The Running Man Returns in 2025 with Glen Powell at the Helm

Paramount Pictures today released the official trailer for The Running Man (2025), which is being directed by Edgar Wright. This is Wright’s take on Stephen King’s dystopian thriller novel (written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman) of the same name, which was originally published in 1982. It is worth noting that The Running Man (1987) is an entirely separate Arnold Schwarzenegger action film. Wright’s new project will center around a more faithful adaptation of the King-penned novel, which follows a darker and satirical tone in comparison to the popular action flick.

The Running Man, which was published by King under his pseudonym Richard Bachman in 1982, was one of several that the author released in the late ’70s and early ’80s. In 1984, King’s secret was revealed to the public. The Running Man had a long life: it is considered a classic of King’s work and his previous run. He finished it in a week. The book takes place in the dystopian and deteriorating United States in 2025—the same year it is being made as a feature film. In this oppressive society, a particularly sadistic reality game show has been made available to the country. Contestants on The Running Man are out in the open, pursued by assassins, and the whole of the public is a close audience. Richard’s life isn’t going well.

Ben is a family man who resides in the trailer city with his wife and their unwell little girl. He has unsuccessfully sought out work, has been blacklisted, and is currently on the road, looking to start over. He makes a gamble by signing up for The Running Man, which is the most popular show on the air, in a terrible position. Each day of the player’s life is equal to a cash value, and each Hunter they kill is also given a sum. This offers some minor motivation for a couple of the participants, but most of them have put their souls on the line for far more serious reasons. Ben has a 12-hour head start because he was betrayed and he is wanted as a public enemy, and from there, it’s 30 days of The Running Man for the whole nation.

Fans, this is the moment you have been anticipating since you first read about it and discovered its namesake! The truth is simple and it’s terrifying: you live for 30 days, and you win a billion dollars. The record for The Running Man is 197 hours, which is a small number by modern standards. But if the survivors live another day, they get a payment. Killers is a monetary prize, which provides a modest incentive for every hunter they eliminate. But that is all. This is what is at stake for Ben. He goes up first, but a well-known saying is that he is no hero.

Best known for Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver, and Last Night in Soho, Wright has been linked to The Running Man since he first showed an interest in the film in 2017. He and co-writer Michael Bacall signed on for the job in 2021, with Paramount giving the go-ahead to produce the film. Wright and Bacall’s script is expected to be more loyal to the film while also including their kind of humor, dark social observation, and adrenaline-driven action.

This might be the case with the new trailer. Glen Powell is the star, taking over from Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards. Powell, who is most well-known for his work on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and indie hits like Hitman’s Bodyguard and Sunshine Cake, makes a clean transition from charming to desperate. Josh Brolin stars as Dan Killian, the show’s devious host. He’s the character who nudges Ben into the deadly game. He quickly becomes a fan favorite when Ben does better in the game than anyone expects. Ben, with his family far away and nothing to lose, now poses a risk to the regime.

A Bachman-Fan’s Busy Year

Beyond The Running Man, King’s Bachman-penned work has more to see in 2025. Another novel about a dystopian competition, The Long Walk (written in 1979), is also getting the feature film treatment in the same year. The film, with The Long Walk in the credits, has a September 12 release date. Only two months until The Running Man’s November 7 release. It’s not an exaggeration to say that 2025 is looking to be a watershed year for Stephen King followers (and some say a disquieting one for anybody who happens to give some consideration to the intersections of amusement, capitalism, and concern).

These tales, which tell of government brutality, public opinion manipulation, and the survival cost, are set to become box office films shortly.