Stephen King is giving his stamp of approval to the new The Running Man — and he’s especially pleased with how director Edgar Wright reimagined the ending. The acclaimed author recently spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the highly anticipated film, calling its conclusion “faithful, yet surprising” for longtime fans of his 1982 novel.
Stephen King Approves of Edgar Wright’s Vision
The new adaptation, starring Glen Powell as desperate everyman Ben Richards, has been praised for staying true to King’s dark, dystopian tone — right up until the ending. While the film remains faithful to the author’s original themes of corruption, survival, and rebellion, Wright’s finale diverges dramatically from the source material.
Still, King says he’s thrilled with how it turned out.
“I like the ending of Edgar’s version of The Running Man very much,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I think readers of the novel will be satisfied because they get to have it both ways. If you see what I mean — and I’m betting you do.”
A Tale of Two Endings
In King’s 1982 novel, written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, Ben Richards’ story ends in fiery tragedy. After hijacking a plane and discovering that his wife and daughter have been murdered, Richards chooses revenge over survival — crashing the aircraft into the network’s headquarters in a massive explosion. The book closes with the haunting line: “The explosion was tremendous, lighting up the night like the wrath of God.”
Wright’s film, however, takes a more ambiguous approach. In the movie’s final moments, Ben’s plane is shot down before it reaches its target. The network declares him dead — but conspiracy theories swirl that he may have survived. The film confirms those suspicions when a masked man secretly pays for groceries for Ben’s wife and daughter, who are alive and safe.
Moments later, the man — revealed to be Ben himself — storms the set of The Running Man alongside an angry mob. In a climactic showdown, he kills the show’s corrupt producer Killian (played by Josh Brolin) on live television as the studio descends into chaos.
How Stephen King Reacted to the Change
Rather than resist the alteration, King embraced it. According to Wright, the author was sent the script before filming began and was immediately enthusiastic about the creative direction.
“Stephen King read the screenplay before we started filming,” Wright told EW. “I was nervous about what he’d think, but he loved it. He said it’s much more faithful to the book, but different enough to keep it exciting for him.”
King later watched the completed film and reaffirmed his approval, calling it a balance between authenticity and invention.
“It’s more faithful to the book than the previous adaptation [the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger],” Wright explained. “But it still has twists and surprises to keep fans on edge.”
A Modern Take on a Classic Story
The 2025 remake reimagines The Running Man for a modern audience, blending political commentary and social media spectacle with the novel’s original dystopian themes. Powell’s version of Ben Richards is more vulnerable and morally conflicted than Schwarzenegger’s 1987 portrayal, with the new film emphasizing the emotional stakes of his family and the brutality of a society that profits from human suffering.
“To do one of these movies right, it’s physical, it’s emotional, it’s all those things,” Powell told People earlier this month. “I’m really proud of what we did with it.”
The cast also includes Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, and Jayme Lawson — rounding out a powerful ensemble for Wright’s gritty and stylish adaptation.
Edgar Wright and Stephen King Finally Meet
In a moment that fans of both creators had been waiting for, Wright and King finally met in person earlier this year, with the director sharing a behind-the-scenes photo on Instagram. The meeting symbolized a creative partnership that has brought King’s lesser-known dystopian novel back to life for a new generation.
“Stephen King was instrumental in giving us confidence,” Wright said. “He wanted us to stay true to his vision — but also to take chances. That’s what makes The Running Man endure.”
A Satisfying Twist for Fans
With its explosive action sequences, emotional performances, and King’s endorsement, The Running Man has quickly become one of 2025’s most talked-about releases. While the ending may not mirror the original novel, it delivers the kind of poetic justice — and cinematic punch — that keeps audiences guessing long after the credits roll.
As King himself put it, readers and viewers “get to have it both ways” — and in this case, it seems everyone wins.
The Running Man is now playing in theaters worldwide.
What do you think of Stephen King’s approval of the new ending? Share your thoughts in the comments on InvestRecords.com.
