Hollywood Flashback: Schwarzenegger’s ‘Running Man’ Hit Lots of Hurdles

The first film adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Running Man, recently revisited by Edgar Wright and Glen Powell in a version releasing on November 14, faced numerous challenges during its original production. The earlier film, directed by Paul Michael Glaser, encountered multiple director changes and missed production deadlines, leading to a difficult development process.

Background and Casting

The film is based on Stephen King’s 1982 dystopian novel published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. The story follows a framed police officer, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who must survive a deadly game show where convicted criminals are hunted by professional killers.

Producer George Linder discovered the novel while at an airport and initially envisioned the lead role for Christopher Reeve. However, Schwarzenegger ultimately secured the part.

Director Turnover and Revisions

“As the different directors would come in, I would have to do a revision for their vision,” said screenwriter Steven E. de Souza, who also wrote Schwarzenegger’s 1985 hit Commando. De Souza is known for other popular scripts like 48 Hrs., Die Hard, and Street Fighter.

Andrew Davis, future director of the Oscar-winning film The Fugitive, initially took on the project but was dismissed two weeks into filming due to falling behind schedule. The producers then brought in Paul Michael Glaser, famous for his television role as Starsky on Starsky & Hutch, who had recently directed the 1986 thriller Band of the Hand.

Production Challenges

Multiple director changes caused repeated script rewrites.
Delays in production schedules led to crew turnovers.
The film's tone shifted with each new director’s vision.

“The project cycled through various directors,” recalled de Souza, highlighting the turbulent production phase.

Legacy

Despite its troubled history, the original The Running Man paved the way for a modern adaptation, reflecting evolving filmmaking approaches to the same narrative.

Author’s summary: The original 1987 adaptation of "The Running Man" faced director changes and delays, with Schwarzenegger’s casting and production struggles shaping a turbulent yet iconic sci-fi action film.

The Hollywood Reporter — 2025-11-07