The Running Man makes some pretty big changes from the Stephen King original. Published under the pen name Richard Bachman, The Running Man was one of Stephen King's harshest satires . The film had previously been loosely adapted, but the 2025 version, directed by Edgar Wright, is far more faithful.

Still, despite following the same general arc as the book, the new cinematic version of The Running Man makes some serious deviations. From the personalities of side characters to the final fates of the main cast, here are the biggest differences between The Running Man and the book that inspired it.

Ben Richards Is A Nicer Guy In The Cinematic Version Of The Running Man

Glen Powell in The Running Man Paramount Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

The 2025 cinematic version o

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