Ahead of the Remake’s Release, the Original ‘Running Man’ Races Onto a Free Streaming Home

One of the most anticipated movies coming out this fall comes from contemporary English auteur Edgar Wright. Known for his kinetic style and genre-bending flair, Wright recently wrapped filming on The Running Man, an adaptation of a Stephen King book of the same name released under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

The film stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a desperate father who enters a deadly reality competition in a bid to provide for his family. However, Wright isn’t the first to take a crack at this story. The novel was first brought to the big screen in 1987, with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead and Paul Michael Glaser directing. Now, with buzz heating up around the upcoming remake, the original is sprinting back into the spotlight and will soon land on a free streaming platform. Tubi, the ad-supported streaming platform known for its growing library of classics and cult favorites, has unveiled a slew of titles for the summer, and it includes Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man. Starting July 1st, fans can revisit the 1987 dystopian action thriller for free.

The 1987 movie took great liberties with its source material. Rather than depicting Richards as a regular man who enters the game to support his family, he’s instead reimagined as a wrongly convicted officer forced into a sadistic game show where the government turns executions into prime-time entertainment. While hunted by professional killers, Richards fights not just to survive, but to expose the government’s propaganda.

The Running Man saw mild commercial success, but critical reviews were a mixed bag, with several aspects of the movie drawing varying opinions. The movie also starred former Venezuelan beauty queen María Conchita Alonso as Amber Mendez, who works for the state-run broadcast network but eventually sides with Richards after uncovering the regime’s deception. The cast also includes Yaphet Kotto, Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura, and Erland Van Lidth.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Rooting for Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man’ Remake

Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t involved in Wright’s The Running Man remake, but the legendary action star has nothing but support for the new team. He has given the project his blessing and is looking forward to seeing how the new version will deliver in areas where the original fell short, particularly the visuals. “I think that they have a good chance now with the new Running Man to make it better. And I hope, for their sake and for my sake, I hope that they will be successful,” the actor shared recently.

Promising a more ambitious take with a bigger budget, audience expectations are growing about the outcome. In addition to Powell in the lead, the new star-studded cast includes Michael Cera, Katy O’Brian, Daniel Ezra, Karl Glusman, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, and Colman Domingo.

The Running Man arrives on Tubi on July 1, while the remake races into theaters on November 7.