Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright has an intriguing new project. He’s finishing up another Stephen King adaptation for fans of cinematic versions of the horror icon’s prose.
The massive success of the first IT remake increased interest in rebooting King's past works, including the ones that didn’t do so well. So far, no one appears interested in developing a new version of Maximum Overdrive, but this November, we'll see the second big-screen version of 1987's The Running Man.
The Running Man originally debuted as a novella King wrote under his “Richard Bachman” pen name. The dark dystopian work about a game show where contestants face a life-or-death chase with hunters on their heels had much potential. That’s not how things played out in theaters. While King’s books continued to sell high volumes, films like Firestarter and Creepshow 2, didn’t set critics or fans on fire.
An action-packed, late1980s sci-fi film based on a Stephen King work and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed like a surefire hit. However, the film replaced King's vision of a wry dystopia with quippy humor and over-the-top action alongside its dark elements. Ticket sales didn’t come close to blockbuster status. That doesn't mean the concept can't be reworked for modern audiences by the right director. The right director—perhaps Wright.
In the running for a November hit
Actor Glen Powell will play the lead role of Ben Richards. Per Variety, Powell noted that Arnold Schwarzenegger "gave his blessing" to the team behind the remake. At a CinemaCon 2025 panel, Powell also noted director Wright called the portrayal of Ben Richards "Bad Mood Glenn." That's understandable since Ben Richards finds himself in an unenviable but thrilling adventure.
Wright's "bad mood" jest hints that the film will lean closer to the dark elements of King's original work. How dark? We'll have to wait until November 7, 2025, when Paramount releases the film in theaters.