Inside ‘The Running Man’ – Dystopian Reboot Unleashes New Featurettes

Audiences are getting a deeper look into one of the year’s most anticipated releases, as two new featurettes have dropped for Edgar Wright’s The Running Man. The upcoming dystopian action thriller, based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel, hits UK cinemas on 12 November and promises to reimagine the classic story for a new generation.

The first behind-the-scenes clip, Directing The Running Man, offers a closer look at Wright’s meticulous filmmaking process, featuring insights from the director himself and leading cast members Glen Powell, Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin. The second featurette, Inside the World of The Running Man, explores the violent, televised nightmare at the heart of the story – a deadly game of survival where contestants fight to outlast professional killers for the entertainment of a bloodthirsty audience.

Wright, known for his distinctive visual style and kinetic editing in hits like Baby Driver and Shaun of the Dead, has described his adaptation as a more faithful interpretation of King’s original novel than the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. That version became a cult favourite for its camp excess, but Wright’s take is expected to blend social satire, emotional stakes and explosive action, echoing King’s darker vision of a society consumed by spectacle.

Powell stars as Ben Richards, a working-class man who enters the eponymous game show in a desperate bid to save his sick daughter. His performance has already generated considerable buzz, with early footage hinting at a physically demanding and emotionally charged role. Josh Brolin plays the manipulative producer who runs the deadly show, while Colman Domingo hosts the televised bloodsport with unnerving charisma. The cast also includes Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, William H. Macy, Michael Cera and Daniel Ezra.

The story unfolds in a near-future dystopia where the show The Running Man dominates global television ratings. Contestants, known as “Runners”, must survive for 30 days while being hunted by elite assassins, their every move streamed to a public obsessed with violence and celebrity. Each day survived means a higher cash reward, but as Ben Richards becomes a fan favourite, he also becomes the system’s greatest threat.

The featurettes tease a world that’s both futuristic and frighteningly plausible, blending high-octane chases, slick production design and Wright’s trademark energy. From the desolate industrial landscapes of London to the neon-lit chaos of the televised arenas, The Running Man looks set to deliver a visually spectacular and thematically charged experience.

With a screenplay co-written by Wright and longtime collaborator Michael Bacall, and produced by Simon Kinberg and Nira Park, the film marks Wright’s return to large-scale filmmaking following 2021’s Last Night in Soho. It also reunites him with editor Paul Machliss and features visual effects by Industrial Light & Magic, ensuring a high level of craft behind the carnage.

The Running Man premieres in UK cinemas on 12 November, before opening in the US two days later via Paramount Pictures. You can watch the new featurettes – Directing The Running Man and Inside the World of The Running Man – below.

The Running Man featurettes