We’re not going to recycle our lede from our post about The Long Walk, the Francis Lawrence movie based on a Stephen King novel that involves a running-themed game show or sporting event, or whatever. No, that’s not who we are. This is a post about The Running Man, Edgar Wright’s adaptation of a Stephen King novel about a running-themed game show or sporting event or whatever. Even better, it’s a remake of one of our favorite B-tier Arnold Schwarzenegger films, which features a truly incredible roster of ’80s screen talent (including Family Feud‘s Richard Dawson as the psychopathic game show host) and an original track by John Parr (of “St. Elmo’s Fire” fame). You’re not gonna beat that one on pure camp value, but you can see how Wright might try to make it straight-up kinetic cinema in this trailer, which Paramount dropped earlier on Wednesday. How? Two words: Glen. Powell.
Peep it:
Here’s a synopsis for The Running Man, though you should really just go watch the one with Arnold. We reiterate: it kicks ass.
”In a near-future society, ‘The Running Man’ is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.”
The Running Man hits theaters on November 7, and we’re angry about that. Why? This should be a Thanksgiving release for no reason other than the fact that we could end this post by telling you to “leave enough room after Turkey for The Running Man‘s fist so he can ram it into your stomach and break your goddamn spine!” That’s an all-timer of an Arnold quote.