‘The Running Man’ trailer: Glen Powell survives a game show in Edgar Wright’s latest

Paramount Pictures has released the first trailer for The Running Man, a new film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel. Directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell, the film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on November 7.

Set in a near-future society, The Running Man follows contestants in a state-run game show who must survive for 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. Their efforts are broadcast to the public as part of a widely watched entertainment spectacle. Powell plays a father who enters the competition in hopes of securing a better future for his daughter.

The film’s screenplay was written by Wright and Michael Bacall. Unlike the 1987 adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wright’s version is expected to follow King’s original narrative more closely, focusing on the novel’s darker tone and commentary on media and violence.

Speaking at CinemaCon earlier this year, Powell said, “I have never worked harder on a movie in my life,” referencing the physical demands of the role. Powell also noted that Schwarzenegger had given his “full blessing” to the new adaptation.

The cast includes William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin. The film is produced by Wright, Nira Park, and Simon Kinberg.

Stephen King’s novel, originally published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, has long been recognised for its prescient take on media and surveillance culture. The new adaptation arrives amid renewed interest in dystopian stories and televised competition narratives.

The Running Man marks a genre shift for Wright, best known for titles such as Baby Driver and Shaun of the Dead. Additional promotional material is expected ahead of the film’s fall release.