- New film will remain faithful to Stephen King’s book
- Glen Powell and Josh Brolin to star
- Director Edgar Wright re-unites with Michael Cera
Edgar Wright, director of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, is remaking Stephen King’s The Running Man. It comes 38 years after the original film, which starred everybody’s favourite action hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The 1987 film was based loosely on King’s dystopian sci-fi novel from five years earlier, which he published under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman. Funnily enough, King’s story is based in 2025.
The story centers on convicted criminals entering a deadly reality TV game show. They must escape being hunted by hitmen over 30 days, in order to win a cash prize. Ever wondered where Squid Game got its inspiration?
Schwarzenegger was the star of the original film, but now Paramount Pictures and director Wright have a Golden Golden nominee for best actor leading the cast.
Here’s what we know about the remake so far.
What is the plot of The Running Man remake?
“Reality TV has progressed to the point where people are willing to wager their lives in exchange for a chance at enormous wealth. Ben Richards is desperate – he needs money to treat his daughter’s illness”, reads the official synopsis of the novel. While there’s no trailers yet released, it’s been reported that Wright’s film will be more faithful to the novel’s dark and bleak story than the 1987 adaptation.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Wright said, “I like the film but I like the book more, and they didn’t really adapt the book. Even as a teenager when I saw the Schwarzenegger film I was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t like the book at all!”.
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Wright has written the script with screenwriter Michael Bacall. They previously collaborated on the 2010 comic book adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
“You know what? I’ve often thought that that book is something crying out to be adapted. Now, that doesn’t mean that it’s easy! But it’s something that we are working on.”
With no Schwarzenegger this time around, it’s unlikely to be another full-blown action packed extravaganza. Wright’s film will serve as a stand-alone film, rather than a remake of Paul Michael Glaser’s original.
Who is in the cast?
Glen Powell will star in the lead role as Ben Richards, portrayed by Schwarzenegger in the original.
Following his breakout role in Top Gun: Maverick, the actor has starred in 2024’s Twisters and 2023’s Hit Man. He co-wrote the screenplay for the latter and also picked up a Golden Globe nominee for his acting performance.
Speaking with ScreenRant, Powell assures fans his work in the remake lives up to the film’s name:
“I have been doing a lot of sprinting. That’s all I can say. I’ve been working on my sprint…The Running Man is something he’s (Wright) so passionate about, and we’re really taking the Stephen King book and just adding a lot of fun Edgar Wright flavor to it, and it has been awesome. That’s going to be a really fun one; I’m super excited about it.”
Josh Brolin, Thanos in the Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, is reportedly in final negotiations to join Powell. While the details of Brolin’s role are unknown, it is expected he’ll play Damon Killian, the antagonist behind the violent reality show.
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The Batman’s Jayme Lawson is casted. She’ll play Powell’s on-screen wife, Sheila. Michael Cera, who worked with Wright on Scott Pilgrim vs the World, plays Bradley Throckmorton, a rebel who helps Ben.
They’ll be joined by Coda actor Emilia Jones, Guardians of the Galaxy’s Lee Pace, All American star Daniel Ezra, Love Lies Bleeding’s Katy O’Brian and The Bikeriders actor Karl Glusman.
When is The Running Man released?
Originally, the film was scheduled to arrive on 21 November 2025, but this put it head-to-head competition with the second part of the Wicked film adaptations Wicked: For Good.
Now, it has been rescheduled to hit theaters on 7 November 7, 2025. Paramount also has access to IMAX screens for its release.