Summary
The Running Manis 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 isThe Running Man, a dystopian thriller published in 1982 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman. Five years later,The Running Mangot a film adaptation directed by Paul Michael Glaser.
The Running Manfollows 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 Manwas 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 New Stephen King Remake Can Fix A 36-Year-Old Movie Mistake
Edgar Wright’s new project is the adaptation of a Stephen King story that got a terrible remake three decades ago, but it can now be fixed.
Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Will Be Closer To Stephen King’s Book
The Running Man Promises To Be A Proper Adaptation
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.
Aremake ofThe Running Manwas 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 directorof the remake not long after, butThe Running Manhas been going through a long pre-production process. In April 2024,Glen Powell was announced as the lead star ofThe 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 theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast,Wright opened up about his remake ofThe 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’sThe Running Mantook 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.
Schwarzenegger’s movie completely changed the novel, only keeping some of the characters’ names and the violence of the TV show.
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 stateand 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 aliveand 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’sThe Running Manworks 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 hisdislike of Schwarzenegger’s casting. By being closer to the novel, Edgar Wright’sThe Running Mancan 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.
The Running Man
The Running Man is a dystopian action film set in a 2017 totalitarian state where the government uses deadly game shows to control the populace. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a framed convict navigating the lethal challenges of the televised spectacle The Running Man, hosted by the relentless Damon Killian.
