Iconic horror author Stephen King has given a review of The Running Man remake ahead of the movie’s release next month, and on the same day that a new trailer premiered..
On X, King shared his thoughts on The Running Man, which is an adaptation of his novel by the same name, released in 1982. King stated that “I’ve seen it and it’s fantastic. DIE HARD for our time. A bipartisan thrill ride.”
The Running Man stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, who enters a competition where he has to survive while being hunted by professional killers, all to save his sick daughter. Richards is hunted for 30 days and has to survive the odds to win it all. The film will be released on November 14.
Edgar Wright directs this adaptation. Wright’s best known for Baby Driver and Shaun of the Dead, which are action-packed and memorable. Alongside Powell, there is a star-studded cast including Josh Brolin, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Lee Pace, and Emilia Jones.
King’s comparison to the action movie Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis, could have many connotations, including how much of a staple that movie became for action fans.
Another notable comment by King is “bipartisan thrill ride,” which can be interpreted in many ways, but it’s usually centered around bridging political divides. Perhaps Wright’s interpretation of The Running Man could have a much deeper meaning for viewers upon release.
This is the last King adaptation to release this year, and it has high hopes to be one of the best. King has previously spoken about his appreciation for this new remake following the 1987 version starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The original adaptation of The Running Man has a 67% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
This isn’t the first time King has made his opinion known on social media, as he regularly posts his reviews of upcoming movies and TV shows based on his work. King didn’t approve of Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man and was disappointed it didn’t “have much in common with the novel at all.”
Being a fan of King’s The Running Man, Wright wanted to ensure he was faithful to the source and included what the original adaptation didn’t. Wright gave King final approval of the script, and King was very happy with the results. The author said, “I was very curious how you were going to tackle the ending, and I think you did a great job.”