Summary
Among the many adaptations of Stephen King’s works that are in development isThe Long Walk, and the more I hear about it, the more excited I am about it and the more hopeful I am that it will succeed. Theshort stories and novels of Stephen Kingcontinue to inspire countless artists and are still a great source for filmmakers. Various adaptations of King’s works are constantly in development, and many of them have gone through many obstacles that have delayed the projects. Such is the case forThe Long Walk, which had a complicated pre-production process.
Set in a dystopian America, ruled by a totalitarian regime,The Long Walkfollows Ray Garraty, a 16-year-old boy who takes part in the “Long Walk”. This is an annual walking contest in which 100 teenage boys walk without rest along U.S. Route 1, and each of them must stay above four miles per hour – if they drop this speed for 30 seconds, they get a warning, and after three, they are shot dead.The Long Walkis finally being adapted into a movie, and it only gets more and more exciting.
The Long Walkwas published in 1979 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, and it’s the first novel he wrote, though not the first to be published.
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The Long Walk Is Staying True To The Novel’s Tone & Time Setting
The Long Walk Won’t Be Changing Key Elements Of The Novel
The Long Walkseems to be on the right track with its time setting, though, at the same time, this is a change to the novel.
It’s not uncommon for Stephen King’s stories to go through various changes when adapted to the big screen – look no further than to Andy Muschietti’sItduology, which got a time setting change and other narrative modifications, though all of them ended up being for the benefit of the movies.The Long Walk, however, seems to be on the right track with its time setting, though, at the same time, this is a change to the novel. As mentioned above,The Long Walkis set in a dystopian future, but the novel was published in the late 1970s.
Somephotos from the set ofThe Long Walkshow some 1970s-style cars, trucks, and military vehicles, suggesting thatthe movie will stay true to the novel’s 1979 publication. However, it’s to be seen ifThe Long Walkwill keep its futuristic elements, but as these are key to the story, they will surely still be part of it despite its 1970s setting. Another thing aboutThe Long Walk’s movie adaptationthat makes it a lot more exciting and gives me a lot of hope that it will succeed is its tone and what the team behind it is planning.
After many obstacles during pre-production,The Long Walkis now being directed by Francis Lawrence with a screenplay by JT Mollner, and it finally began filming in July 2024. Speaking toCinemaBlendin August 2024, Mollner opened up about what he and Lawrence have been working on, saying thatLawrence wants to makeThe Long Walk“the right way, a faithful way”.Mollner promised a faithful, R-rated adaptation of the novel, adding that King was committed and determined for it to be R-rated.
The cast ofThe Long Walkis formed by Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.
On top of all that,The Long Walkhas an incredible castthat makes me a lot more excited about it and gives me so much hope for it to be as good as Mollner teased. Although character details haven’t been revealed, at the time of writing, the cast ofThe Long Walkis formed by Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill. The latter is especially exciting for me, not just because it’s Hamill, but because he’s rumored to be playing The Major, one of the most sinister characters in the novel.
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The Long Walk Can Be One Of The Best Stephen King Adaptations In Recent Years
The Long Walk Seems To Be On The Right Path
Movie adaptations of Stephen King’s novels and short stories have become a hit or miss because not all writers and directors have been able to successfully bring them to life.
The works of Stephen King are immensely popular, but the stories that succeed on paper don’t always succeed on the big screen. Movie adaptations of Stephen King’s novels and short stories have become a hit or miss, and not because they don’t have an audience, but because not all writers and directors have been able to successfully bring them to life, and some have made too many changes to them that did no good. From what’s known aboutThe Long Walkso far, I’d say it has big chances to succeed and be one of the best King adaptations in recent years.
The fact thatthe team behind it is determined to make a faithful adaptationthat keeps the dark and violent tone of the novel and isn’t afraid of bringing its most brutal scenes to life is a good sign forThe Long Walk. This has already been confirmed by David Jonsson, who, in an interview withGQ, shared how“beautifully brutal” filmingThe Long Walkis, revealing he walks around 14 miles a day while filming.
Such dedication to adapting this story, the cast, and the setting are making me more and more excited aboutThe Long Walkand more hopeful that it will succeed, and it’s to be seen what other details about it are revealed as it goes deeper into its production process.
Source:CinemaBlend,GQ.
The Long Walk
Adapted from Stephen King’s first novel, The Long Walk follows 100 teenage boys forced into a walking contest at four miles per hour or face lethal consequences.
