A kinetic, King-sized revival of dystopian survival…
It’s a killer year to be a Stephen King fan. The King of Horror has conquered every medium in 2025. From cinematic hits like The Monkey, The Life of Chuck, and The Long Walk, to TV adaptations such as The Institute, and even the literary world with Never Flinch, which marked the triumphant return of fan-favorite detective Holly Gibney. And now, just when you thought the thrills had peaked, King’s 1982 novel The Running Man is sprinting back to the big screen! This time with Edgar Wright in the director’s chair and Glen Powell leading the charge.
The newly released trailer for The Running Man confirms that this isn’t your father’s dystopia. Wright, known for his signature visual rhythm and whip-smart direction (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead), reimagines King’s story with adrenaline, style, and just enough dark humor to keep audiences on the edge of their seats and running right alongside the hero.
Set in a not-so-distant future, The Running Man follows Ben Richards (Powell), a desperate man forced to compete in a televised game show where survival is the ultimate prize. For thirty relentless days, he’s hunted by professional assassins while the entire spectacle is broadcast to a bloodthirsty audience. If he makes it out alive, the reward is a life-changing fortune — but in this world, the odds are designed to kill.
The trailer teases explosive action, with Powell sprinting through chaos and carnage, exuding the charm and intensity that made him a breakout star in Top Gun: Maverick and Hit Man. Wright’s trademark energy is on full display — quick cuts, slick motion, and an unpredictable open-world setting that amplifies the tension. Think The Hunger Games meets Baby Driver, with a satirical edge only King could conceive.
Alongside Powell, the cast is stacked with talent! Including, Colman Domingo who brings his commanding presence as the charismatic yet chilling game show host. While Josh Brolin serves as the ruthless producer pulling the strings behind the scenes as Lee Pace transforms into one of the elite hunters on Ben’s trail. And lastly, Michael Cera surprises as a rebel ally who aids Ben from the underground.
While Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 Running Man remains a cult classic, it famously veered away from King’s novel. Trading nuance for muscle. Wright’s vision, however, promises a return to the author’s core themes of media manipulation, societal decay, and human endurance, all while injecting his signature visual wit and pulse-pounding pacing.
This adaptation could mark a major comeback moment for Wright after Last Night in Soho divided critics. And with Powell’s growing star power, The Running Man may just deliver a box-office breakthrough for King adaptations. No small feat, considering no Stephen King film has cracked $100 million since It: Chapter Two in 2019. All we know so far is that this reimagining is more than a run for survival, but rather a race to reclaim dystopian storytelling in the modern age. So keep up and mark your calendars because The Running Man hits theaters November 14th, 2025.