A cameo appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the reboot of The Running Man has drawn attention for its creative nod to the past. Directed by Edgar Wright and featuring Glen Powell, the new film includes a scene where a photograph of Schwarzenegger appears on a $100 bill, a playful twist on the typical imagery of U.S. presidents.
Wright recently explained that this homage was inspired by a moment from the 1993 film Demolition Man, which starred Sylvester Stallone, Schwarzenegger’s longtime rival. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wright elaborated on the concept of an alternate reality in which the rules allow individuals born outside the United States to run for president. He referred to it as a “nice little nod” to the original 1987 film adaptation of Stephen King‘s novel.
“We thought of it as an alternate reality where they changed the rules so people born outside the United States could run for president,” Wright said. He credited co-writer Michael Bacall for incorporating the idea of “new dollars” into the script. Although the Schwarzenegger bill is only seen in close-up, Wright mentioned that they created various bills featuring different presidents, highlighting the playful connection to the Demolition Man universe, where President Schwarzenegger is referenced.
Wright emphasized that the new adaptation aims to be more faithful to King’s original work than its predecessor. He expressed hope that fans of the 1987 film, which has garnered a passionate cult following, will appreciate the fresh take. “It does have a passionate cult following that I’m very aware of, and I would hope that the people who love the 1987 film would love this,” he stated.
Moreover, Wright believes that the best remakes or adaptations are those that offer a radically different perspective. He commented on the tendency for some remakes to follow the original too closely, questioning the value of such projects. “When there are remakes that feel like a shot-for-shot remake, I wonder: ‘Why even bother if you’re just doing the same beats as the other film?’” he remarked.
In contrast, he feels that this new version of The Running Man stands as a distinct film because the source material contains characters and themes that were not fully explored in the 1987 adaptation. Wright’s approach aims to breathe new life into the story while honoring its roots, making it an intriguing project for both new audiences and long-time fans.
