Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares How Glen Powell’s Running Man Remake Could Surpass the Original Sci-Fi Classic

Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares How Glen Powell’s Running Man Remake Could Surpass the Original Sci-Fi Classic

Arnold Schwarzenegger reflects on the shortcomings of his Running Man adaptation and why the new remake from Edgar Wright could outshine it.

By MarkJulian - Jun 17, 2025 07:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi
Source: SFFGazette.com

Edgar Wright and Glen Powell’s highly anticipated remake of The Running Man is officially slated for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025. Naturally, the new film will be compared to the 1987 cult favorite that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Although the original adaptation of Stephen King’s dystopian novel has maintained a loyal fanbase over the years, Schwarzenegger recently acknowledged that the upcoming remake has a real chance to surpass his version by addressing its past limitations.

In a new interview with CBR, Schwarzenegger discusses the upcoming remake, touching on some weak points in the original that he thinks Wright and Powell's film can improve upon.

Said Schwarzenegger, "Running Man’ was one of the movies that…I think it would have been great if we would have been better prepared for this movie if we would have had more money for this movie, and if we would have had then… the visual effects, the technology of visual effects, that they have today, all of those things I wished after the movie came out, I felt like it could have been better."

He continued, "It was great, but it could have been better, and I think that they have a good chance now with the new ‘Running Man’ to make it better. And I hope, for their sake and for my sake, I hope that they will be successful."

The original 1987 film starring Schwarzenegger also took significant liberties with the Stephen King novel. However, Powell and Wright's project promises a more faithful adaptation, including a depiction of Ben Richards as the average, everyman individual he is in the book.

In addition to Powell, the remake also stars Colman Domingo (If Beale Street Could Talk), Michael Cera, (Scot Pilgrim vs the World), Josh Brolin (Dune: Part Two, Avengers: Infinity War), Emilia Jones (Locke & Key), Lee Pace (Halt and Catch Fire, Foundation), William H. Macy (Shameless))and Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding).

Brolin is set to play a producer of the show, with Domingo playing the show's host, and Pace playing one of the fiendish hunters tasked with hunting down the game's contestants. 

Cera is reportedly playing a rebel who's out to overthrow the government and finds himself assisting Powell's lead character.

Katy O'Brian, Daniel Ezra, and Karl Glusman are also set to appear in supporting roles.

Per Powell's Instagram, filming on the remake wrapped back in March.

With Edgar Wright’s distinct cinematic flair and a sharp, politically charged sense of humor woven into Stephen King’s classic narrative, The Running Man remake has the potential to be much more than a simple nostalgia-driven reboot

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Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 6/17/2025, 7:52 PM
I trust Edgar Wright to make this film great

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Skestra
Skestra - 6/17/2025, 7:58 PM
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thedrudo
thedrudo - 6/17/2025, 8:08 PM
Just actually follow the book and you’re 90% there
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 6/18/2025, 5:56 AM
@thedrudo - what a concept.
mountainman
mountainman - 6/17/2025, 8:20 PM
A classic movie that made a lot of changes from the book but was still good. A remake could do it better, but Arnold movie remakes haven’t fared so well so far. Looking at you Total Recall and Conan.
DemonTweeks
DemonTweeks - 6/18/2025, 2:58 AM
@mountainman - didnt we all promise to never mention though remakes ever again? id nearly forgotten them
dagenspear
dagenspear - 6/17/2025, 8:24 PM
Glen Powell isn't the guy I'd want for this role, as I don't think he has the right charisma/charm for something like this, for me.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/17/2025, 8:43 PM
Running man was just that [frick]ing typical action 80s movie.

Never really got it but was [frick]ing fun nevertheless.

Truth about it, everything [frick]ing thing Arnold did then was perfect for us young bloods.

He and Uncle Sly.

Never [frick]ing knew it was based on a book so I’m looking forward to see what Edgar is [frick]ing going to do with it.

Edgar is an awkward Filmaker, that just does his own [frick]ing thing and also seems to come out [frick]ing right.

We will never know what would have been if he had [frick]ing done Ant-Man, but I believe it would have been better than what we [frick]ing got.

For [frick]s Sake

TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/17/2025, 8:57 PM
I haven’t read the book or seen the 80’s movie (though I might atleast try to do the latter before this new one comes out)…

I do know that this movie is very loosely adapted from the book and was originally going to be closer when Christopher Reeve was going to star in but he left and had a different director who was fired because the preproduction time was insufficient thus they fell a week behind schedule which they laid at his feet hence got a different one so it had a troubled production which probably led to the lack of money & such Arnold is talking about…

The movie was also changed to more of the tone of Arnold’s films at the time too rather then something closer to the book.

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Anyway , looking forward to this new take especially with Edgar Wright at the helm!!.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 6/17/2025, 9:00 PM
The Running Man is a good dumb guilty pleasure watch.
It could easily be improved with a little more worldbuilding and more elaborate arena fights.
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/17/2025, 9:17 PM
@Feralwookiee - I don’t believe in guilty pleasure nothing ashamed of it’s stupid word use be as excuse feel embarrassed by strangers don’t know you what movies you like in entertainment world I like running man I’m not ashamed of it, Stallone was low budget roger corman movie death race 2000 there are people out there fans of that movie still don’t believe me watch video

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dragon316
dragon316 - 6/17/2025, 9:18 PM
Running man is judge dredd running man is classic same with terminator , total recall of his running man don’t need remake judge dredd did
narrow290
narrow290 - 6/17/2025, 10:52 PM
Remember he was like “I’ll be back!” And the host was like “only in the reruns!” 😭😭😭 that was some cold blooded shit
PartyKiller
PartyKiller - 6/18/2025, 12:18 AM
Arnold did not do a great job in Running Man. He became his own biggest fan and really full of himself after Terminator 1. He could do well when directed by great directors like Milius and Cameron before T1's success and before Arnold became a mere business that existed to deliver quips and one liners.

Even Paul Verhoeven couldn't reel him in for Total Recall as Arnold was unconvincing and terrible in that movie.

Maybe the Running Man remake will let Arnold do a cameo with a slightly amusing quip. He could show up and say "I'll be back!".
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 6/18/2025, 3:53 AM
I keep getting amazed but how much stuff are Stephen King adaptations. Now again. I associate him with horror, but he does so much more. And gets adapted a lot
Typhoon20
Typhoon20 - 6/18/2025, 5:54 AM
I love Edgar Wright but hate that he not only picked the wrong actors for this one but is doing this one instead of something original and new and funny and fun.
Deklipz
Deklipz - 6/18/2025, 9:33 AM
@Typhoon20 - if you’ve read the book you’d know that he literally picked actors that the book describes perfectly. I’m glad Wright is doing this.
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 6/18/2025, 5:55 AM
it can surpass the original by actually adapting the book, which is much more serious in tone than Arnold's movie with Christmas tree opera singers in their underwear. Ben Richards signs up for the game to help his sick daughter in a world where the air is sour. Stalkers aren't the only ones playing the game as anyone in the public can turn someone in for a prize. There are video checkpoints he has to meet every day and the longer he lasts, the more more he wins. The book is incredible and the movie could be too.
stevezegers
stevezegers - 6/18/2025, 7:11 AM
I love the original, but you can see that the budget wasn't so great.

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