‘Running Man‘ Writer Stevenโ deโ Souza on Glen Powell Reboot‘s Box โOffice Performance
Los Angeles โข – Steven de Souza, the โฃscreenwriter behind the โข1987 cult classic The Runningโ Man, addressed โthe opening weekend performance of the Glen Powell-led reboot, acknowledging similarities in ending tweaks between the two films while noting budgetaryโ constraints impacted the newer version’s โexecution. De Souza’s comments come as industry analysts dissectโ the film’sโ box office results and audience demographics.
the reboot, released May 24, has garnered a 65 percent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but faced scrutiny in reviews, including The Hollywood Reporter’s assessment that it “ends up feeling โhollow” โdespite its action. De souza revealed both versions ofโ The Running Man adjusted the ending from the original โStephen King novella,but the 2024 film opted for a simpler approach due to financial limitations.”Maybe the third version in 2045 will stick the landing,” he quipped.
De souza โขalso addressed observations that the film’s marketing heavily skewed towards a male audience, a point he conceded had “some validity.” He โnoted science fiction generally attracts a larger male viewership. Despite the opening weekend results, De Souza expressed optimism that the reboot woudl drive renewed interest in the 1987 original, creating a “win-win” scenario.
The screenwriter further shared his surprise at creatives expressing displeasureโค over reboots of their earlier work, stating, “That’s a reactionโฃ I can’t understand. I would never be upset.” This sentimentโฃ arrives amid ongoing debate within Hollywood regarding the value and impact of revisiting established intellectual property.
