“American Ninja Warrior with real consequences”—Fans react to Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man’ starring Glen Powell

Hollywood has a knack for digging up old classics like The Running Man and giving them a fresh coat of paint, sometimes with mixed results. The remake wheel has landed on The Running Man, with none other than Edgar Wright in the director’s chair. Starring Glen Powell, the film promises to bring a new spin to the dystopian game show where convicted criminals fight for survival.

Naturally, the internet wasted no time sharing its reactions, because what is movie news without the collective wisdom (and sarcasm) of the masses? From excitement to skepticism to the inevitable comparisons to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 version, fans have turned this announcement into a viral spectacle.

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Fans React to Edgar Wright’s The Running Man

The moment the first look at the film dropped, the internet exploded into a frenzy of hot takes. Some were hyped, others were skeptical, and a few just wanted to let the world know that no one could ever replace Arnold.

One fan summed it up as “American Ninja Warrior, but with actual consequences”, which, let’s be honest, does sound like a reality show Fox would air next fall.

Another declared,

“Cinema incoming…”,

expecting Wright to deliver something special. Meanwhile, the classic remake fatigue was in full effect, with someone sighing,

“No remake required.”

But the real highlight? The Arnold comparisons. Because, of course, they were coming. One user stated, “Might be good. Never going to be as good as Arnold, but then again, who is?”

Another simply referenced the original film’s iconic line with

“It’s time to start…running.”

And then there were the outright doomsayers who saw this as yet another unnecessary reboot, with one person predicting,

“Sounds like another flop film 😔.”

First, there was the immediate comparison to Squid Game. Because, if a movie involves people trying not to die for the entertainment of others, it’s now a Squid Game ripoff. Expect at least 50 think pieces on this before the trailer even drops.

And of course, the internet’s favorite past-time: predicting the inevitable discourse. A few users pointed out how the remake of The Running Man will either be too woke or not woke enough, ensuring that movie Twitter will be at war for weeks.

As with any remake, The Running Man is already fighting an uphill battle with nostalgia purists. But Edgar Wright’s involvement gives it an edge, his signature style and kinetic direction could make this a wild ride. Glen Powell is also having a bit of a moment, so his casting might draw in new fans who weren’t around for the original’s heyday.

Ultimately, it’s way too early to tell whether this will be a cult hit, a fun action flick, or just another Total Recall-style disappointment. But one thing is certain: fans will keep running with the jokes, and that’s entertainment in itself.