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Yesterday, Glen Powell triumphantly announced that the first trailer for director Edgar Wright’s new vision of Stephen King’s The Running Man would drop, and he made good on that promise as we have our first look at the anticipated reimagining so it’s time to “hunt him down!” With that aside, this actually looks pretty damn good, and Powell is certainly going full on action hero with this one and he’s got the politically incorrect attitude to go along with the full-scale bravado on display. Forget Schwarzenegger’s classic version and hold on tight with the new hyper-fierce footage below along with the newly released key art!
The Running Man was famously written by King using his pen name of Richard Bachman. The book was adapted to a feature film starring action icon Arnie but the version on screen had little to do with the source material. Wright said in previous interviews that his vision would be on board more with King’s story.
The actual plot for this version hasn’t really dropped yet but King’s book synopsis entailed, “It was the ultimate death game in a nightmare future America. The year is 2025 and reality TV has grown to the point where people are willing to wager their lives for a chance at a billion-dollar jackpot. Ben Richards is desperate – he needs money to treat his daughter’s illness. His last chance is entering a game show called The Running Man where the goal is to avoid capture by Hunters who are employed to kill him. Surviving this month-long chase is another issue when everyone else on the planet is watching – and willing to turn him in for the reward.”
Official Synopsis: 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.
As much as I love Schwarzenegger’s film, the movie was in no way shape or form a direct interpretation of King’s story. It had the bare essentials, but they just stripped it all away for a routine bullet filled flick with creative kills and Arnie spouting off one liners. I did love it though as I stated.
In Wright’s new pic, Powell stars along with Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding) who also starred with Powell in Twisters, Daniel Ezra (the TV series All American), Lee Pace (Halt and Catch Fire), Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Emilia Jones (CODA), David Zayas (Dexter), Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead), Josh Brolin and William H. Macy. That’s a pretty stacked cast so that should fuel more excitement for fans craving to see this one.
Brolin looks like he’s having all kinds of fun chewing up the scenes and his interactions with Powell look retro 80’s to say the least. The action looks fierce and fun, and Powell will certainly get more roles like this after then film hits theaters this November.
The Running Man Hits Theaters on November 7th!!!
