Summary
The remake ofThe Running Manis teased by the film’s main star.The Running Manis a 1982 Stephen King novel about a reality show in which contestants compete for money on a reality TV show that sees them avoiding fatal run-ins with hitmen sent after them. The book was first adapted into a 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger that shares very little with the book. Now, the latestadaptation ofThe Running Manis being directed by Edgar Wright and featuring Glen Powell in the lead role.
Speaking withUSA Today, Powell talks about the latestRunning Manadaptation, comparing it to the previous version. The actor starts by complimenting director Wright, who says he has “been a fan [his] whole life.” ReferencingThe Running Manspecifically,Powell teased Wright’s fresh take on the work, saying that it is “very much not the original Schwarzenegger flick” and adheres more closely to being “grounded in the Stephen King version.” Check out the full quote from Powell below:
I’ve been an Edgar Wright fan my whole life. And talking to him about “Running Man,” what’s been really incredible is his take on it. It’s very much not the original Schwarzenegger flick, it’s much more grounded in the Stephen King version.
Why Wright’s Running Man Adaptation Will Work So Well
The Themes Of The New Movie Will Likely Be Different From The Original
The 1987 version ofThe Running Manwas directed by Paul Michael Glaser, who is also known for his work on the TV cop seriesStarsky and Hutch. Starring Schwarzenegger in the lead role, the film is over the top and very loosely adapts the King novel. In reality, the novel on which it is based is adark, dystopian story, that offers a critique on the role of media in society.
Glen Powell’s New Sci-Fi Movie Is More Promising Than The Last Arnold Schwarzenegger Remake
An iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger film is set to be remade with Glen Powell as its star, and the movie already sounds better than the last Arnie remake.
From Powell’s description, it seems like Wright’sThe Running Manadheres more closely to these original themes. The director is known for his comedic take on dystopian, including films such asThe World’s End. Also featured inWright’s filmographyare films likeLast Night in Soho, which enter more subversive dramatic places. It is these films that build confidence in Wright’s career range.
The Running Manis also benefited by the fact that it stars Powell in the lead role. Gaining fame through films likeTop Gun: MaverickandAnyone But You, Powell showed his range instantly. Now, he is one of the biggest rising stars, this year acting in films such asHit ManandTwisters. Between Powell and Wright, the upcoming remake ofThe Running Manis in great hands.
The Running Man
Cast
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.
