Hollywood Flashback: Schwarzenegger’s ‘Running Man’ Faced Many Challenges
The first film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, revisited by Edgar Wright and Glen Powell in a new version releasing on November 14, nearly lost its way amid director changes and missed production deadlines.
The original The Running Man, based on King’s 1982 novel, had a much tougher production journey than its modern counterpart. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the dystopian movie starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as a framed police officer who must compete for freedom on a game show where convicted criminals are hunted by professional killers.
Producer George Linder discovered King’s book—published under the Richard Bachman pseudonym—while at an airport and initially imagined it as a role for Christopher Reeve. Ultimately, Schwarzenegger was cast.
Screenwriter Steven E. de Souza, known for writing Commando (1985), 48 Hrs., Die Hard, and Street Fighter, recalls dealing with multiple director changes:
“As the different directors would come in, I would have to do a revision for their vision.”
Andrew Davis, who later directed the Oscar-winning The Fugitive, was initially hired but was fired two weeks into shooting for falling behind schedule. The producers then brought in Paul Michael Glaser, known for his role as Starsky on TV’s Starsky & Hutch, who had directed the 1986 thriller Band of the Hand.
Summary
The original Running Man movie faced multiple directorial changes and production issues before Arnold Schwarzenegger ultimately starred in the cult dystopian action film.