Hollywood Flashback: Schwarzenegger’s ‘Running Man’ Faced Many Challenges
The first film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, which Edgar Wright and Glen Powell revisit in a new version releasing on November 14, encountered significant obstacles during its original production. The initial 1987 movie version of The Running Man faced a turbulent journey compared to its modern counterpart.
Plot and Casting Origins
Based on King’s 1982 novel published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, the story features Arnold Schwarzenegger as a police officer wrongly accused of murder. To earn his freedom, he competes in a deadly game show where professional killers hunt convicted criminals.
Producer George Linder discovered the book while at an airport and initially imagined Christopher Reeve in the lead role. However, Schwarzenegger ultimately secured the part.
Production Struggles and Director Changes
Screenwriter Steven E. de Souza, known for writing Commando (1985), recalled that the project shifted through several directors. He said,
“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 hired but dismissed after two weeks for falling behind schedule. Production then turned to Paul Michael Glaser, famously known as Starsky from Starsky & Hutch, who had directed the thriller Band of the Hand (1986) before taking on The Running Man.
Summary
The original The Running Man film struggled with director turnover and tight production deadlines but eventually found its footing with Schwarzenegger in the lead role and Glaser directing.
Author’s Note
This movie’s difficult production highlights how even promising adaptations of popular novels can face many hurdles before reaching the screen.