Stephen King’s dystopian thriller The Running Man is racing back to the silver screen, with director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Last Night in Soho) at the helm and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters) stepping into the lead role famously portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 film.
In an interview with Empire Magazine, Wright revealed that his adaptation of The Running Man will be more faithful to King’s original novel than the action-heavy 1980s adaptation. Wright stated:
“One of the things about the book that I loved was the fact that Ben Richards is out in the world on his own, so it’s like the deadliest game of hide and seek. It does feel like making a road movie in a lot of ways: a very intense, dangerous road movie.”
The story follows Ben Richards, played by Powell, as he navigates a treacherous landscape, evading capture while encountering a variety of characters in a desperate bid to survive 30 days on the run. Wright explains:
“Ben is moving through different environments and meeting different people as he tries to survive 30 days out in the wild,”
Some of those different people will be played by Colman Domingo (Candyman) and muscle mommy Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), adding further star power to the highly anticipated reboot. With Wright promising a fresh yet faithful interpretation of King’s vision, fans of the novel and newcomers alike have plenty to look forward to when The Running Man hits theaters next fall.
Paramount Pictures has slated the release for November 7, 2025.
Even though I felt like Last Night in Soho was a letdown, I am pretty excited for Wright’s adaptation here. Are you looking forward to the more serious and dangerous take on The Running Man?
