Edgar Wright's Stephen King remake already promises to fix Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1987 mistake

Summary

The remake of Edgar Wright’s The Running Man aims to correct the mistakes of the previous adaptation, focusing on being faithful to the book.
Wright’s new version promises to honor Stephen King’s novel while staying true to the story, themes, and characters.
Schwarzenegger’s version of The Running Man drastically changed the central message, but Wright’s new version will finally do King’s book justice.

The running Man is getting a remake with Edgar Wright directing the project, and the latest update promises that this version will fix the biggest mistake of the 1987 adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Stephen King’s novels, short stories, and more have been a source of inspiration for many filmmakers, and many of his works have been adapted for the big screen at least once. Among them is The running Man, a dystopian thriller published in 1982 under King’s pseudonym, Richard Bachman. Five years later, The running Man received a film adaptation directed by Paul Michael Glaser.

The running Man follows Captain Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger), who is forced to participate in The Running Man, a violent reality television show where criminals, known as “runners,” have to escape from armed mercenaries called “stalkers,” and those who kill them. they achieve successfully. He wins a pardon from the government and a tropical vacation. The running Man It was a critical and commercial failure.but Wright’s upcoming remake gives hope that it will not only be better but also correct the mistakes of Schwarzenegger’s version, and the latest update points to the remake being on the right track.

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arnold-schwarzenegger-in-the-running-man-looking-serious-and-shaun-scared-in-shaun-of-the-dead

Edgar Wright’s Stephen King Remake May Fix a 36-Year-Old Cinematic Mistake

Edgar Wright’s new project is the adaptation of a Stephen King story that had a terrible remake three decades ago, but can now be fixed.

Edgar Wright’s The Running Man will be closer to Stephen King’s book

The Running Man promises to be a suitable adaptation

Arnold Schwarzenegger holding a mug and looking at a piano keyboard in The Running Man

Wright has offered an important and promising update on the project, assuring fans of the novel that his film will hew closer to King’s book.

a new version of The running Man It was announced to be in development in 2021, and has since been teased to be more faithful to King’s novel. Wright was announced as director of the remake shortly after, but The running Man has gone through a long pre-production process. In April 2024, Glen Powell was announced as the lead star of The running Man, but it is still unknown when filming will begin. However, Wright has offered an important and promising update on the project, assuring fans of the novel that his film will hew closer to King’s book.

Talking to Josh Horowitz about the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Wright talked about his new version of The running Mansharing why it is an interesting project for him. Wright explained that he likes the book more than the Schwarzenegger moviewhich “I didn’t really adapt the book.“, and the novel is “crying out to adapt”.

Wright’s words ensure that his new version will be more faithful to the original material than Schwarzenegger’s version, which was so different that it is hardly an adaptation of King’s novel. Given Wright’s background in horror and suspense, all indications are that his new version will finally nail the tone of the novel along with the story, themes, and characters.

Why Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man Didn’t Do the Book Justice

The Running Man failed as an adaptation of Stephen King’s book

Arnold Schwarzenegger on Running Man poster with a motorcyclist wielding a chainsaw

Schwarzenegger The running Man It took the premise and basic concept of the film and ended up doing its own thing, even changing its overall tone. The novel, set in 2025, sees the country’s economy in ruins and the government becoming totalitarian, with violence emerging around the world. Ben Richards, an impoverished 28-year-old, can’t find work, he’s blacklisted from his job, and his daughter is seriously ill and needs medication. Ben’s wife turns to sex work to get money, so in a desperate move, Ben turns to Games Network.

Schwarzenegger’s film completely changed the novel, keeping only some of the character names and violence from the television show.

This government-operated television station produces violent game shows and Ben is cast in The Running Man. In that, the contestant is declared an enemy of the state and released with a 12-hour head start before a team of elite hitmen (the “hunters”) hunt him down to kill him. The contestant earns $100 per hour they stay alive. and free, $100 more for every police officer or hunter you kill, and a billion dollars if he survives 30 days. Schwarzenegger’s movie changed all of this completely, keeping only some of the character names and violence from the TV show.

Schwarzenegger The running Man It works well as its own thing, but not as an adaptation of King’s novel., as it completely got rid of the main themes and central message of the novel to turn it into an over-the-top action movie. The changes were so drastic that King asked that his name not be used in the film’s marketing and expressed his displeasure at Schwarzenegger’s casting. Being closer to the novel, Edgar Wright’s The running Man It can finally do justice to Stephen King’s book, correct the mistakes of the previous adaptation and be much more exciting and fun.

Fountain: Happy Sad Confused.

The running Man

Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, The Running Man is a sci-fi action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Ben Richards, an ex-cop who is forced to compete in a deadly game show where criminals fight for their lives. The 1987 film is based on a novel by Stephen King under his pseudonym Richard Bachman.

Director: Paul Michael Glaser
Release date: November 13, 1987
Execution time: 101 minutes