The Running Man: Edgar Wright to direct remake of the Stephen King novel

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

While we have yet to see Edgar Wright's COVID-delayed genre film Last Night in Soho, the fan-favorite filmmaker has lined up his next project. Wright will team with Paramount Pictures and producers Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon through Genre Films, with Nira Park from Wright's Complete Fiction studio, for an updated take on Stephen King's novel The Running Man.

Previously filmed in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role, this new film will not be a remake but a more faithful adaptation of King's book written under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman.

Wright is very picky when it comes to the projects he works on, often electing to create original material. His most notable adaptation was Scott Pilgrim vs The World based on the comic book of the same name. While a cult favorite, that movie did not fare well during its box office run. What makes The Running Man so interesting is that Wright himself in 2017 named it as the dream project he would select if he was able to remake any film.

Featuring Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, Jim Brown, and Richard Dawson, the original movie is remembered as a prescient look at a future driven by reality television. It was loosely based on the novel but retained some of the core themes.

Here is the synopsis for the novel:

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.

Paramount is looking to make this film a top priority. While no cast has been attached to the project, expect The Running Man to come together quickly. What is known is that Wright will direct from a screenplay by Michael Bacall, Wright's co-writer on Scott Pilgrim vs The World.

Who would you cast in the role of Ben Richards for a remake of The Running Man? Do you think Schwarzenegger will cameo or is that not Wright's style? Let us know what you think of this news in the comments section below.