Stephen King‘s The Running Man is set to premiere in theaters in just under a month, featuring Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a desperate man who becomes a contestant on a brutal, televised survival game. Directed by Edgar Wright, this adaptation promises a closer adherence to the darker tone of King’s 1982 dystopian novel—originally published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman—while introducing key changes, including a new ending that has received King’s full endorsement.
Edgar Wright Shares Challenges and King’s Approval of the Script
Edgar Wright recently reflected on the difficulties of bringing The Running Man to life, especially when it came to adapting the story’s finale. When he submitted the screenplay to Stephen King for approval, Wright described it as
“possibly the most nerve-wracking day of the entire production.”
Fortunately, King embraced the script wholeheartedly. Wright revealed that from the start, everyone acknowledged the novel’s original ending would not be used as-is in the film.
“Everybody knew at the outset that [the novel’s ending] wasn’t going to be part of this adaptation exactly the way…[King] realized even before he read it that we weren’t going to be doing the ending from the book. And when he emailed back, he said, ‘I was very curious how you were going to tackle the ending, and I think you did a great job.’ So I was very happy with that.”
—Edgar Wright, Director
A More Faithful Adaptation than the 1987 Film
The previous movie adaptation of The Running Man, released in 1987 and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, took considerable liberties, keeping only the general concept of a violent game show and a few character names. Fans of Stephen King’s original work are eager to see Wright’s version, which promises to remain closer to the source material’s darker themes and atmosphere. However, the new ending notably diverges from the book’s climax, in which Ben Richards crashes a plane into the Games Network’s headquarters and dies in the explosion—a scene many expect was altered to avoid painful associations with the September 11 attacks.
Introducing the Cast and Release Details
Alongside Glen Powell as Ben Richards, the film features a talented ensemble, including William H. Macy, Lee Pace as Evan McCone, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson portraying Sheila Richards, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin in the role of Dan Killian. The film is slated for release on November 14, 2025, providing fans a highly anticipated update to this classic dystopian story.
The Significance of King’s Involvement and What Lies Ahead
Stephen King’s direct approval of Edgar Wright’s revised ending underscores the care taken to respect the original narrative while adapting it to resonate with contemporary audiences. The decision to modify the climax shows a sensitivity to historical context and the intent to deliver a powerful yet mindful conclusion. As the release date approaches, anticipation grows for how this faithful and thoughtful adaptation will redefine the legacy of The Running Man for a new generation of viewers.
