The Running Man is getting a remake with Edgar Wright directing the project, and the most recent update promises this version will fix the biggest mistake of the 1987 adaptation, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Stephen King’s novels, short stories, and more have been a source of inspiration for many filmmakers, and many of his works have been adapted to the big screen at least once. Among them is The Running Man, a dystopian thriller published in 1982 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman. Five years later, The Running Man got a film adaptation directed by Paul Michael Glaser.

The Running Man follows Captain Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger), who is coerced into participating in The Running Man, a violent reality TV show where criminals, referred to as “runners”, have to escape from armed mercenaries called “stalkers” – and those who do so successfully earn a government pardon and a tropical vacation. The Running Man was a critical and commercial failure, but Wright’s upcoming remake is giving hope for it not only being better but also fixing the mistakes of Schwarzenegger’s version, and the latest update points to the remake being on the right path.

Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Will Be Closer To Stephen King’s Book

The Running Man Promises To Be A Proper Adaptation

A remake of The Running Man was announced to be in development in 2021, and it has been teased since then to be more faithful to King’s novel. Wright was announced as director of the remake not long after, but The Running Man has been going through a long pre-production process. In April 2024, Glen Powell was announced as the lead star of The Running Man, but it’s still unknown when it will begin filming. However, Wright has offered a big and promising update on the project, assuring fans of the novel that his movie will be closer to King’s book.

Speaking with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Wright opened up about his remake of The Running Man, sharing why it’s an interesting project to him. Wright explained he likes the book more than Schwarzenegger’s movie, which “didn’t really adapt the book”, and the novel is “crying out to be adapted”.

Wright’s words reassure that his remake will be more loyal to the source material than Schwarzenegger’s version, which was so different from it that it’s hardly an adaptation of King’s novel. Given Wright’s track record in horror and suspense, it all points to his remake finally nailing the novel’s tone along with the story, themes, and characters.

Why Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man Didn’t Do Justice To The Book

The Running Man Failed As An Adaptation Of Stephen King’s Book

Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man took the premise and basic concept of the movie and ended up doing its own thing, even changing its overall tone. The novel, set in 2025, sees the country’s economy in shambles and the government becoming totalitarian, with violence arising all over the world. 28-year-old impoverished Ben Richards is unable to find work, is blacklisted from his trade, and his daughter is gravely ill and needs medicine. Ben’s wife resorts to sex work to get money, so, in a desperate move, Ben turns to the Games Network.

This government-operated TV station produces violent game shows, and Ben is chosen for The Running Man. In it, the contestant is declared an enemy of the state and released with a 12-hour head start before an elite team of hitmen (the “hunters”) go after him to kill him. The contestant earns $100 per hour that he stays alive and free, $100 more for each law enforcement officer or Hunter he kills, and $1 billion if he survives for 30 days. Schwarzenegger’s movie completely changed all this, only keeping some of the characters’ names and the violence of the TV show.

Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man works well as its own thing but not as an adaptation of King’s novel, as it got rid completely of the main themes and core message of the novel in favor of turning it into an over-the-top action movie. The changes were so drastic that King asked for his name not to be used in the movie’s marketing, and he expressed his dislike of Schwarzenegger’s casting. By being closer to the novel, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man can finally do justice to Stephen King’s book, fix the mistakes of the previous adaptation, and be a lot more exciting and enjoyable.

Source: Happy Sad Confused.