Edgar Wright on How Glen Powell’s The Running Man Differs From Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie

According to Edgar Wright, there’s a crucial distinction between the upcoming reboot of “The Running Man” starring Glen Powell and the original film featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be overseeing the reimagining of Stephen King’s iconic novel, The Running Man. This suspenseful tale, first penned in 1982, previously graced our screens as a 1987 film directed by Michael Glaser, with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role. Now, I have the privilege to breathe new life into this timeless story.

In the year 2019, the United States operates as a totalitarian regime, and the most popular TV program is The Running Man – a gruesome game show in which prisoners strive for freedom to evade a grisly demise. The protagonist, Ben Richards (portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger), finds himself wrongfully accused by the government and imprisoned. However, his fate takes an unexpected turn when he’s given a chance to escape by participating in this lethal show. Yet, the ruthless host, Damon Killian (played by Richard Dawson), is determined to ensure that Richards doesn’t make it out alive.

In Wright’s film, Powell takes on the role of Ben Richards, while the ensemble includes Katy O’Brian, Daniel Eztra, Karl Glusman, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, William H. Macy, Colman Domingo, and others.

What did Edgar Wright say about The Running Man remake with Glen Powell?

In an interview with Empire Magazine, Wright shared that, similar to King’s novel, his film will feature scenes that occur beyond the game show stage.

He mentioned that one aspect of the book he found particularly captivating was how Ben Richards was navigating the world independently, giving it an eerie sense of the deadliest game of hide-and-seek. Remarkably, the narrative mirrors a cinematic journey – a thrilling, perilous road trip…as Ben traverses diverse landscapes and interacts with various individuals in his quest to endure 30 days in the wilderness.

Additionally, Wright mentioned about collaborating with Powell on The Running Man, “I found it significant to work with someone who hadn’t tackled something like this before. It mirrors Bruce Willis during his Moonlighting days, prior to Die Hard, which adds an element of suspense: will they pull it off?

In U.S. theaters on November 7, 2025, “The Running Man” is set for release by Paramount Pictures.

Read More

2025-03-10 23:12