"The Running Man" Trailer: Glen Powell Flees for His Life in Edgar Wright’s New Take on Stephen King’s Classic Dystopian Action-Thriller with Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo
Powell plays a desperate father on the run in this more faithful, adrenaline-fueled adaptation of King’s original dystopian novel from filmmaker Edgar Wright.
It’s time to start running!
Look, any Arnold Schwarzenegger fans out there would know The Running Man by heart. It’s a cult 1987 dystopian action film made during Schwarzenegger’s heyday. It was the perfect vehicle to showcase the towering talents of the iconic Terminator star, who at the time was riding high off a string of action blockbusters and was quickly cementing his status as the ultimate cinematic action hero of the ‘80s.
The film, a precursor to something like the Squid Game series or The Hunger Games franchise, took place in a dystopian future where convicted prisoners are sent to compete in a brutal, televised, gladiatorial-like survival game where the fights are to the death... and the winners take all.
What many might not know is that the film was loosely based on the paperback novel of the same name by author Richard Bachman (a pseudonym of horror master Stephen King). While the original source material leaned darker and more cynical, the film took some liberties to fit into a more action-heavy, popcorn-movie mold that matched Schwarzenegger’s larger-than-life persona.
The novel was much more of a sharp social commentary on hyper-capitalism, media manipulation, and the dehumanizing effects of a profit-driven society. While the film retained a lot of those themes (particularly the critique of reality TV and corporate control) it leaned heavily into high-octane action and one-liners that were tailored perfectly to Schwarzenegger’s strengths.
That’s significantly different from the book’s version of protagonist Ben Richards, who is a desperate, unemployed everyman—not a framed military pilot turned super-soldier like in the movie. The novel painted Richards as a man driven by poverty and circumstance, as the exploitation of the poor for entertainment purposes was one of the book’s main focuses.
We assume it’s for these reasons that filmmaker Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) thought the original book was ripe for a remake—one more faithful than the previous ‘80s film featuring Schwarzenegger. And with the concepts of late-stage capitalism, viewers’ new obsession with reality game shows, and the brutality of an unchecked government very much in the news lately, it seems Stephen King’s book might not only be prescient but also more timely than ever.
But who would play Ben Richards, a protagonist with less bodybuilder brawn and more everyman? Someone who can channel raw vulnerability and simmering anger without relying on the chiseled physique of a super action hero. Ideally, it would be an actor who feels grounded. Someone we can believe is broke, desperate, and pushed to the edge by a corrupt system that sees him as disposable entertainment.
Ah! Well, let’s all say hello to... Glen Powell!
Sure, he ain’t Arnold, but he proved he can hold his own in such films as Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters, and Hit Man.
Here, in Edgar Wright’s new film adaptation of King’s dystopian novel, Powell stars as Ben Richards, a working-class hero whose raging anger against the establishment makes him the perfect fit for The Running Man, the nation’s top-rated show where contestants (aka “Runners”) subject themselves to a life-or-death survival game.
Unlike the ‘80s action classic, where Ben Richards was a former military soldier (dubbed “the Butcher of Bakersfield”) who was unjustly framed for a massacre he didn’t commit, this new version (more faithful to the novel) portrays Richards as a financially struggling family man desperate to save his gravely ill daughter. With no options left, he’s recruited by hard-charging television executive Dan Killian (played by Josh Brolin), who offers him a chance at a massive cash prize… if he agrees to become the next “Runner.”
“Ben Richards. 35. Married, one child—in medical crisis.” We hear Brolin as Killian reading off the profile of his new Running Man recruit in this newly released trailer for the upcoming film (watch it above). He continues, “Employment status: blacklisted. But there’s still a way out for you. It’s the biggest show in the country.”
“I’m not trying to get myself killed. So, kiss my ass twice,” Powell’s Richards shoots down Killian’s offer with a defiant sting.
“Right there... is why you can win this game,” Killian points to his defiance as an advantage, and possibly the key to becoming a winner for the world to see.
Now, fans of the ‘80s film will note that the character of “Damon” Killian was played iconically with great flair and devilish charm by actor-turned-Family Feud host Richard Dawson. However, Killian in the Arnold film was actually a combination of two characters from the novel: Dan Killian (played by Brolin in this new movie), the conniving studio executive who heads the Games Federation, and Bobby Thompson, the wildly entertaining host of The Running Man games.
Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo has the honor (and challenge) of taking on the role of Running Man host Bobby Thompson, a charismatic showman whose sparkling smile and stage theatrics mask a ruthless desire for ratings at any cost.
Others in the cast include Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding) and Daniel Ezra (All American) as fellow Running Man contestants, while Karl Glusman (Civil War) and Lee Pace (Foundation) portray some of the elite Hunters sent to track and kill the Runners for a bloodthirsty viewing audience.
Keeping more to the novel, the film is set up so that Ben Richards will have 30 days to “run” from professional assassins while hidden cameras and high-tech drones record his every move as he scrambles across the city. Make it to the end, and he wins the prize. But his true intention is to expose the game’s rigged system... that is, if he lives long enough to do it.
Also co-starring in the film are Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, William H. Macy, David Zayas, and Sean Hayes, with Sinners breakout Jayme Lawson playing Ben's wife.
The film is written by director Edgar Wright and screenwriter Michael Bacall who also worked together on Wright’s adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
So lace up those running shoes, and make sure you run (don’t walk) to the theaters when The Running Man hits nationwide screens on November 7th.
Official Synopsis:
Millions Hunt. One Runs. Everyone Watches.
In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
You can also watch the trailer for the Schwarzenegger classic, below—just to remind yourself how gloriously over-the-top ‘80s dystopia used to be.
You can see some homages to the earlier movie, it will be interesting to see how it tracks in regards to the original book. Which is very dark, particularly the ending...my bad spoiler alert.