The Running Manis the latest movie from acclaimed filmmaker Edgar Wright, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.The story centers around a falsely convicted police officer who must fight for his lifewhen killers are sent after him as part of a twisted reality show.The Running Manseems like a very loyal adaptationthat will stick closely to the spirit of King’s novel.
Although King is well-known as one of America’s most popular fiction writers, the sheer number of movies coming out this year based on his works is still surprising.Four King adaptations are releasingin 2025:The Running Man,The Life of Chuck,The Long Walk, andIt: Welcome to Derry. But despite this large quantity,Wright’s dystopian action flick remains the most exciting.
6The Running Man Is One Of King’s Best Novels
The Quality Of King’s Original Novel Is Strong
Any adaptation would struggle to make a good movie from a bad novel. Thankfully, this isn’t going to be the case with Wright’s take onThe Running Man, as King’s original novel is one of the writer’s best-ever books. Not only does it play with some very important dystopian themes, butthe story itself is filled with unpredictable twistsand complex characters.
The Running Mannovel was released under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
Ben Richards is one of King’s most interesting characters, and the fact thatThe Running Manfollows his journey so closely and in such intimate detail is a real strength that immediately sucks audiences into the narrative.It’s such a dense role that Glen Powell will surely make the most of, assuming Wright doesn’t change too much of the backstory in his script.
The Running Manisn’t always considered amongKing’s best novels, but it deserves to be. It’s a clear departure from the author’s typical horror-inspired storytelling, but this is one of its biggest strengths.The reader is never quite sure what to expect,and this is something that works really well when translated on-screen.
5The Running Man Is A Star-Making Vehicle For Glen Powell
Powell has become one of the most popular actors of his generation over the past few years, with leading roles inAnyone But YouandHit Mancementing him as a reliable comedic talent. However,the actor hasn’t yet reached his full potentialwhen it comes to rich, dramatic roles, butThe Running Manshould finally give him that opportunity.
Most ofPowell’s best moviestake advantage of the actor’s innate charm and charisma, which has led many audiences to consider him a worthy successor to ‘90s heartthrobs like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.The Running Manwill certainly take advantage of this side of Powell’s acting persona, but the character of Ben Richards demands something more fierce and vulnerable at the same time.
King certainly isn’t a traditional writer, and his characters often have very dark backstories that make them stand out from most literary protagonists. Richards is no different, and the director will certainly bring this character to life in a way that demands a lot from Powell. This movie could easily end up being the project that finally convinces audiences of the actor’s true potential.
4The Running Man Could Be Edgar Wright’s Return To Form
The Director Needs Another Undeniable Hit
Powell is not the only person who has something to prove withThe Running Man. Following the underwhelming performance ofLast Night In Sohoback in 2021, Wright is looking for a strong comeback project that reminds audiences exactly what he’s capable of when he’s in top form.
The director hasn’t quite reached the heights of movies likeHot FuzzorBaby Driverin a long time, butthe King adaptationis exactly the kind of dense, thematic narrativethat he needs to get back on track. Judging byThe Running Man’s first trailer, the filmmaker has brought all the electric cinematography and dynamic editing that audiences have come to expect from his films.
The primary criticism ofLast Night In Sohowas its messy storytelling and weak character work, and there are very few people who could fix this issue more effectively than Stephen King.
While the filmmaker has primarily focused on original scripts throughout his career, getting the opportunity to adapt an already-celebrated story could be the secret ingredient that he needs to make another all-time great project. The primary criticism ofLast Night In Sohowas its messy storytelling and weak character work, and there are very few people who could fix this issue more effectively than Stephen King.
3The Running Man Can Improve Upon Its Previous Adaptation
Unlike the otherKing adaptationsthat are being released this year,The Running Manhas actually been adapted for the screen before. Paul Michael Glaser’s 1987 version ofThe Running Manstarred Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role and was met with mixed reviews for its over-stylized, pulpy visuals and scattered narrative.
Thankfully, Wright’s version ofThe Running Mandoesn’t seem to be running into any of these problems. The trailer proves thathis visual style is just as powerful and energetic as ever, and there’s nothing to suggest that the award-winning writer has forgotten how to write an excellent script. It seems very likely that the new iteration will easily surpass Glaser’s original.
WhileThe Life of ChuckandThe Long Walkare equally exciting because of their captivating stories and noteworthy talent behind the camera, these King adaptations don’t necessarily have the same pressure of exceeding a previous adaptation. This makesThe Running Manthe most important of them all, as it needs to prove that another adaptation was necessary in the first place.
There’s Plenty Of Dense Social Commentary To Work With
Image via Paramount Pictures
King has always been praised for the real-world relevance of his stories, andThe Running Manis no different. While such a strange, dystopian story may not seem topical on the surface,there are a lot of important subtexts about consumerism and entertainmentin the original novel that remain incredibly relevant today.
Thispowerful social commentary is one of the best aspects of Glaser’s 1987 adaptation of the film, as the director used this story as a catalyst to discuss society’s increasing dependence on technology and digital media. There have been countless developments (and further problems) in this field since the late ‘80s, so Wright can update this story in fresh and important ways.
The Book Sees Stephen King Tap Into A Different Genre
King is rightfully understood by most as a horror writer above all else; books like “The Shining”, “Salem’s Lot”, and “Carrie” often rank among his most popular, and they all fall comfortably within the horror genre. However,King has also written plenty of non-horror books.These are typically less well-known than his horror works, but that’s exactly what makes them exciting.
Stories likeThe Running Manare not as firmly embedded in pop culture asItorMisery, and that means audiences are less likely to know the details of the story before going into the movie. Even those who have readThe Running Manshould prepare for some changes to the plot, as Wright may take some creative liberties to separate his movie from the previous one.
Of the four King properties releasing in 2025,The Running Manis arguably the most different in terms of the tone and atmosphere of the original book. Even the most committed fans can admittedly grow tired of seeing his stories everywhere, butThe Running Manwon’t add to that horror fatigue.
The Running Man
Cast
The Running Man centers on a man participating in a perilous game show where contestants evade deadly “Hunters” in a global pursuit.
