The Running Man is best known as one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s numerous 1980s action blockbusters. It’s actually adapted from a Richard Bachman (Stephen King) novel, one widely regarded as one of his best. Edgar Wright has directed a remake and we’ve got our first trailer for it. Here’s what Alasdair Stuart found.

0.22 –’Employment status: Black listed,’

Now is very much the time for the sort of blue-collar dystopia King has frequently been very good at. It also cleverly makes Ben even more of an underdog and a relatable one. It’s not even that the system is against him. It’s that the system wants him to die penniless on live TV for its amusement.

0.32 – ‘BLOODLUST IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT!’

Colman Domingo, everybody! One of those performers you are always happy to see and he looks to be having so much fun here!

0.32 – Katie O’Brian!

Blink and you’ll miss her but that’s Katie O’Brian as a contestant having just the worst time.

1.10 – ‘That’s the spirit’

Josh Brolin’s in here as Dan Killian, the show’s producer and like Domingo looks to be having a ton of fun. I love the ‘I will end you and your corrupt system’/’GO GET ’EM, CHAMP!’ dynamic he seems to have with Powell.

1.21 – Disguises

The idea of it being a nation wide manhunt is very smart, as it ups the stakes and the threat and also empowers contestants to get creative, like Ben’s disguise we glimpse here.

1.40 – Michael Cera

I’ll be honest with you, my first response was ‘Oh’, rather than ‘YAY!’ but that’s personal preference regarding Cera’s work. He’s a smart counterpoint to Powell, especially in a role like this and he gets a killer water pistol gag at the end of the trailer which looks fun.

2.00 – Drone chase

Edgar Wright using drones for an in-building chase! I cannot WAIT.

2.13 – ‘I got a grenade!’

Not only is this a great comedy beat that also reminds us Ben is an enthusiastic civilian fighting trained soldiers, but that sounds a LOT like Lee Pace who is in the movie as Evan McCone, one of the hunters.

2.22 – Refusing to lose, refusing to die

Powell’s previous work has been defined by either charming self-deprecation (the excellent Hit-Man) or suave assholes with surprising emotional journeys (the differently excellent Top Gun: Maverick and the also differently excellent Twisters). Here he seems to be adding a new string to his bow and that string is FURIOUS BLUE-COLLAR RAGE. I’m very, very excited to see what he does with it.

The Running Man is in cinemas November 7th. Along with The Long Walk in September it’s going to be a good year for King fans.

 

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