Glen Powell reveals that his upcoming remake ofThe Running Manhas been approved by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Based on the Stephen King novel, the original dystopian sci-fi adaptation premiered in 1987 and has garnered mostly favorable reactions. Exploring a future, tyrannical United States, the story tracks Ben Richards (previously portrayed by Schwarzenegger), who appears on the eponymous game show and seeks freedom by evading deadly adversaries. Aremake ofThe Running Man, starring Powell, was announced in 2021 andis being directed by Edgar WrightofScott Pilgrim vs. the WorldandBaby Driver.
During a recent interview withPeople, Powell revealed that Schwarzenegger gave the upcoming adaptation ofThe Running Manhis “full blessing.” The actor explained that he got approval from having worked alongside Schwarzenegger onThe Expendables 3and because he and Patrick Schwarzenegger are friends. Powell also teased that the original star ofThe Running Manwill geta “very specific fun gift from the movie.”Read more of Powell’s comments below:
Arnold gave us his blessing. Patrick Schwarzenegger is a great friend of mine and I asked Patrick if I could talk to Arnold and I hadn’t seen Arnold since we shot Expendables in Bulgaria. Arnold gave us his full blessing and we get to give Arnold a very specific fun gift from the movie in a couple of weeks here. So I’m very excited to see him.
What This Means For The Running Man Remake
The Movie Can Stand On Its Own
Having approval from Schwarzenegger bodes well forThe Running Manremake and suggests thatit could become another successful King adaptation.The 1987 version generated slightly more than $38 million, but considering how recognizable Powell has become since appearing inAnyone But YouandTwisters, his casting may prove beneficial for a higher box office. Also, whileThe Running Manhas been well-received by audiences, there have been criticisms about how far it ventures from the source material.
The Running Man Remake: 10 Things From Stephen King’s Book That The New Movie Must Get Right
Edgar Wright’s Running Man remake must capture these crucial elements from Stephen King’s dark novel to deliver the adaptation fans deserve
Ahead of the November 7 premiere date, there have been some exciting updates surroundingThe Running Manremake that could denote broad appeal. Powell previously toldScreenRantthatWright is incorporating his flair into the movieand shared a sense of enthusiasm over collaborating with the director. There is also a behind-the-scenes photo by Wright that teases an unexpected ending and previews what Powell may look like as Ben Richards. Along with Powell,The Running Manfeatures a star-studded castthat includes Katy O’Brian, Lee Pace, Colman Domingo, Emilia Jones, Josh Brolin, and Michael Cera.
Our Take On The Running Man & Schwarzenegger’s Approval
It Should Only Help The Remake
With Schwarzenegger giving his approval to Powell andThe Running Man, it may end up servicing the movie upon release, particularly when it comes to drawing fans of the 1987 adaptation. The upcoming remake will offer another telling of King’s novel, and while potentially very different from the Schwarzenegger-led film, generating a large audience is key. Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see if Schwarzenegger reacts toThe Running Manand what his “gift” might be.
