Unlike the 1987 movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edgar Wright’s version of The Running Man aimed to be a more faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t change some things, including the ending. If you haven’t seen the film or read the book, here be SPOILERS.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Ending
In King’s novel, Ben Richards’ wife and daughter die, and he flies a plane into The Network’s headquarters. Not a particularly happy ending. In Wright’s movie, Ben survives the crash and reunites with his wife and daughter, whose deaths were faked.
While speaking with Empire, the director explained why that change happened. “In the original draft, we did do the thing where Sheila and Cathy passed away,” he said. “But to be honest, as soon as you cast actors in those roles, I don’t think I could have done it, even if it had been in the script. Like, this is too brutal.“
Wright continued, “We wanted [Richards] to be the spark of the revolution. That was in the first draft. We were never going to do the ending from the book. It obviously has real-life parallels with a horrific real-life tragedy. We thought it’d be in incredibly poor taste to evoke 9/11. That was not ever a discussion.“
The Running Man Synopsis
“In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward,” reads the synopsis. “Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.“
Should Edgar Wright have remained faithful to the ending of The Running Man novel, or did he make the right call?
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