Can a modern reboot live up to the legacy of Schwarzenegger and the foresight of Stephen King? Edgar Wright seems ready to try, and the trailer for The Running Man (2025) proves one thing, this isn’t a gimmick remake, but a sharper, more brutal take on reality TV gone savage. Release Date: November 7, 2025 (Paramount Pictures)
What’s Good?
- Faithful to the source: Unlike the 1987 version, this adaptation sticks closer to Stephen King’s original (written under the name Richard Bachman), focusing on bleak commentary and social control.
- Edgar Wright’s tonal shift: Known for kinetic, stylized comedies, Wright impresses with a darker, more grounded aesthetic while keeping his sharp storytelling intact.
- Colman Domingo shines: Early reactions praise Domingo’s gravitas ~ magnetic, menacing, and completely in control.
What’s Meh?
- Glen Powell’s casting divides viewers: While charismatic, some feel he doesn’t quite carry the emotional weight the role demands.
- Muted visual palette: Wright’s usual visual pop is missing, replaced by a cooler, more sterile tone, not necessarily a flaw, but unexpected.
- Trailer pacing feels restrained: Some fans wanted a more explosive or unsettling rhythm, especially given the film’s theme of televised death games.
- Overfamiliar genre beats: With shows like Hunger Games and Squid Game setting the bar, some viewers are questioning whether The Running Man can still bring something new to the table.
Why Are Audiences Excited?
- Stephen King’s original is finally getting justice.
- The 1987 Schwarzenegger version was campy action; this one is political, timely, and meaner, which King fans love.
- Wright’s direction marks a bold evolution. From Shaun of the Dead to Last Night in Soho, he’s always balanced entertainment with edge and Running Man gives him the platform to go full social commentary.
- It taps into current anxieties. Surveillance culture, media manipulation, and state violence, this film might hit far too close to home.
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Top YouTube & Reddit Reactions
- “Stephen King was way ahead of his time, this finally feels like the version he deserved.”
- “The Arnold version is legendary in its own right. This doesn’t replace it, it updates it.”
- “Glen Powell is fine, but I wish they cast someone rougher. He still feels like a Top Gun sequel.”
- “Wright directing this? I’m already seated.”
- “Glen Powell is much suited for a Comic role, not for this”
Final Take
However, some viewers question the selection of Glen Powell as the lead. The Running Man trailer makes it clear: this is not nostalgia bait, but a reloaded warning. If The Running Man is explosive, then this trailer just lit the fuse… November better be ready.
Excitement Meter: 80%
Written By MANSI SINGH