Let me tell you… I’ve waited a long time for Stephen King‘s The Long Walk to be adapted into a movie, and what feels like a long time for the first trailer to be released. I’m glad Lionsgate finally dropped it today, and yes, it’s brutal.
From first glance, it appears director Francis Lawrence hasn’t let us down for the film described as “an intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far could you go?”
I think The Long Walk is still my favourite of The Bachman Books (when King wrote as his pseudonym Richard Bachman), because sure, it’s about the horrifying act of 100 teenage boys taking part in this competition of walking until there’s only one of them left standing (the others are gunned down when they break the rules – three warnings in an hour? Dead). But it’s also about the characters and the journey along the way – a journey the reader becomes so invested in despite knowing it’s going to end badly.
Here’s the official description:
100 teenage boys embark on an annual competition known as ‘The Long Walk.’ The rules are simple: maintain a speed above three miles per hour. Receive three warnings in an hour and you’re shot dead. The last one walking gets whatever he wants for the rest of his life. Under these grim circumstances the boys develop deep friendships despite knowing that each of their friends’ survival is a threat to their own.
Check out the full trailer below:
The Long Walk stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, with Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.
It’s strange seeing the characters you’ve pictured in your head for so long being played by actors, but I have to say that the casting on Barkovitch is a spot-on match for my meaty-brain theatre version. Maybe the hair’s a little longer.
I also never pictured Mark Hamill are the dude with the megaphone. I’m slightly amused by that.
Anyway, this film looks like it’s going to be great, and I can’t wait to watch it. And speaking of that, you’ll be able to see The Long Walk in cinemas when it’s released on 12th September.
What do you think of the full trailer for The Long Walk? Have you read the book, or is this your first experience of the story? Comment below.
