Director Edgar Wright recently shared Stephen King’s thoughts on the changes made to the end of his original novel in the new adaptation of «The Running Man.» Originally published in 1982, the story is set in a dystopian society where Ben Richards enters a deadly reality show to save his sick daughter.
Originally scheduled for November 7, the movie will now be released on November 14 in the USA. The cast includes Glen Powell as Richards, with Josh Brolin, Emilia Jones, Lee Pace, Katy O’Brian, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, and Colman Domingo co-starring. Wright and Michael Bacall adapted King’s novel, making necessary changes, especially to the ending.
In an interview with Cinematographic Stories Magazine, Wright revealed that while he knew the original ending wouldn’t be reproduced exactly, King had final approval of the script. This made obtaining the author’s approval for the new ending a nerve-wracking experience for Wright.
King acknowledged that his original ending wouldn’t work for the film, considering the context of current events. However, he approved of the new ending proposed by Wright, stating that he did a great job addressing the change. King is known for sharing his opinions on adaptations of his novels, and his positive feedback on «The Running Man» adaptation is a testament to the filmmakers’ success. Stephen King’s opinions on film adaptations have evolved over time. Initially, he did not like Stanley Kubrick’s famous film «The Shining,» but in 2019, he appreciated the adaptation of «Doctor Sleep.» He has also praised Brian de Palma’s works such as «Carrie,» «Stand by Me,» «Misery,» and «The Shawshank Redemption,» both in television and film adaptations.
However, King has not commented on his most recent adaptation, «The Long Walk,» but the SR team considers it one of the best of the 21st century. On the other hand, King was critical of the first adaptation of «The Running Man» in 1987, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, stating that the movie «does not have much in common with the novel, except the title.»
In 2025, Hollywood has been focused on Stephen King adaptations, with «The Monkey,» «Life of Chuck,» and «The Long Walk» all hitting cinemas. It seems that 2025 is truly the year of Stephen King.
