The upcomingStephen Kingadaptation ofThe Running Manis set to keep a critical aspect of his original dystopian storyline, which makes me so happy to see as a fan of his work.Stephen King’s booksare often remembered for their stark imagery and terrifying plot beats, especially as Stephen King has reigned as the “King of Horror” for several decades.
However,Stephen King’s non-horror works are just as poignant, with King tackling suspense and science fiction in fascinating waysfor just as long as horror. Yet some adaptations of King’s works have missed the mark, focusing more on the iconic imagery King presents rather than the deeper meaning behind them.
That being said, after seeing theupdates onThe Running Manremake, I think this particular 2025 adaptation will maintain much of what made the original Stephen King novel great. One specific aspect that seems like it will have no problem chasing that others have stumbled over is the book’s very core: the intensity and action of the storyline.
2025’s Running Man Seems Like It Will Keep The Intensity Of The Stephen King Book
The Running Man Remake Is Set To Premiere On May 27, 2025
The remake of Stephen King’s dystopian novelThe Running Manappears to maintain the brutality of the original story, which other versions of it failed to capture.The Running Mantells the story of Ben Richards (Glen Powell) who, after signing on to a deadly game show,must survive being hunted for 30 daysby deadly assassins.
The original Stephen King novel emphasized the cleverness and desperation of Ben Richards through his many evasions of both the public and his pursuers as he grows more and more angry at the rigged system into which he is locked.The campier 1987 adaptation of the film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, though, chose to downplay that darkness, taking away from the narrative’s overall impact.
The Running Manremake - or rather, proper adaptation -looks better, by comparison, because it embraces that intensity from Stephen King’s novel, withThe Running Mantrailer highlighting several moments of inventive action and creatively dangerous scenarios that match the book’s pace. King’s dystopian book is about more than just action, with its themes of class inequality and cruelty as mass consumption being all the more relevant today.
Stephen King’s Dystopian Book Was More Than Just An Action Story
King’s Story Focused On Themes Of Societal Cruelty & Entertainment
The Running Manby Stephen King allows the audience to take a critical look at our desire for entertainment and the difficulties society places on survival, making it more than another fun action story. While Ben Richard’s journey is lost in various moments of action, his story reflects how the dystopian genre has always evolved to reflect the anxieties and injustices of the current zeitgeist.
Those qualities are what make this Stephen King story stand the test of time and will likely have audiences running to the theater to see the narrative unfold once again.
Much like Suzanne Collins' revival ofThe Hunger Games,Stephen King’s story focuses on themes of cruelty as entertainment and the fight to survive in an unjust systemcreated by those at the top, designed to maintain their dominance, which deeply resonates today. Those themes are the central grounding point of the narrative and inform the twist inThe Running Man’sbook ending.
Director Edgar Wright has said the 2025 adaptation embraces the book’s messaging, highlighting it through both visuals and dialogue, difficult as they may be to discuss. Those qualities are what make the originalStephen Kingnovels stand the test of time and will likely have audiences running to the theater to see the narrative unfold once again.
Stephen King
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
