Convention - NYCC 2025: Edgar Wright unveils a bold new vision of The Running Man with Glen Powell and Lee Pace

By Mulder, New York, Jacob Javits Convention Center, 10 october 2025

On Friday, October 10, 2025, The Running Man panel electrified the Empire Stage at New York Comic Con. Under the direction of Edgar Wright, who is helming this ambitious new adaptation of Stephen King’s novel (originally published under his Richard Bachman pseudonym), the presentation stood out as one of the convention’s most anticipated events. Edgar Wright was joined by Glen Powell, starring as Ben Richards, and Lee Pace, who portrays the ruthless Hunter McCone. From the very beginning, Edgar Wright made one thing clear — this isn’t a remake of the 1987 cult classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but rather a faithful, modernized return to the novel’s darker and more socially charged roots, adapted to the technological and media-obsessed world of today.

The atmosphere in the hall was electric, fueled by Edgar Wright’s reputation for kinetic storytelling and his impeccable command of visual rhythm. With characteristic humor, he joked about the ghost of Arnold hovering over the project, before explaining that his version aims to reclaim the political weight and moral tension of Stephen King’s book. The central idea: a world where entertainment has become the ultimate tool of control, and where the line between spectator and victim has dissolved entirely. Instead of a flashy game show with arena battles, this Running Man serves as a brutal metaphor for our own era — one where everything is filmed, shared, and monetized, and humiliation has become a mass-market product.

Three exclusive clips were shown, giving fans their first real sense of the film’s tone and scope. The opening sequence followed Ben Richards through the harrowing selection process, a physically intense scene that immediately raised questions about free will under systemic oppression. The second clip showed a tense behind-the-scenes exchange between Richards and the show’s producer, Dan Killian, played by Josh Brolin, blending psychological manipulation with corporate cynicism. The final sequence, a stunning apartment-building chase, highlighted Edgar Wright’s signature kinetic style — rapid editing, grounded stunt work, and bursts of dark humor — blending spectacle with claustrophobic tension in a way that drew loud applause from the crowd.

Edgar Wright revealed that production spanned 168 locations across three countries, a deliberate choice to expand the world of the story and give the dystopia a truly global feel. Glen Powell described his version of Ben Richards as a vulnerable, everyday man pushed beyond his limits rather than a traditional action hero. Lee Pace, meanwhile, explained that his character McCone is portrayed as a lethal celebrity — a killer influencer adored by the masses, embodying a culture where violence is the ultimate form of fame.

One of the panel’s most memorable moments came when Edgar Wright revealed a sly Easter egg: in the film’s future, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s face appears on the $100 bill — a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the original movie’s legacy. Wright emphasized that this was a way to honor the 1987 version without being shackled by it, balancing reverence and reinvention. He cited Network and Battle Royale as major influences, calling his adaptation a mirror and a megaphone — a story meant to thrill while reflecting the madness of modern spectacle culture.

To close the panel, Edgar Wright unveiled a striking new poster and confirmed the release date: The Running Man will hit theaters on November 14, 2025, in IMAX and Dolby Cinema formats. A new trailer was teased to be available this Monday October 13 2025. Judging by the crowd’s standing ovation, this reimagining looks set to be one of the most talked-about genre films of the year — a relentless, thought-provoking vision of a future where survival isn’t just about outrunning death, but about keeping one’s humanity intact.

Discover the official red carpet interviews :

itw Edgar Wright

itw Glen Powell

itw Lee Pace

Synopsis :
In the near future, The Running Man is the number one show on television: a ruthless survival game where contestants, known as Runners, must escape professional killers for 30 days, under the watchful eye of a captivated audience. Each day that passes increases the prize money—and provides an ever-more intense adrenaline rush. Ben Richards, a desperate worker willing to do anything to save his seriously ill daughter, accepts the unthinkable: to take part in this deadly show, pushed by Dan Killian, its charismatic and cruel producer. But no one could have predicted that Ben, with his will to live, his instincts, and his determination, would become a true hero of the people... and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, the danger escalates. Ben will have to face much more than the Hunters: he will have to face an entire country addicted to seeing him fall.

The Running Man
Directed by Edgar Wright
Written by Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright
Based on The Running Man by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman)
Produced by Edgar Wright, Nira Park, Simon Kinberg
Starring Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Sean Hayes, Jayme Lawson, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin
Cinematography : Chung Chung-hoon
Edited by Paul Machliss 
Production companies : Genre Films, Complete Fiction
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date : November 7, 2025

Photos : Getty Images / Paramount Pictures