In 1982, a dystopian novel called The Running Man hit bookstore shelves around the country, nominally the fourth book by one Richard Bachman. Two years later, Richard Bachman was revealed to be Stephen King, and The Running Man found a new audience. Set in a near future where violent reality programming enthralls most people and class divides have intensified, the novel was later adapted into a 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
That film adaptation, while certainly full of memorable scenes, isn’t necessarily the most faithful to the source material. Should the right filmmaker come along, there’s certainly room for another adaptation that could stand on its own as a distinct work rather than as a remake of the earlier film. And, evidently, that’s exactly what’s happened. IndieWire reports that Edgar Wright is set to put his own spin on the story.
For the film, Wright will reteam with screenwriter Michael Bacall, with whom he worked on Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. IndieWire notes that Wright first mentioned wanting to take a crack at The Running Man on Twitter in 2017.
Fans of Wright’s distinctive sensibility have a lot to look forward to. Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers, about the cult band Sparks, debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. And his next narrative feature is Last Night in Soho, starring The Queen’s Gambit‘s Anya Taylor-Joy, is currently slated for release in October.
It’s a good time to be excited about Wright’s forthcoming films. One might even say it’s the right time, if one were so inclined.
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