Wright Reveals Why He Ditched King's Dark Running Man Finale
The acclaimed director opens up about his decision to completely overhaul the disturbing conclusion from Stephen King's original 1982 novel for his 2025 adaptation.
Director Edgar Wright has finally opened up about his controversial decision to completely rewrite the conclusion of Stephen King's dystopian thriller for his 2025 film adaptation. The filmmaker, who both co-wrote and directed this year's high-octane dystopian thriller, knew from the very beginning that King's original 1982 ending would never make it to the big screen.
Wright's version delivers a more hopeful resolution for protagonist Ben Richards, the reality TV personality turned revolutionary fighter. However, readers of King's source material will immediately recognize just how dramatically different this cinematic conclusion is from the author's much bleaker vision.
A Necessary Creative Choice
The decision to alter the story's finale wasn't made lightly, according to Wright. King's original narrative concluded on a significantly more unsettling note that would have left audiences with a vastly different emotional experience. Wright understood early in the development process that maintaining the book's disturbing climax simply wouldn't work for his cinematic vision.
The change represents one of the most significant departures from King's source material in the entire adaptation. While the film maintains the core themes of media manipulation and societal control, Wright's ending shifts the focus toward redemption and resistance rather than despair.
Balancing Source Material with Modern Sensibilities
Wright's adaptation walks a careful line between honoring King's original dystopian concepts while crafting something that resonates with contemporary audiences. The filmmaker's decision to provide Ben Richards with a more uplifting conclusion reflects his understanding of what modern viewers need from this type of story.
The original novel's conclusion would have painted a much grimmer picture of the protagonist's fate and the society he's fighting against. Wright's version, while still maintaining the story's edge and social commentary, offers viewers something closer to hope than the book's more pessimistic worldview.