Edgar Wright On To Direct A New Adaptation Of The Running Man

Edgar Wright

by James White |
Updated on

Because he's clearly doesn't have enough potential movies on his schedule at the moment, Edgar Wright is adding another. He's making a deal to develop and direct a new adaption of Stephen King's The Running Man.

Adapted back in 1987 into an action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the dystopian tome is set in 2025, where the world economy is in ruins and America is a totalitarian dystopia. The Ben Richards of the book is quite different from the tough guy of the movie, and the story, about him being roped into a dangerous, violent game where he must avoid hunters and survive long enough to win cash prizes.

King's book – he wrote it in 1982 under his Richard Bachman pseudonym – is even darker than the movie and it'll be fascinating to see what Wright and his Scott Pilgrim script collaborator Michael Bacall will do with the story. Of course, there's also the small matter of Wright being attached to other movies, including Set My Heart To Five, T_he Chain_ and a potential Baby Driver sequel.

Meanwhile, for those after more from Wright, check out his recent Empire Podcast appearance, in which he talked about the magic of the movies with Quentin Tarantino and offered a huge list of recommendations for those after something new to watch.

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