The Running Man: Release Date, Cast, Trailers & More

Stephen King’s stories have become cinematic staples, and 2025 sees one of his most prescient dystopian works, The Running Man, returning to theaters with a bold new adaptation. This time, director Edgar Wright promises a more faithful retelling of the original novel—a gripping tale of a man hunted on live television for the entertainment of a future America gone wrong.

Release Date and Theatrical Plans

The Running Man is set to hit theaters on November 7, 2025. Originally intended for a late-November release, the date was moved up to avoid head-to-head competition with Wicked: For Good, opening opportunities for IMAX screenings and ensuring the film gets maximum attention from moviegoers. This adjustment also reflects Paramount’s confidence in the film’s blockbuster potential. Early buzz from industry insiders and the promise of a major talent lineup only heighten anticipation.

The Creative Force Behind the Remake

Acclaimed filmmaker Edgar Wright, celebrated for genre-bending hits like Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, directs this new take on King’s dystopian nightmare. Wright’s excitement for the project goes back years—he named it as his dream remake on X (formerly Twitter) in 2019. The screenplay is co-written by Wright and Michael Bacall, reuniting the team behind Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Producers include genre heavyweights Simon Kinberg and Nira Park, promising a visually dynamic and thematically rich adaptation.

Wright is clear that his vision is not a remake of the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger-led film, but rather a fresh and more faithful adaptation of King’s book. The director told Empire Magazine that the story would unfold more like a “deadliest game of hide and seek,” with protagonist Ben Richards navigating a hostile world, striving to survive against impossible odds.

Star-Studded Cast

This 2025 version stars Glen Powell, currently one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors after his roles in Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You, and Twisters. He plays Ben Richards, an everyman thrust into the violent world of a government-run reality game show to earn a future for his daughter.

Powell is joined by Katy O’Brian (known for her turn in Love Lies Bleeding and co-starring alongside Powell in Twisters) and Daniel Ezra from The CW’s All American. The Running Man features an ensemble brimming with talent:

• Josh Brolin (Dune, Avengers: Endgame) as the ruthless producer Dan Killian
• Lee Pace (Bodies Bodies Bodies, Guardians of the Galaxy) and Karl Glusman (Love) as deadly hunters
• Emilia Jones (CODA) as a woman Richards meets during his desperate run
• Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) as a courageous resistance fighter
• William H. Macy (Fargo) as another ally for Richards
• Colman Domingo (Zola) as the charismatic host Bobby Thompson

Rounding out the cast are Jayme Lawson (Sinners), David Zayas (Dexter), and Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), each bringing depth to a story packed with tension and unexpected humanity.

The Plot: A Dark Game for Survival

Originally published in 1982 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Running Man imagines an America of 2025 crippled by economic disaster and ruled by a totalitarian regime. Desperate to provide for his sick daughter, Ben Richards volunteers for the Games Network’s most dangerous reality show.

The “game” is brutal: contestants, called “Runners,” are given a head start, then pursued by relentless, state-sponsored assassins. Surviving each hour means more reward for their families—but few make it far, and anyone who does becomes a threat to the system. Wright’s vision aims to capture the tense, gritty reality King envisioned, with the protagonist constantly moving, meeting new faces, and struggling to stay alive while the entire nation watches.

King’s story was eerily ahead of its time, anticipating the explosion of reality TV and society’s increasing appetite for spectacle. While the 1987 film starring Schwarzenegger played up the camp and spectacle—with bespoke “stalkers” and a zone-based arena—Wright’s version returns to the book’s core: a desperate man’s fight against a dehumanized world where even suffering is commodified for mass entertainment.

For those curious, The Running Man and King’s other Bachman tale The Long Walk are unrelated, though both are dystopian contests with high stakes—and both make for compelling cinema this year.

Trailers and Teaser Footage

As of June 2025, no official trailer for The Running Man has been released to the public. Principal photography wrapped in March, after filming in the UK. However, select attendees at CinemaCon 2025 were treated to exclusive footage. Reports describe a tense sequence where Josh Brolin’s TV exec entices Powell’s Richards to compete, and a fiery scene with Colman Domingo’s host demanding that the hunt intensify. Michael Cera’s resistance character even gets a comedic moment, using a water gun to electrocute pursuers—hinting at Wright’s signature blend of action and wit.

Glen Powell, appearing on stage at CinemaCon, remarked, “I have never worked harder on a movie in my life,” since reposted by several film journalists and widely circulated among fan accounts on X and Instagram.

Critical Context and Legacy

While the 1987 The Running Man has become a cult classic, it’s known for diverging significantly from King’s original plot, leaning into outrageous villain caricatures and over-the-top action sequences. The new version’s commitment to the book’s tone and themes adds significant intrigue for both horror fans and newcomers.

For those who want a refresher on the previous adaptation, the original film starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards and is set in a similar dystopian America, but its approach was more action-oriented and less faithful to King’s story. For more about the original, you can check The Running Man on Rotten Tomatoes or read the film’s synopsis at IMDb.

Final Thoughts

With a formidable cast, a visionary director at the helm, and a story that feels more relevant than ever, The Running Man promises to be one of 2025’s must-see thrillers. You can follow developments and future trailer drops by visiting the film’s Rotten Tomatoes page, or keep an eye on Edgar Wright’s updates for behind-the-scenes teases. For those intrigued by Stephen King adaptations, the return to this chilling vision of the future couldn’t be more timely.

The Running Man takes off in theaters on November 7, 2025.