A new adaptation of the 1982 Richard Bachman (a pen name of Stephen King) novel The Running Man is being spun up by Edgar Wright. Outside of the core concept, the source novel is very different from the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.
It is still set in the near future in a totalitarian America that uses violent entertainment to calm the masses.
However gone is the contained game arena and the slick 80s game show trappings, with more than a hint of WWE. Instead, the hunt takes place across the nation with the hunters as experienced law enforcement and military personnel.
In the novel, a desperate Ben Richards needs money to pay for treatment for his sick daughter so he signs up for the most popular show – The Running Man.
The longer he survives, the more money he makes. However as he survives longer than anyone expected, he begins to expose the dark secrets behind the show, forcing the producers into desperate action themselves.
Glen Powell has been set to star as Richards for a while. Now it seems Edgar Wright may be turning to an existing collaborator of his for the female lead role. Sydney Sweeney is working with Wright on his in-development remake of Barbarella.
According to a report by DanielRPK, Sweeney is being considered to join Powell in The Running Man, reuniting her with her Anyone But You co-star.
Production is due to start in London in October this year. Wright has co-written the script with Michael Bacall. Simon Kinberg produces with Nira Parkl.