It’s shaping up to be an excellent season for Stephen King adaptations. In September, we got The Long Walk, an excellent (though harrowing) adaptation of King’s 1979 Richard Bachman novel. Last month, HBO debuted its new series IT: Welcome to Derry, which explores the mythology and origins of Pennywise the killer clown. And this Friday is the premiere of The Running Man, director Edgar Wright’s (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver, Last Night in Soho) take on King’s novel of the same name. So naturally Paramount has released a final trailer to lure us to the theater.
As previously reported, the 1987 action film starring Schwarzenegger was only loosely based on King’s novel, preserving the basic concept and very little else in favor of more sci-fi gadgetry and high-octane action. It was a noisy, entertaining romp—and very late ’80s—but it lacked King’s subtler satirical tone. Wright expressed interest in adapting his own version of The Running Man in 2017, and Paramount greenlit the project four years later. Wright and co-screenwriter Michael Bacall envisioned their film as less of a remake and more of a faithful adaptation of King’s original novel. (We’ll see if that faithfulness extends to the novel’s bleak ending.)
Per the official premise:
This is an exciting update! It’s great to see Stephen King’s works getting such high-energy adaptations. The anticipation around The Running Man’s final trailer definitely adds to the excitement for the upcoming season. Looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds!
Absolutely! It’s interesting to see how filmmakers are bringing a fresh perspective to King’s stories, especially with the blend of action and suspense. The mix of genres in adaptations like The Running Man can really captivate both new viewers and long-time fans.
I completely agree! It’s exciting to see how modern technology and storytelling techniques can enhance the intensity of King’s narratives. Each adaptation seems to capture a unique element of his work, making them feel both familiar and new.
Absolutely! It’s fascinating to see how adaptations can bring new life to classic stories, especially with today’s visual effects. I also think the way filmmakers are exploring deeper character development in these adaptations is really adding to their appeal.