Why Edgar Wright Had To Change The Running Man Ending: ‘This Is Too Brutal’

It’s in the DNA of dystopian fiction: things don’t tend to end well. That includes Stephen King’s – or, Richard Bachman’s – original novel of The Running Man, depicting an all-out deathmatch as Ben Richards bets his life to save his family. We’ll save the spoilers for the next paragraph (you have been warned), but let’s just say, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows come the closing credits. While Edgar Wright’s film adaptation, starring Glen Powell as Richards, is far more faithful to the book than the 1987 film, it still makes some significant changes to King's ending – and the director is clear on why.

Spoilers follow for The Running Man.

While King’s book sees Richards’ wife and daughter die – and ends with Richards sacrificing his own life to stick it to The Network – Wright’s film sought a different course. “In the original draft, we did do the thing where Sheila and Cathy passed away,” he reveals to Empire, in an interview looking back on the film. “But to be honest, as soon as you cast actors in those roles, I don’t think I could have done it, even if it had been in the script. Like, this is too brutal.”

As for saving Richards, there was a more obvious reason to change the novel. “We wanted him to be the spark of the revolution. That was in the first draft,” Wright confirms. The book saw Richards fly a plane into the Network building, but the world has changed a lot since 1982. “We were never going to do the ending from the book,” says Wright. “It obviously has real-life parallels with a horrific real-life tragedy. We thought it’d be in incredibly poor taste to evoke 9/11. That was not ever a discussion.”

Though The Running Man struggled to find an audience in cinemas in November, Wright has hope that it will continue to reach people for years to come. “I’ve been in this position before,” he says. “Scott Pilgrim didn’t do well on its initial release, and over time has become a cult movie, or even a catalogue title for Universal. I feel like The World’s End, the perception of it has changed over time.” This Running Man won’t stop running, then. “I’m proud of the movie,” says Wright. “There’s a lot to talk about, and there is a life beyond the opening weekend.” Shoes on, people.

Read Empire’s full Edgar Wright interview – looking back on The Running Man, and its reception – in the Steven Spielberg issue, on sale Thursday April 9. Pre-order a copy online here. The Running Man is out now on digital, 4K Ultra-HD, Blu-ray and DVD.