While there was anticipation for The Long Walk to potentially become a series to allow for deeper character exploration and a more gradual unfolding of the grueling competition, current information allows this writer to gleefully announce that it is being adapted into a feature film and is scheduled for release on September 12, 2025, by Lionsgate! Doesn’t that just make your horror-loving heart pound all the harder!? Keep reading for more info on this film.
The Long Walk Adaptation
Directed by Francis Lawrence (you know him for The Hunger Games franchise) and with a screenplay by JT Mollner, the film stars Cooper Hoffman as Raymond Garraty and features an ensemble cast including David Jonsson, Mark Hamill, and Judy Greer.
The first trailer for the movie was released today, May 7, 2025, offering a glimpse into the dystopian world where 100 teenage boys participate in an annual walking contest. The rules are simple but deadly: maintain a pace of at least three miles an hour without stopping. Falling behind or stopping results in three warnings, after which the walker is shot dead by a procession of soldiers armed to the teeth. The last boy remaining alive is granted “The Prize”-anything he desires for the rest of his life.
Stephen King, who wrote The Long Walk under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, has expressed that the story’s “merciless quality” made previous attempts at adaptation challenging. Several prominent filmmakers, including George A. Romero and Frank Darabont, had tried to bring the novel to the screen over the years, but these projects never came to fruition.
While a series format could have allowed for more extensive development of the individual walkers and their backstories, a feature film directed by an experienced hand like Francis Lawrence promises a focused and impactful portrayal of this harrowing tale. The casting of Cooper Hoffman in the lead role has also generated considerable interest.
Film Vs. T.V. Series
The Master of Horror himself reportedly advised reducing the walking speed from the novel’s four miles an hour to three for the film, stating that the original pace was “too f***ing fast!” This adjustment might allow for more interaction and tension among the walkers.
Lawrence has stated that the film will emphasize the relationships among the young men, particularly the bond between Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) and McVries (David Jonsson), highlighting the camaraderie as the “heart and soul” of the story. The casting choices also generate anticipation. Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, takes on the lead role, while David Jonsson, known for Alien: Romulus, plays a key companion. Mark Hamill’s portrayal of the menacing Major adds a chilling element, and Judy Greer’s presence suggests a grounding in the world outside the Walk through her role as Garraty’s mother.
Ultimately, while the potential for a multi-episode series exploring the psychological and physical toll of The Long Walk was intriguing, fans will now see this chilling story unfold on the big screen this September! The film aims to capture the intense and emotional core of King’s novel, challenging audiences to consider the question posed in the synopsis: “How far could you go?”
Read All About It
Originally published under Stephen King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, the book is now widely recognized as a Stephen King novel. You can search for it under either name. It is also available in a collection called The Bachman Books, which includes other novels King wrote under that pen name. (Fun Fact: when Stephen King stopped writing under the name Bachman, he said Bachman died of “cancer of the pseudonym.” Har har!)
Fans can read The Long Walk in several formats:
- Paperback and Hardcover: It has been published numerous times since its initial release in 1979. You can find physical copies at most bookstores and online retailers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
- Ebook: The digital version is readily available for Kindle and other e-readers through platforms such as Amazon Kindle Store, Google Play Books, and Kobo.
- Audiobook: For those who prefer listening, The Long Walk is available as an audiobook on Audible and other audiobook platforms.
Check your local library as well; they are likely to have copies available for borrowing.
