Cooper Hoffman, star of Licorice Pizza, and HBO Industry actor David Jonsson are in discussions to lead the cast of Francis Lawrence’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk for Lionsgate.
The screenplay for The Long Walk is being penned by JT Mollner, known for the upcoming Strange Darling from Miramax and Magenta Light Studios. The production is being helmed by Roy Lee of Vertigo, with Lionsgate overseeing the project.
Originally reported by Deadline, the film adaptation of King’s 1979 novel—published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman—was previously in development at New Line with André Øvredal set to direct from a script by James Vanderbilt. However, the rights to the novel lapsed in the summer of 2022. This setback occurred alongside New Line’s unsuccessful attempt to produce King’s Salem’s Lot, which was intended for theatrical release but ended up being distributed on Max.
The Long Walk is set in a dystopian future where 100 teenage boys participate in an annual competition known as “The Long Walk.” The rules are stark: participants must maintain a speed above four miles per hour. After receiving three warnings in an hour, they are shot dead. The last boy standing is granted anything he desires for the rest of his life. Despite the dire circumstances, the boys form deep friendships, though each knows that his survival comes at the expense of the others. The novel is reminiscent of King’s other coming-of-age stories, like Stand by Me and It, where young protagonists endure and prevail amidst overwhelming adversity.
This project marks a reunion for director Francis Lawrence and Lionsgate, who recently announced their collaboration on the Suzanne Collins-penned prequel The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, based on the author’s upcoming novel.
Lionsgate continues to expand its repertoire of compelling adaptations, with The Long Walk poised to bring another of King’s gripping narratives to the big screen. Fans of King’s work and the genre can look forward to a film that promises to blend intense psychological drama with the author’s signature storytelling.
The story was confirmed by Deadline, initially reported by The InSneider.
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