Stephen King, the original author of The Running Man, has given high praise to the upcoming film adaptation.



The Running Man follows the story of Ben Richards (played by Glen Powell), an unemployed family man who enters a global survival program where he must endure 30 days of being hunted by brutal pursuers in exchange for a massive cash prize. Attention is now focused on the special points of praise that Stephen King, author of the original novel, personally shared.



After watching the film, King remarked, “It’s fantastic. It feels like a modern-day Die Hard—a thrilling ride!” raising expectations for the new adaptation. In a conversation with director Edgar Wright, he continued, “I’m very satisfied with the film. Everything fits together very naturally,” and added, “This movie has a sparkle reminiscent of Die Hard,” expressing strong confidence in the project.



King also noted the significance of how ideas he imagined over 40 years ago—such as the misuse of deepfake technology and everyday life being easily exposed on camera—are vividly reflected in the film. “I liked the scene where a man says, ‘Hey, you’re on Freevie right now.’ In the film, drones float through the air acting as cameras, following people everywhere. That sort of thing is already happening in the real world,” he said, emphasizing how the film’s setting aligns with today’s reality.



The film’s worldbuilding, which faithfully incorporates the core elements of the original work, is expected to come to life on screen with added vibrancy through King’s sharp insight and director Edgar Wright’s signature rhythmic style. Regarding Glen Powell’s portrayal of Ben Richards, King stated, “Ben Richards is a truly likable character. It’s crucial that the audience feels affection for the protagonist, and Glen Powell really brings that quality to the role. He feels like a real person, and I loved that,” offering high praise for Powell’s grounded and relatable performance.


Written by Kim Mi Hwa 
Translated by Lee So Yun