The Running Man is the latest Stephen King adaptation in theaters, and, as usual, it’s not a one-to-one clone of the novel. Edgar Wright, the beloved filmmaker behind the Cornetto trilogy, as well as hits like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Baby Driver. He’s established himself as one of the most creative action directors in the film industry, making his big, bold Stephen King adaptation, led by a star-studded cast, an exciting prospect for movie lovers.
The Running Man’s reviews aren’t spectacular, but with all the talent involved, it’s undoubtedly one that viewers should check out and decide on for themselves. King’s original novel was published under the pseudonym Robert Bachman in 1982, and it’s been praised for its nuanced depiction of a dystopian society, which provides a compelling setting for a nail-biting action thriller. With the change in times comes the necessity to modernize a dystopian tale, so the 2025 movie isn’t exactly the same as King’s version.
Warning: Includes SPOILERS for Edgar Wright’s The Running Man!
The Running Man Record is Only 8 Days and 5 Hours in the Book
In Edgar Wright’s film, the director instills a feeling of hope for Glen Powell’s version of Ben Richards. It’s stated early on that one of the previous contestants managed to last 29 days, nearly completing the challenge, and this plays into the story later on. The climactic action sequence reveals that Evan McCone (Lee Pace) was the one who’d played The Running Man before, and was offered the deal to become the lead Hunter, similar to how Richards is offered a deal from Dan Killian (Josh Brolin).
This is a notable reveal for the McCone character, suggesting that he was an average person who was forced to take the deal as Killian tortured his family; he’s not one of the elite, he’s just a tool for them. In the book, however, the previous record is “eight days and five hours,” which McCone reveals to Richards in their confrontation, congratulating him for surpassing the record by two hours.
2025’s Ben and Sheila Get a More Extensive Running Man Prologue
The movie rendition of The Running Man begins with Ben visiting his old workplace with his daughter, Cathy, where he asks for his job back. This leads to a fun exchange, where Richards threatens his old boss, exhibiting his signature anger, before going back and lovingly watching one of the disturbing Games Network shows with his daughter. This scene also introduces Sheila as a hostess at a gentleman’s club, a fact that isn’t in the novel, but that is used to turn the Free-Vee audience against her later on. In the book, Ben and Sheila have a quick exchange about Cathy’s health, then he goes to the Network to try his luck.
The Americanos Are An Original Edgar Wright Movie Idea
The Americanos is a reality TV series that runs on Free-Vee, and it’s clearly a spoof on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Stephen King’s book touches on how the mind-numbing Free-Vee content and a paywall for libraries have pushed citizens away from books and genuine information, but reality TV wasn’t particularly popular when the novel was written. The gist of Edgar Wright’s idea is that Games Network is cramming mindless television down audiences’ throats, creating a less intelligent population who are less likely to retaliate against authoritarianism.
Michael Cera’s Running Man Trap Sequence is Original to the Film
Given that Michael Cera and Edgar Wright teamed up for the cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, it’s no surprise that the 37-year-old actor was treated to a special sequence in The Running Man. His character, Elton Parrakis, appears in the novel during a brief sequence, and though he fulfills a similar role, he’s not contributing to a highly organized revolution as he is in the film; he certainly doesn’t have an exciting action sequence where he lures goons into the house so he can ensnare them with bizarre gadgets.
So, if you were curious as to whether Stephen King wrote a sequence where a guy fires a water gun to trigger an electric reaction, the answer is, unfortunately, no. However, the idea of Elton’s mother being a brain-washed Free-Vee addict is consistent in both, and Elton does help Ben Richards along the way, but the action is much more brief.
There Are 3 Contestants in the Movie’s Running Man Game
Edgar Wright’s version of The Running Man contributes some comedic relief with the character Tim Jansky (Martin Herlihy), a dopey contestant who’s killed off almost immediately due to overconfidence and general incompetence. This leads to Bradley’s description of the three archetypal Running Man contestants. This element doesn’t exist in the novel, and the only other contestant mentioned is Laughlin (Katy O’Brian). The addition of a third contestant added some levity to the movie and also allowed for an additional layer to Games Network’s ratings schemes throughout the competition.
Games Network Uses AI in 2025’s Running Man Film
AI is prevalent in the world of Edgar Wright’s The Running Man, whether it’s for checking in at the airport or for manipulating sensitive videos to spread information to mass audiences. Given the prevalent discussion surrounding the incorporation of AI into real-world society, this was an intelligent way of making the film’s story more relatable to contemporary audiences, updating the dystopian society to what modern viewers might imagine.
The concept of AI-altered videos being passed as real news by the government is something we should all be terrified about, but it’s not exactly what Stephen King wrote about in his version of The Running Man. In King’s version, Richards submits his tapes, and Games Network simply dubs over them in a noticeable way, though Richards is doubtful that many viewers will pay close enough attention. The version in the films is much more convincing.
The Apostle is Original to Edgar Wright’s Running Man Remake
Edgar Wright really got to demonstrate his creativity with the Apostle’s (Daniel Ezra) scenes. In the novel, Richards meets Bradley and the child in Boston, and the scene plays out in a similar manner, but Bradley doesn’t have a secret, masked content creator persona. With the influence of modern online video creation, it’s understandable that this is the direction Wright would take in depicting a young revolutionary. Not to mention, the video scenes make for some enjoyable tone breaks in the midst of the depressing dystopian setting.
The Running Man’s Movie Ending is Totally Different
The Running Man’s film ending is notably different from the novel, and this has been a major point of contention surrounding the adaptation. In the book, Ben and Dan Killian have a similar over-the-phone stand-off, but Ben is the one who’s ultimately able to control where the plane is headed by hijacking the autopilot. During his fight with McCone, Ben is mortally wounded, so he has nothing to lose and elects to steer the plane directly into the Games Network headquarters. One of the final moments shows Killian in his office, watching the plane fly toward him, as both he and Ben are killed in the ensuing explosion.
The novel ends on a fairly sudden, ambiguous note, while Edgar Wright softens the blow with a brief epilogue scene that shows Ben as a revolutionary icon. In the novel, it’s unlikely that Ben survives, and his family is believed to be dead, so readers are left with the mere comfort that Dan Killian and the other operators of The Running Man have been taken off the board, leaving Ben Richards behind as a martyr.
