying phone call: instead of her eight-year-old son's voice, she hears a threatening stranger who claims to have abducted the boy from school.
According to the film's plot, the attacker has hacked the blood glucose monitor her son wears to manage his diabetes, using it to connect to Maya's smartphone and track her every move. He then issues an ultimatum. Maya, a former champion runner, has exactly one hour to reach the courthouse, use her professional access, and kill the witness before the trial begins. If she fails, her son will die. Unable to turn to police or anyone on the street, she sets off through the branching streets of London, with any mistake or delay costing her child's life.
Director and cast
The film comes from director Kevin Macdonald, whose earlier films "The Last King of Scotland" and "The Mauritanian" explored themes of survival and extreme moral pressure. Macdonald previously won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for "One Day in September" (1999), about the hostage crisis at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
The screenplay for "The Runner" was written by Mark Gibson, known for his work on "The Way Back" and "Snow Dogs."
Alongside Gadot, the cast includes British actor Damian Lewis, known for "Pressure" and the television series "Homeland" and "Billions." For most of the film, Lewis is heard only as the menacing voice in the heroine's headphones in the original English-language version, appearing on screen himself only near the end.
The cast also includes young actor Rory Wilmot, who is set to play Neville Longbottom in the upcoming Harry Potter television series. In "The Runner," Wilmot plays the son of Gadot's character.
Gal Gadot's nine months of training
Gadot, known for playing Wonder Woman, as well as her roles in "Red Notice," "Snow White" and the "Fast & Furious" franchise, said she does not actually enjoy running. To convincingly play a former running champion and handle exhausting sprints through busy London streets, subway carriages and office buildings, she trained for nine months under professional coaches.
Beyond the physical demands, Gadot also faced a psychological challenge on set. Because of the way the story is structured, she had to play many scenes alone, relying entirely on her own imagination to build tension. She did not actually hear the threatening voice of her on-screen antagonist through her headphones while filming, and instead constructed the confrontation on her own.
London as a character
London itself functions almost as a character in the film. Through its landmarks, urban landscapes and distinctive locations, Macdonald uses the city to underline the film's frantic pace and tense atmosphere, turning each minute of the chase into a test of endurance.
Beyond its action sequences, "The Runner" also raises concerns about how exposed people are to technology in daily life. The film shows how everyday gadgets and vital medical devices, such as blood glucose monitors, could be exploited by attackers for manipulation and terror.
Release date
"The Runner" opens in cinemas in Ukraine on September 17, 2026.
