Edgar Wright Adapts Stephen King's "The Running Man" for 2025 Release with "Top Gun: Maverick" Star Glen Powell

In a remarkable feat of filmmaking, director Edgar Wright is set to release his adaptation of Stephen King's "The Running Man" in 2025, just over a year after the project was greenlit. The film stars Glen Powell, whose rising star power from hits like "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Hitman" made him Wright's top choice for the lead role.

However, the production faced several challenges, including a truncated post-production schedule and the need to obtain approval from King himself for Powell's casting. Fortunately, the author was impressed by Powell's work in the comedic thriller "Hitman" and gave his blessing.

Wright and his co-writer Michael Bacall aimed to stay more faithful to King's original novel, focusing the entire film through the perspective of the reluctant protagonist, Ben Richards. This experiential approach, combined with Powell's everyman appeal, is expected to deliver a more intense and immersive experience than the 1987 film adaptation.

Despite the ambitious timeline, Wright was able to assemble a veteran crew, including collaborators from his previous films, to complete "The Running Man" in record time. The director credits his trusted team and the enthusiasm of the cast and crew for allowing them to pull off this feat, with filming and post-production wrapped just a few weeks ago.

Audiences can look forward to experiencing Wright's unique vision for "The Running Man" when it hits theaters in 2025.