Katy O'Brian recently returned to Collider Ladies Night to discuss her latest projects, notably the release of Edgar Wright's adaptation of Stephen King's 'The Running Man'. During her conversation with Perri Nemiroff, O'Brian delved into the realities of navigating a career that has quickly seen her join some of the biggest franchises in cinematic history, including Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Remarkably, in just five years, O'Brian has secured roles in three colossal franchises: Star Wars (The Mandalorian), the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), and Mission: Impossible. This impressive feat is further highlighted by her recent flurry of four major releases following 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning': 'Queens of the Dead', 'Christy', 'Maintenance Required', and now 'The Running Man'.

In 'The Running Man', O'Brian portrays Jenni Laughlin, one of three contestants chosen for 'The Network’s' dangerous game show. Alongside Glen Powell’s Ben Richards and Martin Herlihy’s Jansky, Laughlin aims to evade McCone (Lee Pace) and 'The Hunters' for 30 days to win a billion New Dollar reward. The odds are slim, as no one has ever won, but producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) ensures maximum entertainment, even at the contestants' peril.

Reflecting on her career trajectory, O'Brian revealed an interesting paradox regarding major franchise roles. While many assume an MCU role would be a career game-changer, O'Brian candidly stated that her part as Jentorra in 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' ultimately 'didn't' have the expected impact. She was told it would transform her life, but it primarily offered experience and networking opportunities rather than directly leading to her next big job.

In contrast, O'Brian credits 'The Mandalorian' with significantly advancing her career. The popular series provided opportunities to work with various directors, leading to connections that secured her roles in 'Ant-Man' (with Peyton Reed) and 'Twisters' (with Lee Isaac Chung). This demonstrated her professionalism and helped her transition from television to blockbuster films. She humorously noted that it showed she was 'tolerable to work with'.

Despite having Star Wars and Marvel on her resume, O'Brian found it challenging to secure an agent, leading to a mentor's blunt advice: 'nobody cares' about those roles in that specific context. The industry's focus constantly shifts. What truly 'pushed the needle' for O'Brian was her role in the A24 genre mash-up 'Love Lies Bleeding'. This film proved to be the catalyst, helping her secure an agent over a year later.

'Love Lies Bleeding' also directly influenced her casting in two major releases of 2025. It demonstrated her range, leading to her role in 'Christy', a biopic where she portrays a real person, Lisa Holewyne, connected to Christy Martin’s incredible story. O'Brian found playing a real person a daunting but rewarding challenge, ensuring authentic representation.

Furthermore, director Edgar Wright, having seen 'Love Lies Bleeding', specifically crafted the role of Jenni Laughlin in 'The Running Man' with O'Brian in mind. This allowed her to explore a 'silly, kind of more wild side' – a stark departure from her previous characters, further cementing her reputation as an artist with remarkable range. With a banner year in 2025 and diverse projects like 'Christy', 'The Running Man', and 'Queens of the Dead', Katy O'Brian continues to showcase her versatility, promising a bright future in the industry.