Start warming up, because it’s time to get running. Edgar Wright is bringing The Running Man back to the big screen in 2025 with an adaptation that aims to stay true to Stephen King’s original novel.
Glen Powell, fresh off Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters, is set to take on the role of Ben Richards, the desperate contestant forced to survive a deadly game show previously played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 adaptation. A new image of Wright already on set has surfaced, showing him deep in concentration as he guides Powell through the high-stakes world of The Running Man. Wright’s signature style, known for its rapid editing and kinetic energy, has shaped films across multiple genres, from the psychological horror of Last Night in Soho to the high-octane action of Baby Driver.
In a new interview with Empire, Wright shared his enthusiasm for the project, explaining that he was drawn to the novel’s structure and pacing. “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,” he said. “It does feel like making a road movie in a lot of ways: a very intense, dangerous road movie. Ben is moving through different environments and meeting different people as he tries to survive 30 days out in the wild.”
Powell’s casting was a deliberate choice, with Wright likening his career trajectory to Bruce Willis before Die Hard. “I felt it was important to see somebody who hadn’t really done something like this before,” Wright explained. “It’s similar to Bruce Willis when he was still the guy from Moonlighting, before he did Die Hard, where that adds to the suspense. Can they make it?” Powell has built a reputation as a charismatic leading man, but this role marks a departure from his usual projects, pushing him into a more intense and physical performance.
Michael Bacall co-wrote the screenplay with Wright, and the project boasts a strong producing team that includes Nira Park and Simon Kinberg. Alongside Powell, the cast includes Katy O’Brian (The Mandalorian), Josh Brolin (Dune: Part Two), Michael Cera (Barbie), William H. Macy (Shameless), and Colman Domingo (Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man).
Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the 1987 film took major liberties with the story, turning it into a campy sci-fi action film with Schwarzenegger’s trademark one-liners and a more straightforward battle against a corrupt government. Over the years, it gained a cult following, but many Running Man fans have long hoped for an adaptation that better reflects the grim, dystopian tone of the novel.
King’s novel, originally published in 1982 under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman, follows a future where a totalitarian government entertains the masses with a brutal reality show. Contestants are given a head start before being hunted by professional killers, with survival granting them a massive cash prize. The book’s setting in 2025 makes the upcoming adaptation’s release eerily well-timed.
The Running Man will open in cinemas on 7 November 2025.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
Kevin Low
