Get ready, film fans, because Edgar Wright's The Running Man is about to sprint onto the scene, and it's already causing a buzz! Recently, Wright hosted a special screening for a who's who of filmmaking talent, including the likes of Joe Dante, Walter Hill, Joseph Kosinski, Shane Black, Jordan Peele, Chris Miller, Phil Lord, Patton Oswalt, Taika Waititi, Andy Samberg, Akira Schaffer, and Daniel Kwan. Talk about a star-studded audience!
The upcoming action thriller stars Glen Powell, and his journey to the role is as intriguing as the film itself. Powell revealed that he needed the official seal of approval from Stephen King, the author of the original novel, before he could officially sign on. He recounted the nail-biting wait, saying, "Edgar offered me this movie, and I was like, ‘Yes.’ I’m like, ‘Let’s go…’ And then, like, later that night [Edgar says], ‘By the way, like, you have to be approved by Stephen King. He’s gonna watch Hit Man tonight,” he said. “And so I had to wait overnight for Stephen King to watch Hit Man and hope that I still had the role in the morning. It’s terrible.“ Talk about pressure!
And it seems King is a fan of the new adaptation, calling it the "Die Hard for our time." But here's where it gets controversial... Wright's adaptation promises to be a much closer take on the source material than the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which took some significant liberties. Wright himself noted that the original novel's setting, with contestants hunted in the real world, is a key difference. He explained, "In the ’87 film, they’re mostly in an arena setting… What struck me in the book when I read it as a teenager is, [the] contestants are just out in the world, so it’s almost like the deadliest game of hide and seek."
For those unfamiliar, the official synopsis paints a grim picture of a near-future society: The Running Man is the ultimate reality show, where contestants, known as Runners, must survive for 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. Each day brings a bigger cash reward, but the stakes are deadly. Ben Richards (Glen Powell), desperate to save his sick daughter, enters the game. He is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin). Ben's defiance, instincts, and grit make him a fan favorite.
And this is the part most people miss... The film is set to hit theaters on November 14th.
What do you think? Are you excited to see a more faithful adaptation of Stephen King's novel? Do you think the original film's changes improved or detracted from the story? Let us know in the comments!
