Special Report: The Running Man (1987)

Special Guests: Steven E. de Souza, Kurt Fuller, George Linder, Rob Cohen
Guest Co-Hosts: Andrew Nette, Aaron Peterson

"WHO DO YOU LOVE!?"

Set in the distant year of 2017, The Running Man (1987) is set in a dystopian world where reality television rules the airwaves and the most popular show pits criminals against muscle-bound, spandex-clad "stalkers". Based loosely on a novella by "Richard Bachman" (AKA Stephen King), the film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards, a man framed as "The Butcher of Bakersfield" and thrown Running Man game, hosted by Killian (Richard Dawson), and featuring a cadre of killers including Jesse Ventura, Jim Brown, Professor Toru Tanaka, and more.

Andrew Nette and Aaron Peterson join Mike to discuss the film, its odd production history, and the resonance to today's world. We also discuss the work of Robert Sheckley and his influence on "people hunting people" films including The Million Game, The Price of Peril, The Tenth Victim and Freejack.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: The Running Man (1987)" on Spreaker.

Interviews:
Music: "Planing the Escape" - Harold Faltermeyer
Steven E. de Souza, screenwriter: 54:00

Music: "Running Man" - Casio Social Club
Kurt Fuller, actor: 1:43:00

Music: "Buzz Saw" - The Gee Cee's
George Linder, producer: 2:21:00

Music: "Running Man (Rework)" - Brain Inc
Rob Cohen, executive producer: 2:29:00

Music: "Running Man" - The Greatest Band of All Time
Discussion 2: 3:07:00

Outro Music:
"Running Man / Hunger Games Musical Spectacular" - Jon and Al Kaplan
"ICS Sponsors Credits" - Harold Faltermeyer

Episode on Edgar Wright's Running Man:

Listen to "Special Report: The Running Man (2025)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Running Man on DVD
Buy The Running Man by Stephen King / Richard Bachman
Buy The Running Man soundtrack by Harold Faltermeyer
Read more about Rob Cohen's The Hurricane Heist
Listen to the Remake this Movie Right! podcast
Buy books from Andrew Nette
Listen to the interview with Harold Faltermeyer on the Beverly Hills Cop episode
Listen to our episodes on Battle Royale, Death Race 2000, Series 7: The Contenders, Rollerball, Freejack, and Punishment Park

Watch:

Episode 66: Freejack (1992)

My friends, we are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives...

When it comes to guilty pleasures, there's nothing that tops Geoff Murphy's Freejack. See Emilio Estevez running for his life in the distant future (2009) as he battles against Anthony Hopkins, David "Buster Poindexter" Johansen and Mick Jagger.

We're joined by Fred Fritz of the Movie Apocalypse show for this look at what the future might bring... And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future.

Links:
Buy Freejack on DVD
Buy Robert Sheckley's Immortality, Inc
Hear what George Harrison and Ringo Starr had to say about the BBC adaptation of Immortality Inc

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 66: Freejack (1992)" on Spreaker.

Watch: