The first trailer for the upcoming Stephen King remake of the 1987 classic The Running Man is exhilarating and action-packed, and at first glance it looks like it will be better than the original in several ways. The Running Man is based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel of the same name, which he wrote under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman.
The story follows Ben Richards, a poor worker in a dystopian society who desperately needs money to treat his daughter’s illness. In his desperation, he winds up on a government-run TV network’s violent game show, The Running Man. Ben is tasked with staying alive any way he can, all while being trailed by government-hired professional killers.
The 2025 remake is directed by Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ), and stars budding A-lister Glen Powell as Ben Richards. The first look at the movie reveals that it will be an adrenaline-pumping, violent action movie that, like its protagonist, never relents from its frenetic pace.
The second of two similar dystopian King remakes that will hit theaters in 2025, The Running Man has all the makings of a box office and critical hit, if the first trailer is any indication. As it stands, it has all the elements in place to surpᴀss the original cinematic adaptation.
The Running Man Remake Is Very Different To The Original – And More Like The Book
The Original Was A Loose Adaptation, With Only The Basic Concept Preserved
1987’s The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was a perfectly pᴀssable 80s action movie, to be clear. It featured Schwarzenegger at the height of his muscular action star powers, and had enough entertainment value as it loosely (and unsuccessfully) attempted to blend satire with brainless action.
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1987’s The Running Man – Key Details |
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Director |
Budget |
Box Office Gross |
RT Tomatometer Score |
RT Popcornmeter Score |
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Paul Michale Glaser |
$27 million |
$38.1 million |
67% |
61% |
However, except for the general concept of a game show where the contestant runs from professional hunters to win and a few character names, it adapted very little from King’s original novel. It captured very little of the dark commentary at the heart of King’s narrative, and relied on big action set pieces to carry it.
Based on the first couple minutes of footage in the trailer, the 2025 remake looks very different from the first movie, and appears to stick far closer to the plot of King’s novel. That should give it an edge over the Schwarzenegger vehicle right off the bat, as it can relay the messaging that King originally intended.
The Running Man Remake Already Looks Pretty Great
Big Action, Black Humor, And Edgar Wright’s Style Appear To Blend Well
All the elements are in place for a home run with The Running Man. Powell’s undeniable charisma is what has him on the path to true movie stardom, so he should be able to carry the film with ease. The movie will be buoyed by some incredible action set pieces, and the trailer shows plenty of creativity in how Richards escapes/kills his pursuers.
At the very least, its adherence to King’s original novel, charming star, and talented director should place it well above the original movie in terms of quality.
On top of it all, Edgar Wright seems like the perfect fit for the source material. Wright’s ability to blend humor and smart satire into any story should help keep the intended depth of King’s original narrative, while not losing any of the entertainment value that should come with a big action movie like this.
We’ve only seen one trailer so far, but I’ve seen enough to be convinced that The Running Man is going to be a major hit. At the very least, its adherence to King’s original novel, charming star, and talented director should place it well above the original movie in terms of quality.
