Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger has officially given his stamp of approval to the new The Running Man remake — calling it the only film from his career he ever wanted to see remade.
The 78-year-old actor attended the Los Angeles premiere of the 2025 reboot, directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell, and couldn’t hold back his excitement after watching the film.
“The only movie that I always wanted to have redone of my movies was The Running Man,” Schwarzenegger told Wright and Powell at the event.
“This one really upped it and did exactly that. The action was unbelievable and creative.”
The Running Man: Then and Now
The original 1987 film, directed by Paul Michael Glaser and loosely adapted from Stephen King’s novel written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, became an instant cult favorite.
In the dystopian action thriller, Schwarzenegger played Ben Richards, a wrongly accused ex-captain forced to survive a government-run death game where contestants fight for their lives in a televised spectacle.
Nearly four decades later, Glen Powell steps into Schwarzenegger’s legendary shoes, leading the 2025 remake that brings back the film’s blend of satire, social commentary, and explosive action — with Wright’s trademark cinematic flair.
The New Cast and Story
The updated version of The Running Man features an impressive ensemble cast, including William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, and Jayme Lawson.
Powell, fresh off his success with Twisters, told People that he wanted Schwarzenegger’s blessing before taking on the role.
“Arnold gave us his blessing,” Powell shared. “Patrick Schwarzenegger is a great friend, so I reached out to him and asked if I could talk to Arnold. We spoke over FaceTime, and his excitement made me want to do it even more.”
Arnold’s Seal of Approval
After watching the remake, Schwarzenegger’s reaction said it all. Director Edgar Wright later posted a photo on Instagram showing himself, Powell, and Schwarzenegger together — all smiles and holding a fake $100 bill featuring Arnold’s face.
“Ben Richards meets Ben Richards,” Wright captioned the post. “The legendary @schwarzenegger came to see our new adaptation of @runningmanmovie and gave it a huge thumbs up. He loved the film — especially his face on our new currency!”
A Full-Circle Moment for Schwarzenegger
For fans of the original, the moment is nothing short of poetic. Nearly 40 years after The Running Man first hit theatres, Schwarzenegger’s dream of seeing it reimagined has finally come true — and with his full endorsement.
The Edgar Wright–directed remake of The Running Man starring Glen Powell hits theatres on November 14, promising a thrilling new take on one of sci-fi cinema’s most talked-about stories.
