The Running Man | November 21, 2025 | Paramount | Edgar Wright directs the Stephen King story

[Eric Quinn]

https://deadline.com/2021/02/edgar-wright-direct-the-running-man-stephen-king-paramount-pictures-simon-kinbergs-genre-films-1234697279/

 

Quote

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures is making a deal with Edgar Wright to develop to direct a new adaptation of The Running Man, the futuristic novel by Stephen King that the author first published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. This won’t be a remake of the 1987 film that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger; the Baby Driver writer/director will co-write the story with Michael Bacall, and they will be much more faithful to King’s bestselling novel.  Bacall will write the script.

 

Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon will produce through his Genre Films banner, alongside Nira Park from Wright’s Complete Fiction banner. Kinberg brought the idea to Emma Watts, based on their long relationship, and then Kinberg courted Wright. While the filmmaker is very selective, the prospect of a new The Running Man is one that has intrigued him; to the point that when asked if he could remake any film, he would choose that one. This was back in 2017. Now it has become real.

 

This becomes a top priority pic for Paramount, and a novel, which King published as a paperback back in 1982, a dystopian thriller that still feels prescient in the current collision between pop culture and politics, this before social media ratcheted up the stakes. 

 

[John Marston]

Here’s sub zero, now plain zero!

Edited February 19, 2021 by John Marston

[AniNate]

Glen Powell to Star in Edgar Wright's Remake of 'The Running Man' (hollywoodreporter.com)

[ChipDerby]

Hell yes, great choice. Glen Powell is going to be a mega star.

[Reddroast]

Wright is my favorite director. So I'm excited. I've heard he wants to make it a closer adaptation to the book than the Arnie movie was

[kayumanggi]

 

[movies!movies!]

 

[CoolioD1]

i actually just rewatched the original Running Man like a month ago. I found it disappointing the first time i saw it eons ago and that hasn't really changed it's like a completely toothless version of a Verhoeven movie. not one of Arnie's best.

 

So it's good to see that this version will be a masterpiece.

[TMP]

57 minutes ago, movies!movies! said:

 

Hemsworth & Evans almost feel like brand generic versions of Powell & Gosling, haha

[Box Office Hit]

 

[dudalb]

Interesting project...."Running Man" is a movie that can use a remake, since th original film lost all the bite of the  King novel, but i Wonder if it is th film Powell needs to do right  now. He has got to show, if he wants longitivity, that he can do roles outsie the usual "Leading Man" territory.

[AMCTheater2000]

 

Edited August 26 by AMCTheater2000

[kayumanggi]

So one of Paramount's tentpoles next year.

[Maggie]

1 minute ago, kayumanggi said:

So one of Paramount's tentpoles next year.

The Running Man > MI8

[kayumanggi]

5 hours ago, Maggie said:

The Running Man > MI8

 

If they start shooting in November, do you think they're aiming for a Holiday release? November 2025, perhaps?

[35MM-18]

On 8/27/2024 at 7:19 AM, kayumanggi said:

 

If they start shooting in November, do you think they're aiming for a Holiday release? November 2025, perhaps?

I'm thinking either late 2025 or the first half of 2026.

[kayumanggi]

5 minutes ago, 35MM-18 said:

I'm thinking either late 2025 or the first half of 2026.

 

Probably late 2025. Paramount only has VICIOUS [August] and THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS [December] for the second half of the year.

[Mojoguy]

The Powell Renaissance continues.

[filmnerdjamie]

12 hours ago, 35MM-18 said:

I'm thinking either late 2025 or the first half of 2026.

 

Strikes me for March 2026.

[BadOlCatSylvester]

I'll believe it when I see it, especially against the backdrop of all the Paramount-Skydance drama this year. I do hope for the best for Wright. He could definitely use a hit after how Soho kind of came and went.