Summary
The Running Manis slated for a remake starring actorGlen Powell, but “remake” has become something of a fraught term in popular culture. While some remakes can be good,remakes of Stephen King’s work, in particular, have a poor track record for quality. With audiences tiring of an endless cycle of remakes and reboots coming out of major studios, the movie will be desperate to avoid becoming another mediocre Stephen King remake. Fortunately, it has one crucial advantage over other adaptations
While banking on the star power of someone like Powell is a solid gamble, it’s not the most significant factor behindThe Running Man’s potential release success. Powell has proven to be a huge draw for audiences, with strong acting chops and plenty of charisma,but it’s not uncommon for an amazing actor to be wastedwhen the writing and directing aren’t up to the same quality. Instead,The Running Manwill look to rely on other factors to break the curse that hangs over King’s remakes.
Stephen King Remakes Are Usually Worse Than The Original
And It’s Not Even Close
There have been some fantastic remakes of King’s work over the years. The more recent films remakingIt, for example, have proven that the curse that hangs over King’s remakes isn’t inevitable. While theItmovies aren’t without their faults, with the brutal attack that opensIt: Chapter 2a prime example, they still rank as an improvement over the Tim Curry miniseries that first brought the story to life.
BothCarrieandChildren of the Cornhave made multiple attempts to revisit the first movie adaptation, but each has ultimately fallen far short of success.
The problem remains that good Stephen King remakes are few and far between. 2020’s remake ofThe Standfailed to wow audiences, while Stephen King’sShiningmovie was a critical failure compared to Kubrick’s version. BothCarrieandChildren of the Cornhave made multiple attempts to revisit the first movie adaptation, but each has ultimately fallen far short of success. When taking this track record into account,things don’t look particularly good forThe Running Man,
10 Ways Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Remake Will Be Different From Schwarzenegger’s Version
Edgar Wright is directing an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man, which will be completely unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 version.
Why The Running Man Will Likely Be Better Than The Original Movie
The Original May Be A Classic, But It’s Still Flawed
1987’s adaptation ofThe Running Man, starringArnold Schwarzenegger,was a product of its time.The film banked on Schwarzenegger’s star powerand ultimately became overshadowed by the actor’s presence. With an action star as the lead, it relied on quippy one-liners and campy violence, rather than remaining faithful to the story it was adapting. While it’s got its own cult following as a part of Schwarzenegger’s body of work, it loses sight of its purpose and what made the original story compelling.
The upcoming adaptation from directorEdgar Wright, while still banking on the box office draw of Powell,promises to be more faithful to King’s original work. This pledge is the single biggest reason the movie is likely to improve on its predecessor. More than that, films have come a long way from the schlocky action films of the 80s. Wright has already spoken about his dedication to actually adapting the original novel (via theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast), and it’s that kind of care and attention to detail that makes for a memorable adaptation. Only time will tell, but for now, things are looking good.
The Running Man
Cast
The Running Man is a dystopian action film set in a 2017 totalitarian state where the government uses deadly game shows to control the populace. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a framed convict navigating the lethal challenges of the televised spectacle The Running Man, hosted by the relentless Damon Killian.
