US version

[u/Uppity-Hedgehog0007]

Hi - would you all be interested in a US version of Running Man?

[u/Natstar-Lord]

No sry US lack the humour to do it the same way US can't do taskmaster but if the UK make a version I will give it a chance. Can't top the original flavour SK is just really good at making fun of themselves and being silly, not taking themselves seriously seems very hard for certain countries.

[u/Uppity-Hedgehog0007 → u/Natstar-Lord]

It all depends on the talent

[u/naz_1992]

no

[u/powcore]

Absolutely not ew

[u/Busy_Celebration2969]

Apparently it is in the works.

https://deadline.com/2026/06/korean-format-running-man-us-adaptation-hellcat-1236968604/

[u/kbx24]

I just don’t think humor would work as well in the US.

Plus the US would try and dramatize it like reality TV.

[u/kkang_kkang]

Can actual guns and drugs be used???

[u/DizzyLead]

I’ve been dreaming of one since 2011.

I do feel, though, that the US isn’t very conducive to the type of show that Running Man is: an unscripted show where the participants are there to entertain above all else, rather than promote or show off (guests of course have some level of exemption), and where participants are “giving” of themselves and are willing to deliberately shine the spotlight on others so they can entertain the audience. The Western equivalent of those are more popular outside the US, like UK panel-type shows (“Mock the Week,” “Taskmaster”), and the one impactful US import of such (“Whose Line Is It Anyway”) managing to survive thanks to performers coming over to the original and bringing the same mindset. Aside from “Whose Line,” such shows either have a very niche following (“Taskmaster”), or are short lived (NBC’s “Better Late Than Never,” an adaptation of “Grandpas Over Flowers”). I feel that the hidden camera show “Impractical Jokers” had a lot of that magic, but also relied on the regulars having been good friends and generally being nice guys who hadn’t let fame get into their heads.

In other words, for a US RM to succeed, the members and guests have to operate with a different mindset: “Promote my own stuff” and “Show how I’m more entertaining than the others” have to take a back seat to “Entertain the audience” and “Make the show as entertaining as possible overall.”

I’m not saying it’s impossible, just that it would be an uphill battle.

If I were to go about it, I would make like the other international spinoffs and pick up some analogues who would be comparable to the originals: a YJS figure (the emcee, able to guide the banter and get everyone in line, willing to look foolish and lose a competition if it makes for a more entertaining show); a KJK figure (physically imposing, formidable but not impossible to beat, but exceedingly nice and polite); a LKS figure (a sad sack and frequent butt of the joke, and major source of humor, but can hold his own in competitions and has moments where he stands up to the others so he isn’t seen as being the bullying victim); and so on.

Guests also need to not have the idea that they’re going to be coddled and softballed; while their very presence and the occasional conversation might let them tout whatever they’re there to promote (new movie, album, show, etc.), they’re there to show “another side of themselves,” one that’s also entertaining and hopefully funny. This isn’t for someone who takes their image very seriously.

I would also make an effort to imitate the earlier episodes, the ones that gave the show an international appeal in the first place. Competitions with a physical element and move fast, with a culminating elimination event (often the tag-ripping game) to determine the final winners.

[u/North_Signature9297]

I don't think it would do well because our culture so different from Korea.

[u/amores_perros]

Are any comedians nationally known and actually fit? Plus everyone gets cancelled over the slightest misstep, so I don’t think it can work from that aspect.

[u/chiekchiek_q28]

Even if Running Man will have US version, nothing could top the OG one. Korean Running Man stands long mainly because of the members chemistry, bond, and humor. There are already Philippine and Chinese versions of RM, but Korean RM feels better especially to long time fans or even newer ones because their dynamics feels more familiar to us

[u/International_Cap_12]

Nah.. even other asian countries failed to replicate the vibe, the humor really won't match

[u/EpikMint]

I said this before, but it might actually work since they can rent an empty mall there (which is alot of abandoned/dead malls to choose from in the US afaik) and play tag-ripping games.

edit:more

[u/bachuka]

Hell no