Just a couple of short weeks ago, Edgar Wright's zombie horror-comedy Shaun Of The Dead celebrated its 20th anniversary. (We know, we feel it, too!) But with time marching on relentlessly, our focus is already shifting back to the British filmmaker's next project, a fresh adaptation of Stephen King's dystopian sci-fi novel The Running Man.
Having secured the highly sought-after Glen Powell to step into the shoes of Arnold Schwarzenegger's iconic role from the 1987 classic, Deadline reports that Wright has also cast Love Lies Bleeding breakout Katy O'Brian to join the cast. Co-written by Wright and his Scott Pilgrim collaborator Michael Bacall, early signs suggest that this iteration of The Running Man will see Powell portraying a character closer to the original Ben Richards from King's novel, rather than the conventional tough guy Arnie embodied in the 80s.
The central plot, while less action-oriented and more thriller-focused in the book, remains largely unchanged: a falsely convicted cop is forced into a televised deathmatch to win his freedom, competing against deadly opponents while the masses watch in fascination. It's a blend of Hunger Games and Battle Royale, with a strong dose of Stephen King's (or Richard Bachman's, if we're being precise) signature style.
As for O'Brian's role in The Running Man, details are still under wraps. However, with Powell's experience in revitalizing beloved genre classics (hello Twisters, hello Top Gun Maverick), O'Brian's knack for action, and Wright's expertise in crafting compelling cinema, we'll be eagerly awaiting this film's release on 21 November, 2025.
