Why The Running Man Remake Should Go Full Dark With Stephen King’s Shocking Original Ending

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Stephen King’s bleak endings have a varied past in Hollywood. For instance, Lewis Teague’s “Cujo” deviates from the original story by not having young Tad Trenton succumb to heat exhaustion, while Mary Lambert’s “Pet Sematary” remains faithful to the source material by portraying Louis Creed’s descent into madness. Similarly, Frank Darabont’s “The Mist” takes the somber tone even further than the original work. Given this pattern of unpredictability, it’s hard to tell what an upcoming adaptation will bring – and I find myself particularly curious about Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” in light of its new trailer release this week.

This week’s article, titled “The King Beat,” delves into my thoughts about the surprising conclusion of Stephen King’s novel and its potential for adaptation, but there’s more! A devoted reader has created a unique LEGO set inspired by The Dark Tower that’s worth checking out. So, let’s dive right in!

I Was Originally Against Edgar Wright Adapting The Running Man’s Super Dark Ending. Now, I Want To See It

Initially, when it was disclosed in early 2021 that Edgar Wright would direct the reboot of “Running Man,” my mind buzzed with enthusiasm, conjuring up a distinct vision for this potential film. I was delighted to learn that the intention was to create an accurate adaptation of the original source material (contrasting with the 1987 movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger), but I also yearned for departures from the Stephen King novel in two significant aspects: I advocated for casting a Black actor as Ben Richards, and I suggested that Wright and co-writer Michael Bacall reconsider the extremely grim ending.

Upon learning that Glen Powell would portray the lead character in the film, my initial expectations were dashed. However, after repeatedly viewing the recently released trailer for Running Man, I must admit that my former reservations have significantly diminished. In fact, I’m now eagerly hoping that the film will possess the necessary strength to translate Stephen King’s dark original vision into a successful major action blockbuster.

So what changed? It’s about appreciating the specific tone that the movie is clearly shooting for.

Before delving deeper: I’m on the verge of unveiling significant plot points from Stephen King’s novel, “The Running Man”, which could potentially spoil your viewing experience of the upcoming adaptation. If you’re yet to read the book and wish to maintain the element of surprise about the storyline until you watch the film, it might be wise to scroll past this section in my critique. Now, with that disclaimer out of the way…

For those who might need a reminder (previously published under King’s Richard Bachman pseudonym), the extremely grim novel becomes even more dismal when Ben Richards discovers that the money he would receive from participating in The Running Man game won’t benefit his family because they have tragically passed away. His wife and child are deceased, so all of his tireless efforts to provide for them were futile. Overwhelmed with grief and feeling harshly deceived, Ben seizes a hostage, commandeers an aircraft, and slams it into the skyscraper stronghold of The Network.

It seems to me you might have anticipated my question about the issue I initially had with transforming this story element. The original publication of Stephen King’s novel was in 1982, yet given a contemporary viewpoint, it’s easy to notice similarities between the ending and the heart-wrenching events of September 11, 2001. I felt it would have been inappropriate for a grim, dystopian adaptation to conclude with its downtrodden protagonist choosing to crash a plane into a building as a suicide bomb. However, the tone suggested doesn’t match the Edgar Wright film shown this week, and the preview footage suggests that a less tragic version of the destructive and deadly finale might be feasible (emphasizing “a version”).

In a different wording: “The Running Man” isn’t typically one of Stephen King’s books known for their quiet humor, but it seems that Wright’s comedic past is evident in this adaptation. For instance, take Michael Cera’s character outsmarting the hunters by activating an electrified floor and soaking them with a super soaker. Moreover, Ben Richards’ anger exudes a “punk rock” spirit rather than a “bring a gun to work” attitude, which is crucial for understanding why the plane crash ending could be plausible.

In “survival-at-all-costs” situations, Ben exhibits an unyielding resolve that’s akin to saying, “If I must perish, so will you.” If viewers can empathize with Ben’s defiant spirit, they’ll find his demise heartbreaking, but they’ll also rejoice if he steers his fated ship into the high-rise window of Dan Killian, played by Josh Brolin.

It’s daring to suppose that Edgar Wright’s version of “The Running Man” might end so grimly, considering its toughness, it would still be a bleak finale for a major studio blockbuster. However, given the scenes in the trailer, it doesn’t seem entirely implausible. For instance, Ben’s vow to Killian on the game show stage, where he threatens to burn down the building, is one indication. More importantly, there are quick glimpses of our hero fighting within an aircraft cockpit with a crew of pilots. While I can’t make any definitive conclusions yet, these suggest that the narrative might take a flight at some point, fueling my speculations further.

The fire is expected to burn for quite some time before it fully reveals its true essence, as we can only confirm this when we finally watch the movie. Unfortunately, its premiere on the big screen is still a few months away, scheduled for November 7 by Paramount Pictures. However, there’s some exciting news for Stephen King fans! Two more of his adaptations are set to be released before then. First up is “The Institute” from MGM+, premiering on July 13, and secondly, director Francis Lawrence’s “The Long Walk,” slated for theaters on September 12.

A Fan-Created LEGO Dark Tower Set Is A Thing Of Beauty, And I Truly Wish It Could Become An Official Set

Apart from books, movies on Blu-ray/DVD, and authentic props, my Stephen King collection also boasts several toys. I possess numerous Funko Pops, model cars from “Christine”, and action figures based on “IT”, “Carrie”, “Children of the Corn”, and “Creepshow”. Regrettably, there are no official LEGO sets or minifigures related to King’s works, as they don’t exist. To fill this gap, I’ve crafted a replica of the maze from Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”, which I’m quite pleased with – however, it pales in comparison to the fan-made versions of “The Dark Tower”.

Gayle Spiller, a renowned British LEGO builder, shares an Instagram feed bursting with creative LEGO structures. Her latest piece is bound to leave Stephen King devotees speechless – not just because she’s recreated The Dark Tower in intricate detail, but also because she’s seamlessly integrated it into a base overflowing with subtle and breathtaking references. To top it off, she’s added a collection of minifigures. Take a look at her post below, featuring several images and a video as the grand finale:

I’m captivated by not only the overall layout of the Dark Tower, which is both unique and awe-inspiring, but also the intricate details it holds. Among these details, I find myself drawn to the most delightful – the diverse creatures symbolizing each beam emanating from the tower.

What really catches my eye about the Dark Tower’s design is its originality and grandeur, but it’s the minute details that truly win me over. Among these, I find myself captivated by the most charming – the unique animals representing each of the beams radiating from the tower.

Gayle Spiller’s post caption shares that she made a New Year’s resolution to finish reading ‘The Dark Tower,’ and parting ways with Stephen King’s exceptional character creations was one of the reasons she felt motivated to create the titled edifice herself. In her own words, she puts it as:

Gayle Spiller’s post reveals that for the New Year, she decided to read ‘The Dark Tower’ from start to finish. The bittersweet moment of bidding farewell to Stephen King’s captivating characters served as an inspiration for her to craft the titular building.

This year, my goal was to delve into Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series in its entirety. It was a lengthy endeavor, filled with numerous pages and constant distractions from the online world. Nonetheless, I persevered and completed it, developing a deep affection for the characters along the way. Upon reaching their fictional ends, I experienced something called “fictional character death syndrome.” It was tough to let go. Consequently, inspired by the minimal descriptions of The Dark Tower itself, I decided to construct it using Lego bricks.

Moving forward, she draws attention to several hidden details, such as the creatures associated with the columns I pointed out, as well as additional ones:

I’ve added all the beams and placed an appropriate creature for each one. For those who are familiar with Lobstrosities, there’s a subtle nod to them. I’ve tried my best to replicate the characters. I was thrilled to discover I had a tile that seemed to depict the Crimson King; he’s stuck on the balcony if you look closely. Oy proved to be the most challenging and I believe this is the closest Lego animal to his description.

It’s unlikely I need to mention this, but given the chance, I would snap up an official LEGO set like this instantly – and it’s just disappointing that such a thing doesn’t exist. Maybe, if Mike Flanagan gets to fully realize his vision for The Dark Tower, something similar might materialize one day. However, if that’s the best we can hope for, fans are going to need a great deal of endurance.

This week’s The King Beat comes to an end, but in a week from the publication of this article, I’ll be here again on TopMob with another roundup of the most significant and fascinating updates about Stephen King. Until then, delve into the author’s extensive history of his works being adapted for both big and small screens by checking out my Adapting Stephen King series.

This week’s The King Beat is over, but in a week from now on TopMob, I’ll be back with more updates about Stephen King. Meanwhile, you can learn about the author’s long history of his works being adapted into movies and TV shows by checking out my Adapting Stephen King series.

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2025-07-03 19:09