The future is a dangerous place. Well, that is if you happen to be the star of a reality television show like The Running Man.
Survivor, this ain’t. Although, surviving is one of the main aims of the show.
And if working class hero, Ben Richards has anything about him (and of course, he does) he will be doing his level best to survive. When you take part in The Running Man, you put your life in your hands, so you had best be able to outpace the competition.
Now, if you think The Running Man sounds familiar, it’s not because you caught the show on TV last night, or because your friend’s brother’s boss took part in the reality series last weekend (The Running Man is fictional by the way – at least for now), it’s because The Running Man is both an existing book, and an existing movie. The former was published by Stephen King (under the pseudonym, Richard Bachman) back in 1982, while the latter was a 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
However, this year, Paramount Pictures is delivering a new take on The Running Man, which aims to be just as gripping, just as deadly, and just as impactful as its predecessors. The movie is directed by British filmmaker, Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Last Night in Soho), who is working from a screenplay he co-wrote with Michael Bacall (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 21 Jump Street).
Wright has been interested in remaking a version of The Running Man all the way back to 2017, and has been attached to this new film since 2021. His take is said to be closer in tone to the original source material, rather than the previous adaptation, so expect plenty of darkness a la Stephen King.
Describing the new movie, Paramount Pictures, said: “In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television — a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward.
“Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian, to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favourite—and a threat to the entire system.
“As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.”
Glen Powell is fronting the new picture, playing the titular ‘running man’, aka Ben Richards. The part was previously played by Arnie back in ’87, but Powell will be looking to make it his own this time around.
And chances are, he’ll do a grand job. Powell has seen his star rise considerably over the last few years, thanks to parts in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Anyone But You (2023), and Twisters (2024), so The Running Man could be the next step on his way to super-stardom.
Joining Powell on screen is Josh Brolin as Dan Killian, the producer of The Running Man television show, and Colman Domingo as host, Bobby Thompson. Other key players in the film include Lee Pace, Jayme Lawson, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, and William H. Macy.
Filming on The Running Man took place between November 2024 and March 2025. The movie was shot in the UK, with Wembley Stadium providing space for one key action scene.
As for Ben Richards’ chance of survival, well you will have to wait and see. The endings to the book and the Arnie film differ considerably, so if you’ve only seen the original film expect this new movie to throw a potential curve ball.
Although, you won’t have to wait too long to find out what happens. The Running Man will be jogging on down to cinemas on November 7th.
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