It’s no secret that Stephen King wasn’t a fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 adaptation of his novel “The Running Man.” The book is one of his most edgy stories and takes place in a dystopian world where an ordinary Schlub signs up to compete in the world’s deadliest game to win enough money to save his sick daughter.
That’s why King felt it was a mistake to cast Schwarzenegger, one of the most unremarkable people of all time, losing the all-male appeal the character was supposed to inspire in the audience.
Now, almost 30 years later, Edgar Wright is remaking “The Running Man” with Glen Powell—who, while still more pushed than anyone I know, is at least capable of playing the part of an ordinary father. This film looks like it will be Powell’s first major test as an action star, and judging by the trailer, he seems up to the task.
Unlike King, Wright is a huge fan of the 1987 film, and his enthusiasm for it is the reason the producers of the new “Running Man” approached him about offering him the gig. So it’s no surprise to see the trailer for Wright’s “Running Man” pay homage to Schwarzenegger’s film by giving Arnold a cameo, albeit in a role more suited to Arnold’s stature.
Arnold Schwarzenegger looks presidential in front of the $100 dollar bill
In real life, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California and reigned over the West Coast from 2003 to 2011. But because he was not born in the US, he was never eligible to run for president of the United States.
However, this doesn’t seem to be a problem in the world of “The Running Man.” Eagle-eyed viewers will spot Arnold looking awfully presidential in the film’s trailer, with his portrait printed on the face of the $100 bill luring Glen Powell into this deadly game. Considering how desperate Powell’s Ben Richards is, we’ll likely see plenty of Schwarzenegger mugging over the course of “The Running Man.” That said, there’s no reason to expect the flesh-and-blood man himself to appear.
In all likelihood, this is Edgar Wright’s cheeky nod to the 1987 film and the star who revolutionized the action genre that Wright himself so cleverly distributed and paid homage to throughout his career. Get ready to rush to theaters when “The Running Man” opens on November 7, 2025.
