For more than 50 years, Stephen King has put pen to paper and unleashed the most wild, vivid, and gruesome stories. It all started back in 1974 when his debut horror novel, Carrie, was published. Then, just two years later, a film adaptation hit the theaters, and King’s name practically exploded. As of 2024, more than 100 movies and TV shows have pulled inspiration from his works, most of which were direct adaptations of King’s stories. The Shining, It, Shawshank Redemption, and Stand By Me are among the major successful adaptations, but one novel in particular has found itself in a bit of a limbo state because no one has been able to adapt it successfully into a film.

The Long Walk, one of King’s first attempts at a dystopian novel, was actually published under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. It gained traction in the bookstores once King’s alternate identity was discovered, and plenty of readers fell in love with the horrific tale. The problem with the novel — which really should not be a problem at all — is that many directors and writers have failed to successfully attack and adapt the seemingly simple plot into a screenplay. This has been a frustrating situation for many, but it seems like things may be taking a turn for the better.

Find out how the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s most underrated novel managed to get stuck in development hell for more than 35 years and how it may finally get to see the light of day.

What Is The Long Walk About?

The Death March Becomes a Spectacle for the Whole Country
Unlike many of the other Stephen King works, The Long Walk does not have some gory monster or mysterious creature lurking about. Instead, the story puts a spin on entertainment altogether. The premise of the novel is that 100 boys, two from each state, gather at the northern tip of Maine and walk along U. S. Route 1 for as long as possible. People from all over the country tune in and gather around to cheer on the young men from their home states. However, there is a catch.

The boys, who have each volunteered to join the Long Walk, must keep a speed of four miles per hour the entire time. There are no bathroom breaks, no time to sleep, and certainly no time to back out of their decision. As they move along the highway, each boy is given three warnings if and when they drop below the expected speed. By the time they earn a fourth warning, they are shot dead by the surrounding soldiers. The overall goal is for one boy to make it longer than all the others to earn quite a bit of cash as well as an additional prize of his choosing. It’s a game of mental, physical, and emotional strength, and no one knows exactly how tough it is until they are in it.

Why Production has Taken so Long (and Failed)

The Film Just Kept Getting Put Off
While the premise of King’s underrated book seems like something that any great director can tackle, that has certainly proved not to be so true. Back in 1988, the genius who created the Night of the Living Dead series, George A. Romero, was asked to direct a movie adaptation of The Long Walk, but it seemed to go nowhere. Instead, Romero took on two of King’s other works: Creepshow and The Dark Half.

In 2007, Frank Darabont, who had developed the screenplays and directed The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist — all of which were based on King’s novels — found himself attached to The Long Walk. He said it was a “very intense ensemble piece” that would be “more of an art-house film.” However, when asked about when he would get around to actually making the film, he said, “I’ll get there eventually” (per Lilja’s Library). Sadly, it became a shelved project that got kicked along to the next guy.

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In 2018, New Line Cinema took on King’s work and shuffled it around to what seemed to be the right people at the time. James Vanderbilt, who had penned Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man, and White House Down, was given the reins to get a script out for The Long Walk, and André Øvredal became attached to the project as the director. Unfortunately, in 2023, the project was passed along once again.

Who Will Be a Part of Stephen King’s Work

We May Finally Have Leads for The Long Walk
It was not long after André Øvredal announced that he was no longer a part of The Long Walk that fans discovered Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence had taken over the project. Lawrence has taken on the post-apocalyptic thriller I Am Legend, the last three installments of the original Hunger Games series, and the Hunger Games spinoff The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, so plenty of cinephiles are optimistic that he will do Stephen King’s work justice.

In June 2024, Deadline reported thatCooper Hoffman, who starred as Gary Valentine in the romantic dramedy Licorice Pizza, and Industry actor David Jonsson are rumored to be two of the leads in The Long Walk. Given the age range of the characters — the majority of them are teenage boys who volunteer for the event — things really need to get moving fairly quickly if they want to keep these cast members on board with the film. It could be a movie that brings about a number of younger actors, but that really all comes down to how Lawrence wants to highlight each boy’s story.

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What Fans Would Like to See Within the Storyline

Stay True to Stephen King’s Original Telling
When it comes to book-to-movie adaptations, many viewers often find themselves annoyed by the creative liberties directors like to take with the visual aspect and character development. However, since The Long Walk was originally penned by Stephen King, the master of horror, it would seem like anyone working on any sort of adaptation would stay pretty close to the original storyline.

As for how the film is done, fans do not have too much to say other than they really hope the chemistry works between the boys. Imagine this: 100 boys line up at a starting line, each with their own reason for being there, and as the event goes on, they naturally share stories and bond with one another. Unfortunately, they know they want to see their new friends lose (and ultimately die) so that they can walk away as the winner. There has to be genuine chemistry among the cast for this to work.

Of course, there will be actors who play standoffish characters or quiet individuals, but there are a handful of boys who actually get along and make the whole story that much more tragic. Hopefully, Lawrence is up for the job of making sure there is a good group that can really break the audiences’ hearts in the best way possible.