A new adaptation of Stephen King’s classic 1982 novel, The Running Man, is sprinting towards the big screen. The news came via IndieWire’s interview with Top Gun star Glen Powell, who also leads the cast of Twisters. In the interview, Powell confirmed that filming is set for this fall and that he is excited about the film.
“The world that Edgar’s developed on this thing is just outrageous. It’s so good.” Powell told IndieWire, “We’re just both such big fans of the Stephen King book, and it’s going to be a great character. I’m so fired up about it.”
The adaptation, from visionary director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead), is based on King’s novel. This is not the first time the story has come to the big screen. In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger played the role of Ben Richards. A falsely convicted cop gets his shot at freedom when he is forced to participate in a TV game show where convicts and runners must battle killers for their freedom.
While no other information is available on The Running Man, the combination of Powell and Wright and the fact that it is a Stephen King story is good enough for us to get excited.
King fans have a lot of reasons to be excited. The Running Man is just one of many King adaptations headed your way. The list includes The Monkey, Salem’s Lot, Life of Chuck, and the series “Holly.” We’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, watch Powell go up against Mother Nature in Twisters, out now in theaters.
Here’s a look back at the trailer for the 1987 film adaptation, directed by Paul Michael Glaser. You can find the movie streaming on Prime Video, Paramount+, and MGM+, or rent/buy it on Apple TV.
