From director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), The Running Man will stream exclusively on Paramount+ tomorrow, January 13.
Based on the 1982 novel by Stephen King, the dystopian action thriller stars Glen Powell.
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 is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer 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.
Wright co-wrote the script with Michael Bacall (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 21 Jump Street).
William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin round out the cast.
Wright produces alongside frequent collaborator Nira Park (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver) and Simon Kinberg (Deadpool, The Martian).
Meagan Navarro wrote in her review of the film, “Wright tees up scathing critiques only to sweep them aside for cheery splatstick in a way that almost entirely scrubs this adaptation of stakes, poignancy, and the dystopian themes of King’s source novel.”