First Trailer For Running Man Races Out

First Trailer For Running Man Races Out

10 Comments | edgar wright, paramount, Paramount Pictures, Stephen King, the running man | By | | 2 minutes of reading

I said last fall I was dreading the release of Edgar Wright’s remake of The Running Man because I liked the Arnold Schwarzenegger original so much, and based on past remakes of Arnie films (like Total Recall) it probably wouldn’t be nearly as fun. With the release of the first trailer I guess I have to take that back.

While Wright’s Running Man has a more grim backstory (in line with the Stephen King book), it has NOT lost the goofy sensibility, thank heavens. In a dystopian future (2025 in the book, but probably later now) the country is a wasteland ruled by a dictator. Ben Richards, our main character, is unemployed and looking for a way to get his sick daughter treatment…but the only way is to volunteer for The Running Man, America’s favorite gladiator game show.

In the Arnie movie, this show took place in an arena. In this version, the ENTIRE WORLD is an arena! Once picked to play the game, Richards has one week to survive while everyone hunts him down. If he makes it, he wins a ton of cash. Despite the circumstances he’s under, this guy’s quite a showboater, mocking the hosts on the hidden cameras every chance he gets. What’s the point of running for your life if you can’t make it a party?

Running Man stars Glen Powell, who appeared in Twisters last year, alongside Katy O’Brien (Love Lies Bleeding, The Mandalorian), Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera (yes, Michael Cera…Wright directed Scott Pilgrim, you know), Jayme Lawson, and William H. Macy. The script was written by Wright and Michael Bacall, who was also involved with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World as well as 21 Jump Street. It begins running November 7.

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Avatar of CodfishDreamer42
CodfishDreamer42

New Member

679 messages 29 likes
#1 Jul 03, 2025

I actually love the original Running Man, but I also read the book, and I always thought it had a darker message that the movie kind of skipped. So I’m glad Edgar Wright is going back to that tone. The idea of the whole world being the arena adds way more tension than just a closed-off stadium. And I think Glen Powell is a great pick—he was really fun in Twisters. I’m curious how Wright will balance the humor with the serious themes. I hope it still has those weird TV show vibes and cheesy ads like in the old version. That kind of satire feels more real now, honestly. And seeing Michael Cera in the cast? That’s unexpected but very Edgar Wright. I’m looking forward to this way more than I thought I would. November can't come fast enough.

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Avatar of Scratchy
Scratchy

Member

274 messages 24 likes
#2 Jul 03, 2025

This trailer surprised me. I didn’t expect to smile during it, but I did. Glen Powell was charismatic and fun to watch. I’m glad it is not too serious. We already have too many sad and depressing sci-fi stories. I like the idea that he mocks the people chasing him. I hope the film doesn’t forget to make the villains silly too. That made the original memorable. I didn’t read the book, so I don’t care about changes. I just want a good time.

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Avatar of Onigiri
Onigiri

Active Member

643 messages 27 likes
#3 Jul 03, 2025

Honestly, I don’t trust remakes. They usually miss what made the original special. But this one got my attention. I can feel Wright’s fingerprints on it, especially with the cast choices. He always finds a way to use actors in surprising ways. Michael Cera? That’s either a terrible idea or genius. Either way, I want to find out. I also like that it’s not a straight copy. Making the entire world the arena raises the stakes. That’s smart. I still think no one can top Arnold’s presence, though. We’ll see.

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Avatar of blisssfan
blisssfan

Glitter Bliss

25 messages 0 likes
#4 Jul 03, 2025

I’m confused why this needed to be made again. The first Running Man still works fine. I feel like directors today just want to update things to show off flashy CGI. I don’t think Glen Powell can carry something like this. He was okay in Twisters, but this role needs someone iconic. Also, turning the whole world into the arena sounds too much like Hunger Games. It’s been done. I’m not excited.

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BlueBlurFanatic

The Speedster Sage

508 messages 39 likes
#5 Jul 03, 2025

What always impressed me about The Running Man—even the original from the 80s—was how it predicted the rise of reality television way before it existed in the form we know today. Back then, there was no Big Brother, no Survivor, nothing like that. But this story imagined a world where people are glued to their screens, watching others suffer and die for entertainment. That was a sharp observation in the 80s. Now, we have shows that may not be violent, but they still play with people’s emotions, lives, and reputations for public amusement. Watching the new trailer reminded me how close we are to that line. This remake seems to take that idea even further. The fact that the entire world is the stage makes the commentary even more accurate. I think people forget that these kinds of dystopias often come true in quiet ways. So yes, this story may have seemed like fiction 40 years ago, but now it feels more like a mirror.

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Avatar of Chance
Chance

Member

432 messages 13 likes
#6 Jul 03, 2025

This trailer made me realize how much I miss big, risky sci-fi. I think this is a great idea for a remake—not just copying but evolving. It feels like it knows what year it is. Reality shows are still huge, and social media made them even more brutal. So a death game with cameras everywhere? Makes sense. I like that the trailer didn’t explain everything. Just enough to get us curious. And Edgar Wright doing sci-fi with satire? Yes, I trust that mix. I hope they don’t water it down.

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Avatar of Sailor Krypton
Sailor Krypton

3... 2... 1... Krypton

33 messages 0 likes
#7 Jul 03, 2025

I liked the trailer a lot. It looked fast and exciting. I never watched the old Running Man movie or read the book, but this version makes me want to learn more. I enjoy movies where normal people become heroes in strange situations. I like the part where the character mocks the cameras. It shows he’s not just scared—he’s clever. I think this could be a good action film with something to say about today’s world.

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Avatar of Lars
Lars

Member

322 messages 3 likes
#8 Jul 03, 2025

I’m not sure how I feel. It looks okay, but I really love the Arnold version. It’s hard to beat something that was so bold and full of personality. This new one looks slick, but maybe too clean. The original had a crazy energy. Still, I’m curious. I respect Edgar Wright as a director. He usually doesn’t make boring stuff. I just hope it’s not too safe. I want it to take risks like the first one did.

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Avatar of PKClinton
PKClinton

Member

396 messages 21 likes
#9 Jul 03, 2025

This version looks like it has more heart. The original was fun, but it didn’t care about the characters very much. Here, Ben Richards is trying to save his daughter. That gives the story more emotion. I think this will make the action more meaningful. Also, I like the design of the future world. It looks dirty, broken, and believable. I think Wright made the right choice by blending drama and comedy. That balance is hard to do, but I trust him.

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