Everything You Need to Know About Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘The Running Man’ Remake

Edgar Wright has always stood out thanks to his unique filmmaking style. Wright has helmed some inventive and iconic films in his three-decade career. The director co-created the unique Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy with Simon Pegg and Nira Park. Edgard Wright also directed the cult classic graphic novel adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The filmmaker has now turned his attention to another cut classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Last year, the Shaun of the Dead director announced his intentions to remake The Running Man (1987). Paul Michael Glaser adapted Stephen King’s 1982 novel of the same name with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role. While critics didn’t call it outstanding, it received generally positive reviews. Glaser instilled 80s action cinema flavor into King’s dystopian science fiction novel, complete with Arnie’s one-liners and enough goofiness to earn cult classic status among cinema fans. However, Wright hopes to take a different approach.

Why Edgar Wright is remaking the Arnold Schwarzenegger film

Like most 80s cinema fans, Edgar Wright also likes the 1987 adaptation. However, while the Arnold Schwarzenegger film may be entertaining, it wasn’t true to the novel. The filmmaker’s remake wants to differentiate his remake from the original. “I like the film but I like the book more,“ Wright said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in December 2023.

In fact, he doesn’t even consider the 1987 film to be an adaptation. “Even as a teenager when I saw the Schwarzenegger film I was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t like the book at all!’“ the Baby Driver director added. So, despite being a remake on paper, the Hot Fuzz director has found an opportunity to adapt the book faithfully.

The filmmaker has also been working on the project for three years. While Wright formally announced he’d remake the Arnold Schwarzenegger film 2023, he has been silently working on the project since 2021. Variety reported that Wright had enlisted the help of Scott Pilgrim screenwriter Michael Bacall to help him adapt the Stephen King novel.

Besides creating the iconic Scott Pilgrim vs. the World adaptation with Wright, Bacall has also acted in critically acclaimed films like The Inglorious Bastards, The Boy’s Life, and more. Wright also wishes to showcase King’s original vision to audiences who haven’t read the book but watched the 1987 film.

Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t star in a faithful adaptation

While Glaser may have attempted to adapt the 1092 novel, he made several changes, morphing the source material into something nearly unrecognizable. In Glaser’s film, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards is the embodiment of an 80s action hero. The film uses the bodybuilding icon’s physicality to turn him into a hero with a happy ending. However, the book couldn’t be more different.

Edgar Right plans to recreate King’s hopeless and gloomy vision with his remake. Unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ben Richards in the book isn’t a muscle-bound protagonist with enough strength and combat prowess to outmatch the bounty hunters. Instead, Ben Riachrds in the novel is an average man with above average physical condition and different motives.

Even the TV show featuring the runners and hunters in the 9187 film bore no resemblance to King’s novel. Unlike starring criminals, The Running Man TV show in the book has a casting process, and people willingly volunteer to join it. The book’s ending is also far bleaker than the bombastic 1987 film, where Arnie kills the bad guy and gets the girl.

Wright hopes to faithfully reproduce these aspects and many other things that Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t. Paramount Studios recently announced who’ll star as the lead in the upcoming remake.

Casting and release date

Glen Powell replaces Arnold Schwarzenegger as the lead in the upcoming adaptation. Powell’s break-out role came with Top Gun: Maverick, which grossed $1.5 billion at the box office and was also a Paramount production. Powell doesn’t have the 7x Mr. Olympia-winning physique of Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, the actor also brings physicality to the role as a fitness and bodybuilding enthusiast.

Besides Powell, casting details remain under wraps. While Edgar Wright has hinted at the 2025 release, he hasn’t announced any concrete release date for the film. Wright’s long-time partner, Nira Park, will produce the film along with Simon Kinberg. The filmmaker also hasn’t said anything about approaching Stephen King about the film. However, Arnold Schwarzenegger is pleased.

In December 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on The Rich Eisen Show. Esien asked what the Terminator star thought about Edgar Wright remaking his cult classic film. “I’m happy because now I’ve heard that they want to do a remake of Running Man… They can do whatever they want.” said the 76-year-old action star.

So, while Edgar Wright might be remaking an Arnold Schwarzenegger film, it may share nothing in common with the 1987 film. However, the End of The World director wishes to make a film that’s faithful to the source material.