Edgar Wright’s latest film, The Running Man, is now playing in theaters for everyone to see. The film is a project Wright has long wanted to make, and he even referenced it in a 2017 tweet as a remake he was interested in directing. Wright’s passion for the project doesn’t just date back to when he first read the novel at 14, but also stems from his viewing of the 1987 film adaptation, directed by Paul Michael Glaser and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Given that the ’87 film is so different from King’s novel, Wright felt there was untapped potential for a movie that better reflects the book’s story and themes.
Still, that doesn’t mean Wright believes the original Running Man film is bad. It’s quite the contrary: the filmmaker’s immense respect for both the novel and the movie (particularly its star) leads to two fun Easter eggs in his version. The Running Man features two fun nods to the actor who originally brought Ben Richards to life, now played by Glen Powell in Wright’s iteration. The first is an actual appearance by Schwarzenegger on the currency in the film’s world, and the second is a line spoken by Powell’s Richards; both work on fun meta-contextual levels that honor what came before.
The Currency in ‘The Running Man’ Has a Familiar Face on it
The first Easter egg was revealed early in the film’s marketing before its release, showcasing Schwarzenegger on the face of the New Dollar bill. In the world of The Running Man, the currency is called New Dollars, as the corporate regime that has taken over America has replaced what we know as the dollar. Money is what drives everything in the film, and it’s the reason Richards signs up for the deadliest game show on the Network, the corporate media company that essentially controls the country.
Richards receives a small advance to treat his sick daughter, and eagle-eyed fans can spot Schwarzenegger’s face on the New Dollar bills. One promotional photo for the film showcased Edgar Wright, Glen Powell, and the Terminator star posing with a giant New Dollar bill. However, the Easter egg has a deeper meaning, as it not only references the actor from the original film, but also another movie that name-drops the iconic action star.
Wright’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter revealed the double meaning behind the New Dollar Bill, with the filmmaker explaining that “It’s a shared joke with the Demolition Man universe. In Demolition Man, they mention President Schwarzenegger, so it’s my little shout out to both Arnie and [Demolition Man co-screenwriter] Daniel Waters.” So, while it’s never explicitly mentioned in the film, it’s very well possible that the dystopian America in The Running Man has Schwarzenegger as president. The second Easter egg, another nod to the actor, appears in the form of an intense line delivery by Powell.
Glen Powell’s Rage-Filled Performance Features a Tribute to Another Iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger Role
Ben Richards’ participation in The Running Man isn’t voluntary; he’s manipulated and coerced into joining the network’s deadliest game show to get his daughter the medical treatment she needs. This is all done by Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), the show’s producer and one of the top executives at the network. Killian is all about putting on a show, manipulating footage, provoking contestants to get a rise out of them, and trying to make a profit and boost ratings. His use of doctored photos and footage of Richards’ wife and child is what sets up the inevitable confrontation between the two characters.
This is when the next Easter egg comes in: Richards angrily provides a grim warning to Killian: that he’ll be back. It’s not hard to guess this is a reference to Schwarzenegger’s most iconic line from the original Terminator film, in which his character tells a police officer he will be back before storming the police department and slaughtering almost everyone in it. Powell’s delivery, however, feels like the antithesis of the Terminator’s in the best way possible.
Ben Richards, both in the novel and Wright’s film, is a man angry at the system and the world. His embittered drive to provide for his family through the games is what makes his character so engrossing, and when he tells Killian that he’ll be back to burn the Games Network building down, it’s not with the same emotionless direction that Schwarzenegger’s Terminator does — it’s filled with rage and murderous intent. The polar-opposite line deliveries make this the perfect kind of Easter egg and homage. It isn’t Powell trying to replicate, but instead putting his own spin on the line within the context of the movie that works.
Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man’ Is Filled With Subtle Details That Enhance the Film
The Running Man is Edgar Wright’s vision of King’s original novel that does an excellent job of keeping the parts of the source material that are most important. Moreover, it doesn’t detract or diminish what Schwarzenegger and director Paul Michael Glaser did in 1987. The result is two wildly different adaptations that can both be enjoyed in their own ways. While the original Running Man film is a cult classic, Wright’s movie will be remembered as the adaptation that captured King’s story with greater accuracy.
Of course, Edgar Wright is a filmmaker who loves to include hidden and unexpected details that breathe new life into his films. Whether it’s the channel surfing in a small scene at the beginning of Baby Driver that outlines the entirety of the movie, or the Easter eggs in the Cornetto Trilogy, Wright takes pride in the more subtle aspects of his work. The two Easter eggs in The Running Man that pay tribute to one of the greatest action stars of the ’80s and ’90s work not just as homages, but better enhance the story and serve as fun pieces of movie trivia. The Running Man is now playing in theaters.