Ben is a 28-year-old unemployed resident of Co-Op City who has reached his breaking point. Driven by a need to provide black-market medicine for his sick 18-month-old daughter and save his wife from sex work, he volunteers for the Network's deadliest reality show, *The Running Man*. He is defiant, deeply suspicious of authority, and completely alienated from the society that exploits his social class.

Killian is the executive producer of *The Running Man* for the Network. He operates from a plush suite in the Games Building, completely insulated from the poverty of Co-Op City. He views the lethal game show purely in terms of ratings, profit, and entertainment value, treating contestants as expendable commodities while manipulating the public.

McCone is the Network's Chief Hunter, a highly resourced and relentless tracker tasked with hunting down participants. He represents the brutal enforcement arm of the corrupt society and approaches his lethal job with extreme dedication and a perverse sense of patriotism.

Bradley is an intelligent, literate teenager from the inner city who reads forbidden books at the library using a stolen card. He quickly understands that the Network lies to the public about air pollution and societal conditions, serving as a voice of dissent who actively aids those fleeing the authorities.

Sheila is Ben's desperate wife who struggles to care for their dying infant in a squalid Co-Op City apartment. With her husband out of work, she is forced into sex work to afford basic survival and black-market medicine, a reality that drives her husband's entry into the deadly competition.

Amelia is an ordinary, somewhat affluent citizen who consumes the Network's Free-Vee programming and believes the government's narratives. Her worldview is forcefully challenged when she is pulled into a high-stakes escape, forcing her to confront the reality of the societal divide.

Stacey is a seven-year-old boy living in the inner city. He is street-smart and financially motivated, demanding small amounts of cash in exchange for guiding people to safety or fetching help.

Elton is a friend of Bradley's who provides a safe house for people running from the authorities. While he wants to be part of the rebellion against the Network, he lacks the cautious resourcefulness of his peers and struggles to manage his paranoid mother.

Virginia is Elton's mother, a frightened and prejudiced woman who avidly consumes the Network's propaganda. She fears the consequences of her son's involvement with criminals and strictly obeys the authorities.

Jimmy is a fellow applicant for the Network's games who lives just blocks away from Ben. He is physically impaired with a withered arm and sterile, making him just as economically desperate as the other candidates hoping for a high-paying show.

Molie is an underworld figure and hockshop owner who operates somewhat like a black-market Robin Hood. He provides disguises and forged identity papers for a price, allowing desperate individuals to evade the government's surveillance grid.

Mrs. Jenner is an unscrupulous neighbor in Co-Op City who profits off the desperation of the poor. She monitors the misery of her fellow apartment dwellers to sell essential goods at exorbitant prices.

Rinda is a Network employee who evaluates the intelligence of potential game show candidates. She is accustomed to deference and is highly offended by applicants who do not display gratitude for the testing process.

Burns is the assistant director of Games. He presents a polished, encouraging facade to the desperate candidates, referring to them as brave heroes while ushering them into potentially lethal entertainment programs.

Charlie is a cop employed by the Games Building. He enjoys exerting petty authority over the contestants, demanding personal stories or favors before allowing them basic amenities like using a telephone.

Bobby is the charismatic host of *The Running Man*. He acts as the polished, smiling face of the Network's deadly programming, expertly manipulating the live audience's emotions to ensure maximum hatred directed at the targets.

Fred is the director of *The Running Man*. He oversees the technical and theatrical aspects of the broadcast, ensuring the live show operates smoothly to maximize audience engagement.

Don is a pilot for an airline. He is forced into a high-stress situation when his aircraft is taken over, requiring him to balance the safety of his flight with the demands of an armed individual and the authorities.

Wayne is the co-pilot of the hijacked airplane. He tries to manage the technical aspects of the flight, including the autopilot systems, while navigating the terrifying circumstances of a standoff.

Donahue is an operative for Games Council Control who infiltrates the flight crew under the guise of a navigator. He acts as an armed enforcer to ensure the Network's interests are protected during the airborne standoff.

Cassie is Bradley and Stacey's five-year-old sister. She suffers from severe lung cancer caused by the rampant industrial air pollution, serving as a tragic representation of the environmental devastation inflicted upon the lower class.

Cathy is Ben and Sheila's 18-month-old daughter. Her severe illness and the family's inability to afford a doctor act as the primary catalyst pushing her father to enter the deadly reality show.