Summary
Glen Powell hypes upThe Running Manremake, saying “I’ve been working on my sprint.” Originally published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman,Stephen King’s 1982 novel was first adapted into the 1987 film following Arnold Schwarzeneggeras a man who is wrongly convicted of a crime and forced to compete on a game show in which contestants must outrun professional killers. Directed by Edgar Wright, who co-wrote the script with Michael Bacall,The Running Manremakeis set to start filming this fall with Powell starring in the lead role.
During an exclusive interview withScreen Rantpromoting his Audible Original podcastThe Best Man’s Ghostwriter, out on September 12,Powell hyped up Wright’s upcoming remake ofThe Running Man. The star says he’s “been doing a lot of sprinting” in preparation and went on to express his admiration for the director and his excitement about working with him. He shared that he has been hoping to work with Wright since he saw the filmmaker’s international breakout featureShaun of the Dead, which premiered in 2004. Read Powell’s full comments below:
I have been doing a lot of sprinting. That’s all I can say. I’ve been working on my sprint. [Laughs] No, I’ll say that Edgar Wright has been one of my favorite filmmakers for as long as I can remember. I think since Shaun of the Dead, I was like, “I can’t wait to work with this guy.” And he just keeps churning out brilliant things that only his brain could concoct. The Running Man is something he’s 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.
The Running Man Remake: Release Date, Cast, Story & Everything We Know About Edgar Wright’s Stephen King Movie
Famed director Edgar Wright has signed on to remake Stephen King’s The Running Man, and there are already exciting updates.
What To Expect From The Running Man Remake
Edgar Wright’s Adaptation Should Be Faithful, But Fun
The 1987Running Manmovie, adapted by Steven E. de Souza and directed by Paul Michael Glaser, was only loosely based onKing’s bookof the same name, and therefore only retained the basic premise of the violent game show and a few character names. While the original movie is considered clever sci-fi satire with outrageous costumes but straightforward direction, it bears little resemblance to King’s novel. However,Wright’s remake is expected to be much more faithful to its source material.
For starters, this means thatdirector Edgar Wright’s remake should beset in a dystopian United States during the year 2025, as opposed to the 1987 adaptation which changed its setting to between 2017 and 2019. A more faithful adaptation ofThe Running Manwould also be much darker, grittier, and more dystopian than the 1987 movie. However, Powell’s comments suggest that, in addition to staying true to its source material, Wright’s remake should also incorporate his distinctive, fun approach.
The result should be an adaptation that blends the dark dystopian elements of King’s novel with Wright’s own signature style,known for his sharp wit, kinetic energy, and playful approach to genre. With Wright at the helm,The Running Manremake promises to be a blend of both King’s dark dystopian vision and Wright’s signature wit and energy. As filming begins this fall, fans can expect a remake that is both faithful and fun.
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.
Teaming With Stephen King Could Be Very Good For Edgar Wright
The Director’s Genre Pastiches Are Generally Beloved
By embracing the darker tone of the originalThe Running Mannovel, it seems thatWright intends to continue his run of more serious genre effortsafter his2021 movieLast Night in Soho, which blended time travel with murderous horror drama. However, while that movie was well-received by critics and even earned a Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, it represented a major dip from the typical run of high scores for Edgar Wright movies.See every score the filmmaker has earned for a narrative feature he has directed sinceShaun of the Deadbelow:
Shaun of the Dead(2004)
92%
91%
82%
89%
Last Night in Soho(2021)
75%
BecauseLast Night in Sohosaw him dabbling in horror for the first time sinceShaun of the Deadand in horror without comedy for the first time ever, it remains to be seen if theRunning Manremake will be an improvement on the movie’s 75% score. However,precedent shows thatWright can thrive when he is wearing his influences on his sleeve. While his previous adaptation of pre-existing source material, 2010’sScott Pilgrim vs. the World, was his lowest-rated movie prior toSoho, his highest-rated movies contain some of his most potent and loving homages to genre storytelling.
Shaun of the Deadis jam-packed with references to classic zombie movies,Hot Fuzzreferences many paranoid and action classics of the 1970s and beyond, andBaby Driveris a love letter to many heist and car chase movies throughout cinema history.
Even thoughThe Running Manpromises to be darker, it seems unlikely that Wright would pass up the opportunity to let his love for variousStephen King moviesand novels slip around the edges. His infectious enthusiasm for the material has a history of connecting with audiences as well as critics, so in addition topotentially earning another strong Rotten Tomatoes score, it could help the movie become a well-regarded classic. By teaming with up-and-coming superstar Glen Powell, Wright could be cementing the new movie’s success as a beloved entry in his career in spite of its more serious tone.
$38 million
67%
61%
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.
