In an exciting development for sci-fi and thriller fans, Josh Brolin has been cast as the antagonist in Edgar Wright’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s dystopian novel, The Running Man, according to Deadline.
The Running Man revolves around Ben Richards, played by Glen Powell, a man coerced into participating in a brutal televised chase where he must evade capture by authorities for a month to win a massive cash prize. The game is lethal, with hunters authorised to kill. This narrative was previously adapted in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead, but Wright’s version promises to stay truer to King’s original vision.
Wright, acclaimed for directing Baby Driver and Shaun of the Dead, co-writes this adaptation with 21 Jump Street‘s Michael Bacall. The ensemble cast also includes Katy O’Brian from Love Lies Bleeding, Nocturnal Animals‘ Karl Glusman, and All American‘s Daniel Ezra, contributing to what is anticipated to be a gripping rendition of King’s work.
As a precursor to modern survival stories like The Hunger Games and Battle Royale, The Running Man offers a critical look at society’s fascination with spectacle and punishment. Fans are hopeful that Wright’s take will deliver a compelling narrative that does justice to King’s original material.
In other news, Brolin was recently linked to the role of Hal Jordan in the Green Lantern series Lanterns for HBO, but he has since passed on the opportunity. Kyle Chandler will instead take on the role, with Aaron Pierre confirmed as John Stewart. Besides The Running Man, Brolin was also recently cast in Rian Johnson’s upcoming Wake Up Dead Man.
Brolin’s involvement in The Running Man adds significant star power to an already highly anticipated film, promising a deep dive into the dark corners of human entertainment and survival instinct. Fans can look forward to a thrilling chase when The Running Man hits theatres on 21 November 2025.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
Kevin Low
