The first trailer for The Running Man just dropped, and it’s already clear this isn’t a repeat of the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger version. Glen Powell takes the lead in what looks like a darker, more grounded take that actually sticks closer to Stephen King’s original novel.
In the trailer, we meet Powell’s Ben Richards, a guy who’s blacklisted and out of options. He signs up for The Running Man, a brutal reality show where contestants are hunted for 30 days, all for a shot at a huge cash prize. His reason? He needs the money to help his sick daughter. Unlike the Arnie version, this Richards isn’t a framed cop forced into the game — he’s a man who volunteers out of desperation.
The game itself has changed too. This time, it’s not a closed-off arena with cartoonish villains. Richards is on the run across the entire country, and anyone can be part of the hunt. Every move he makes is watched. And yes, we see him doing a lot of running — including one great moment in the trailer where he dives through a hallway and into an elevator while dodging bullets.
Edgar Wright’s signature style is all over this. The pace is quick, the tone sharp, and the action has a slick rhythm to it. Josh Brolin plays Killian, the show’s executive producer, while Colman Domingo hosts the on-screen madness. Richards and Killian share a tense exchange early on, with Richards promising revenge.
There’s a masked figure stalking Richards throughout, but we don’t get to see who it is. The trailer keeps that part mysterious, maybe saving a twist for the movie. And in a fun cameo, Michael Cera shows up to help Richards during a dangerous moment with a soaked floor and some serious electricity.
This version of The Running Man looks bigger, meaner, and more in tune with today’s reality-show obsession. Powell looks like he’s all in, and if the trailer’s anything to go by, we’re in for a fast, intense ride.
The Running Man hits theaters November 7, 2025.
Sources: Paramount Pictures
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