Glen Powell stars in the first trailer for The Running Man, Edgar Wright’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel. Based on the the 1982 novel by Stephen King (which was then turned into a 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger), “The Running Man” takes place in a dystopian society where a game show pits contestants, called “runners,” against murderous killers (aka “hunters”).
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The Running Man trailer
The first trailer for The Running Man is here, and it shows Glen Powell in a more faithful adaptation of the Stephen King novel than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 sci-fi classic. The film takes place in the near-future, in which contestants must spend 30 days surviving being hunted by deadly assassins for a chance at an ever-growing cash prize, all while the proceedings are broadcast on TV. Powell stars as a father attempting to help his daughter.
“I have never worked harder on a movie in my life,” said Powell at CinemaCon in April, where he debuted the first footage from the film, which has has a Nov. 7 release date from Paramount.
Wright wrote the script with Michael Bacall, basing the work off of King’s 1982 novel that has been praised for predicting the rise of reality TV culture, albeit taking it to the extreme.
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The cast also includes William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson with Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin. Simon Kinberg, Nira Park and Wright produce the film.
King’s book was previously adapted into the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie of the same name, with Powell saying he’s received Schwarzenegger’s blessing for the new film, connecting with the action star through his son, Patrick Schwarzenegger. “Arnold gave us his full blessing and we get to give Arnold a very specific, fun gift from the movie,” Powell previously said.
According to the film’s synopsis, the Runners “must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite — and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.”
