Arnold Schwarzenegger is surprisingly optimistic about the new remake of The Running Man.
The 77-year-old action legend, who played the lead role of Ben Richards in the 1987 cult classic, believes the new version directed by Edgar Wright might actually turn out better than the original.
In a recent chat with CBR, Schwarzenegger opened up about his feelings toward the remake. “I mean, I love the idea that they’re doing a sequel to Running Man, or a remake,” he said. “I don’t know what it’s going to be, but I always felt when we did Running Man, it was one of those movies that could have been better.”
He went on to explain that budget limitations and dated technology held the original film back. “It was great, but it could have been better, and I think they have a good chance now with the new Running Man to make it better,” he added. “I hope, for their sake and for my sake, I hope that they will be successful.”
The upcoming remake stars Glen Powell, best known for Top Gun: Maverick, as Ben Richards. Set in a brutal dystopian future, the story follows Richards as he enters a deadly reality show where contestants are hunted live on TV. What starts as a fight for money quickly turns into a battle against the corrupt system behind the game.
Powell recently shared that Schwarzenegger gave him his personal blessing to take on the role. “Patrick Schwarzenegger is a great friend of mine,” Powell told People. “I asked him if I could talk to Arnold. I hadn’t seen him since we shot Expendables in Bulgaria. Arnold gave us his full blessing.”
In return, Powell and the team plan to surprise Arnold with a special gift from the movie. “We get to give Arnold a very specific fun gift from the movie in a couple of weeks here. So I’m very excited to see him,” he added.
Director Edgar Wright, known for hits like Baby Driver and Shaun of the Dead, has promised a more faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s original novel. While the 1987 movie took a more action-packed, campy approach, Wright says he’s going for something closer to the source material. “Even as a teenager, when I saw the Schwarzenegger film, I was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t like the book at all!’” Wright said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
The Running Man remake is scheduled to hit theaters in November 2025. With modern effects, a stronger script, and a fresh take from Wright, fans of the original and the novel have a lot to look forward to. Even Arnold is rooting for it.
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