Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson’s action thriller Runner is getting a Blu-ray and DVD release in the United States, but there’s a catch for viewers interested in seeing the movie’s more violent version. Angel Studios is offering the PG-13 cut in the U.S., while a more violent version previously released in Canada became the subject of a dispute involving the studio and the film’s producers.
The Runner Blu-ray and DVD are available for preorder through the Angel Studios store. The listing says orders are expected to ship in November.
Directed by Scott Waugh (Need for Speed, Expend4bles), Runner stars Ritchson as Hank Malone, a former soldier and driver tasked with transporting a donor liver to save a young girl. Wilson plays Ben Bishop, the organ courier accompanying him on the dangerous journey. Their delivery becomes a fight for survival when a ruthless cartel begins pursuing them. The cast also includes Rodrigo Santoro, Leila George, Kate Box, Peta Sergeant, Geraldine Hakewill, Cecilia Toussaint, and Scarlett Crabtree.
The version released theatrically in the United States received a PG-13 rating from the MPA for strong violence, bloody images, and some language. However, that isn’t the only version of Runner that has reached audiences. In September, Angel Studios issued a statement about the version released in Canada, describing it as an older, unauthorized cut that predated the studio’s involvement. According to Angel, that version contains stronger language and significantly more violence than the version approved for release by the Angel Guild.
Angel said it held distribution rights in the United States but not Canada. The studio also stated that it had told the producers it would not release the film unless the Guild-approved version was the only version playing in theatres worldwide. Angel said the producers agreed to that condition, but that the agreement was not honored.
The situation is interesting in light of Angel Studios’ recently announced content policy, The Angel Promise. The policy applies to future original films and series, establishing restrictions that include no on-screen sex, no F-bombs, and no misuse of God’s name. Projects must also receive a Guild score of at least 70 out of 100 to move forward. Violence, however, is treated as a gray area under the policy. Rather than imposing a blanket prohibition, Angel says the Guild will decide whether a project crosses the line into excessive violence or bloodshed.
For anyone hoping to own Runner, the Angel Studios Blu-ray and DVD preorder currently offers the PG-13 version. Viewers looking for the more violent pre-Angel cut will have to look beyond that U.S. home video release.
Will you be adding the PG-13 cut of Runner to your collection, or are you holding out for the more violent version? Let us know by leaving a comment below.