The Running Man is the latest movie from acclaimed filmmaker Edgar Wright, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. The story centers around a falsely convicted police officer who must fight for his life when killers are sent after him as part of a twisted reality show. The Running Man seems like a very loyal adaptation that will stick closely to the spirit of King’s novel.
Although King is well-known as one of America’s most popular fiction writers, the sheer number of movies coming out this year based on his works is still surprising. Four King adaptations are releasing in 2025: The Running Man, The Life of Chuck, The Long Walk, and It: Welcome to Derry. But despite this large quanтιтy, Wright’s dystopian action flick remains the most exciting.
6
The Running Man Is One Of King’s Best Novels
The Quality Of King’s Original Novel Is Strong
Any adaptation would struggle to make a good movie from a bad novel. Thankfully, this isn’t going to be the case with Wright’s take on The Running Man, as King’s original novel is one of the writer’s best-ever books. Not only does it play with some very important dystopian themes, but the story itself is filled with unpredictable twists and complex characters.
The Running Man novel was released under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
Ben Richards is one of King’s most interesting characters, and the fact that The Running Man follows his journey so closely and in such intimate detail is a real strength that immediately sucks audiences into the narrative. It’s such a dense role that Glen Powell will surely make the most of, ᴀssuming Wright doesn’t change too much of the backstory in his script.
The Running Man isn’t always considered among King’s best novels, but it deserves to be. It’s a clear departure from the author’s typical horror-inspired storytelling, but this is one of its biggest strengths. The reader is never quite sure what to expect, and this is something that works really well when translated on-screen.
5
The Running Man Is A Star-Making Vehicle For Glen Powell
The Lead Actor Is One Of Hollywood’s Most Reliable Talents
Powell has become one of the most popular actors of his generation over the past few years, with leading roles in Anyone But You and Hit Man cementing him as a reliable comedic talent. However, the actor hasn’t yet reached his full potential when it comes to rich, dramatic roles, but The Running Man should finally give him that opportunity.
Most of Powell’s best movies take advantage of the actor’s innate charm and charisma, which has led many audiences to consider him a worthy successor to ‘90s heartthrobs like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. The Running Man will certainly take advantage of this side of Powell’s acting persona, but the character of Ben Richards demands something more fierce and vulnerable at the same time.
King certainly isn’t a traditional writer, and his characters often have very dark backstories that make them stand out from most literary protagonists. Richards is no different, and the director will certainly bring this character to life in a way that demands a lot from Powell. This movie could easily end up being the project that finally convinces audiences of the actor’s true potential.
4
The Running Man Could Be Edgar Wright’s Return To Form
The Director Needs Another Undeniable Hit
Powell is not the only person who has something to prove with The Running Man. Following the underwhelming performance of Last Night In Soho back in 2021, Wright is looking for a strong comeback project that reminds audiences exactly what he’s capable of when he’s in top form.
The director hasn’t quite reached the heights of movies like H๏τ Fuzz or Baby Driver in a long time, but the King adaptation is exactly the kind of dense, thematic narrative that he needs to get back on track. Judging by The Running Man’s first trailer, the filmmaker has brought all the electric cinematography and dynamic editing that audiences have come to expect from his films.
The primary criticism of Last Night In Soho was its messy storytelling and weak character work, and there are very few people who could fix this issue more effectively than Stephen King.
While the filmmaker has primarily focused on original scripts throughout his career, getting the opportunity to adapt an already-celebrated story could be the secret ingredient that he needs to make another all-time great project. The primary criticism of Last Night In Soho was its messy storytelling and weak character work, and there are very few people who could fix this issue more effectively than Stephen King.
3
The Running Man Can Improve Upon Its Previous Adaptation
Schwarzenegger’s Running Man Had Plenty Of Flaws
Unlike the other King adaptations that are being released this year, The Running Man has actually been adapted for the screen before. Paul Michael Glaser’s 1987 version of The Running Man starred Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role and was met with mixed reviews for its over-stylized, pulpy visuals and scattered narrative.
Thankfully, Wright’s version of The Running Man doesn’t seem to be running into any of these problems. The trailer proves that his visual style is just as powerful and energetic as ever, and there’s nothing to suggest that the award-winning writer has forgotten how to write an excellent script. It seems very likely that the new iteration will easily surpᴀss Glaser’s original.
While The Life of Chuck and The Long Walk are equally exciting because of their captivating stories and noteworthy talent behind the camera, these King adaptations don’t necessarily have the same pressure of exceeding a previous adaptation. This makes The Running Man the most important of them all, as it needs to prove that another adaptation was necessary in the first place.
2
The Running Man Is A Story That Speaks To The Real World
There’s Plenty Of Dense Social Commentary To Work With
King has always been praised for the real-world relevance of his stories, and The Running Man is no different. While such a strange, dystopian story may not seem topical on the surface, there are a lot of important subtexts about consumerism and entertainment in the original novel that remain incredibly relevant today.
This powerful social commentary is one of the best aspects of Glaser’s 1987 adaptation of the film, as the director used this story as a catalyst to discuss society’s increasing dependence on technology and digital media. There have been countless developments (and further problems) in this field since the late ‘80s, so Wright can update this story in fresh and important ways.
1
The Running Man Isn’t A Typical Stephen King Horror
The Book Sees Stephen King Tap Into A Different Genre
King is rightfully understood by most as a horror writer above all else; books like “The Shining”, “Salem’s Lot”, and “Carrie” often rank among his most popular, and they all fall comfortably within the horror genre. However, King has also written plenty of non-horror books. These are typically less well-known than his horror works, but that’s exactly what makes them exciting.
Stories like The Running Man are not as firmly embedded in pop culture as It or Misery, and that means audiences are less likely to know the details of the story before going into the movie. Even those who have read The Running Man should prepare for some changes to the plot, as Wright may take some creative liberties to separate his movie from the previous one.
Of the four King properties releasing in 2025, The Running Man is arguably the most different in terms of the tone and atmosphere of the original book. Even the most committed fans can admittedly grow tired of seeing his stories everywhere, but The Running Man won’t add to that horror fatigue.
