A month before the premiere of his Stephen King film adaptation, The Running Man, director Edgar Wright shared a significant personal milestone. Wright announced on Instagram that he had met Stephen King, the renowned horror author and creator of the dystopian novel that inspired the movie.
In his post, Wright expressed the deep impact King’s work has had on him since his youth.
“It is a dream come true to finally meet the King Of Horror,”
Wright wrote alongside a photo showing their embrace.
“I have been reading @stephenking books since my early teens, including his 1982 Richard Bachman novel ‘The Running Man.’ So what a thrill to finally meet him in the flesh having, just days before, put the finishing touches to my own film adaptation of his work.”
Longstanding Connection Between Wright and King
Wright revealed that Stephen King has supported his work since the early 2000s, initially praising the director’s 2004 zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. King’s positive endorsement significantly influenced Wright’s career, as the director explained on Instagram that their communication continued over the years, often focused on mutual interests like rock music.
“We have emailed over the subsequent years, mostly about rock music, until the opportunity arose to actual direct a Stephen King adaptation. What an honour it has been,”
Wright added.
“So thankful for this moment in time.”
Stephen King’s Enthusiastic Endorsement of the New Film
Wright also shared a screenshot from King’s social media post praising the upcoming film. King described the movie as “fantastic” and hailed it as the “Die Hard for our time,” calling it “a bipartisan thrill ride.” This glowing review highlights the excitement surrounding the new adaptation.
Details of Wright’s Adaptation of King’s Novel
Co-written by Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall, the film adapts King’s 1982 Richard Bachman novel for modern audiences. Produced alongside Nira Park and Simon Kinberg, this film marks the second major cinematic take on the story, following the 1987 Paul Michael Glaser-directed version featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The new Running Man stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a desperate father in a future dystopian United States who opts into a lethal game show to secure money for his daughter’s medical care. Contestants, known as “runners,” must survive while the public hunts them, creating a deadly spectacle.
Glen Powell Reflects on the Film’s Themes and His Character
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Powell discussed the parallels between himself and his character, remarking on the contemporary social climate shaped by the fast-paced digital age.
“I think the journey of Ben Richards and me, there’s definitely overlap, which is as a public figure, especially now, I would say the truth has probably never mattered less — we’re in a TikTokification age where everyone’s trying to gain followers or after their own agendas,”
he said.
“People do whatever it takes to get what they need and say whatever they need to say to get what they need… You can’t blame anyone, but it is just the system that we live in,”
Powell added, emphasizing the harsh realities that both the character and many face in today’s world.
Supporting Cast and Additional Characters in the Film
Ben Richards is not the only contestant featured in the film’s dangerous game. Colman Domingo plays Bobby T, the flamboyant host of The Running Man TV show within the movie. Other “runners” include performers Martin Herlihy of the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy and Katy O’Brian, who recently appeared in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.
Exploring Fame and Villainy Through the Lens of the Film
Powell further elaborated on the social commentary embedded in the story, particularly about public perception and the media’s swift, often ruthless tendencies.
“And even more so, you’re set up to become the villain so that the world cheers for you to lose,”
he said.
“I find it always fascinating in terms of our news cycle, how quickly news spreads and how quickly we’re here to define heroes and villains, and how odd that there’s no nuance or fact-checking. It’s rapid headlines, almost to an overwhelming degree, which is very dangerous. And you start to see that pack mentality of how the internet works. And we very much play on that in The Running Man.”
Release Date and Additional Cast Members
The film also stars Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, William H. Macy, Emilia Jones, and Michael Cera among others. Audiences can expect The Running Man in theaters on November 14, making it one of the most anticipated Stephen King film adaptations this year as it merges social critique with thrilling entertainment.
https://t.co/wDID7MRClJ
New trailer: RUNNING MAN.
BTW: I've seen it and it's fantastic. DIE HARD for our time.
A bipartisan thrill ride.— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 13, 2025
