In 1982, Stephen King, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, published Running Mana chilling novel of anticipation. The story? That of Ben Richards, an unemployed 28-year-old ready to risk his life in a sadistic game show to save his sick daughter.
The Stephen King book “Running Man” returns to the cinema in 2025. ©Belga Images
In “The Great Hunt”, every minute of survival brings money, but the price to pay is heavy: you have to escape from killers supported by an accomplice population.
A dystopia that echoes our times
The novel depicts an authoritarian America, ravaged by pollution and an unjust healthcare system, themes that resonate strangely today. The growing fascination with survival games, like Squid Game or the extreme challenges of YouTubers such as MrBeast, further amplifies the parallels. Added to this is a tense political climate, marked by polarizing speeches like those of Trump, who until recently mentioned “violent police reprisals” to combat crime.
A modern adaptation for 2025
After a controversial first adaptation in 1987, accused of plagiarism by director Yves Boisset, Running Man returns to the big screen under the direction of Edgar Wright. Scheduled for the end of 2025, this new version promises a modern vision of a world where game shows flirt dangerously with reality.
