Glen Powell’s The Running Man Includes Subtle Nod to Stephen King’s It

The highly anticipated movie adaptation of Stephen King’s acclaimed novel, The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright, cleverly incorporates a nod to another of King’s most iconic works: IT. This article contains minor spoilers.

This version of The Running Man, featuring Glen Powell in the lead role, does not serve as a complete reimagining of the original 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Instead, it strives to offer a more faithful interpretation of King’s 1982 novel, written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.

Set in a bleak dystopian future, the plot centers around Ben Richards, portrayed by Glen Powell, who finds himself forced to participate in a deadly game show where he is pursued across the country. His goal? To secure funds for his daughter’s medical care. This premise diverges from the perilous arenas of the Schwarzenegger iteration.

Ben Richards Takes Refuge in Derry

Rest assured, Glen Powell’s character does not encounter Pennywise in a terrifying showdown (although such a crossover could certainly be a box office sensation).Nevertheless, Ben Richards finds temporary refuge in the familiar Stephen King setting of Derry during his flight from the game show.

The brief depiction of Derry in The Running Man does not delve deeply into the town’s eerie history, nor does it incorporate horror elements, as such themes would clash with the film’s action-oriented tone. Instead, Richards arrives in Derry after escaping Boston and teams up with Elton Perrakis, played by Michael Cera. Perrakis, a passionate activist, is dedicated to keeping Richards alive as a symbol of rebellion against the FreeVee network.

Although Derry serves as a temporary stop for Richards, he quickly moves on to an underground bunker at Perrakis’s urging. This subtle reference enriches the larger Stephen King universe, especially in light of the current buzz surrounding It: Welcome to Derry, which is captivating horror aficionados with its latest episodic releases.

While the relationship between The Running Man and the IT franchise remains ambiguous—making it unclear if they cohabitate within the same universe—the inclusion of Derry serves as a playful homage rather than a detailed exploration of the town post-Pennywise.

However, one thing is evident: Derry is experiencing its fair share of challenges.

Glen Powell as Ben Richards in The Running Man being restrained by two soldiers in black berets. — Paramount Pictures

Through interactions with Perrakis, The Running Man paints a bleak picture of Derry’s unfortunate realities, revealing that the town faces significant social and economic issues in this corporate-dominated dystopia. The surrounding forest has been decimated for new developments, and the local police force has been absorbed into the security apparatus of FreeVee.

Why worry about a haunting clown in the sewers when there are formidable antagonists like producer Dan Killian, played by Josh Brolin, complicating the lives of ordinary citizens?

Source & Images