Paramount has released the official trailer for The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell. The film is based on the 1982 dystopian novel by Stephen King, originally published under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. This marks the second feature adaptation of the material, following the 1987 film directed by Paul Michael Glaser and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Unlike the earlier film, which took broad inspiration from the premise, Wright’s version appears more closely aligned with the tone and structure of King’s novel. The trailer introduces Ben Richards (Powell), a working-class man who enters a dangerous state-sponsored competition to secure money for his sick daughter. The televised event — called The Running Man — forces contestants, known as “Runners,” to survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. Each day survived brings increased payout, and every moment is broadcast to an audience.
Josh Brolin plays Dan Killian, the show’s charismatic producer who recruits Richards. As Richards gains popularity among viewers, his arc escalates from reluctant participant to a public figure whose survival complicates the show’s control of the narrative. The trailer also teases commentary on mass entertainment, economic desperation, and spectatorship, themes present in the source material and reinterpreted for a near-future setting.
The footage showcases Wright’s distinct visual sensibility, with quick, rhythmic cuts and tightly choreographed action sequences. The trailer features glimpses of the Hunters assigned to eliminate Richards, as well as the broadcast infrastructure framing the competition. The editing and camera movement reflect Wright’s established approach to action storytelling, suggesting the full feature will incorporate those trademark elements throughout.
The official synopsis expands on the central conflict: Richards volunteers for the show out of necessity, but his ability to adapt and evade the Hunters turns him into an unexpected fan favorite and a destabilizing force. As viewership rises, so does the pressure placed on both Richards and the system profiting from his participation.
The cast includes William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Katy O’Brian, and Colman Domingo, with Brolin in a key supporting role. Wright directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Michael Bacall.
Simon Kinberg, Nira Park, and Wright produce the film alongside p.g.a.-credited partners. Executive producers include George Linder, James Biddle, Rachael Prior, Audrey Chon, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary. The project is produced in association with Object & Animal and Taylor Swift Productions, with Silent House Productions also involved on the concert film component.
The trailer positions The Running Man as both a standalone adaptation and a reexamination of the material through contemporary lenses. Themes of media commodification, public appetite for violence, and economic inequality are emphasized through the framing of the show and audience reactions. The visual world presented in the trailer blends futuristic design with grounded production elements to reflect a society shaped by spectacle.
The Running Man arrives in theaters on November 14, 2025.
