There have been tons of film adaptations of Stephen King‘s work over the years, but there’s one early novel of the prolific writer that’s never made it to the big screen: 1979’s “The Long Walk.” Several filmmakers have eyed the book for a movie over the years, including George A. Romero and Frank Darabont. But according to THR, it looks like “The Hunger Games” helmer Francis Lawrence leads the charge on the project now. The outlet reports that Lawrence will direct the adaptation for Lionsgate, who picked up the rights to the novel.
And Lawrence is a suitable choice for “The Long Walk,” considering it’s a tale about a dystopian future America that holds an annual contest with young people with super-violent stakes. Written by King under his Richard Bachman pseudonym, the novel follows 100 young men, two from each US state, who must continually walk down US Route 1 at least four miles per hour until only one remains standing. The rules of the contest? Three strikes and you’re out: if a contestant slips beneath that speed, they’re shot dead by soldiers following the boys’ every move.
JT Mollner will adapt King’s Bachman novel for Lawrence’s adaptation for Lionsgate. It’s yet another collaboration between the director and studio, with their most recent outing together, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes,” currently in theaters. Roy Lee leads the producing team on “The Long Walk,” with Meredith Wieck and Erin Jones-Wesley overseeing the film for Lionsgate. And the studio sounds excited about working together with Lawrence again on the picture. “When you have enjoyed the strong creative collaboration and success that we have had working with Francis, you want to repeat that experience as much as possible,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake said in a press statement. “We couldn’t be more excited about reuniting with him on “The Long Walk.” He is a truly unparalleled talent.”
As noted earlier, several filmmakers have tried and failed to adapt “The Long Walk” since the book was first published. New Line was the last studio to attempt to make the novel into a film, with director André Øvredal set to direct a script from James Vanderbilt. But the rights to adapt lapsed for New Line last summer, which allowed Lionsgate to swoop in for their own take.
“The Long Walk” is an early high water mark for King, and it obviously influences Suzanne Collins‘ “Hunger Games” book series. But maybe Lawrence helming this film is a little too on the nose? It’s not as if Lawrence’s “Hunger Games” films weren’t successful for Lionsgate, but rather that King’s novel is even more grim than Collins’ series. And Lawrence hasn’t had the same success beyond that franchise. 2018’s “Red Sparrow” with “Hunger Games” actress Jennifer Lawrence didn’t fare well with anyone, and 2022’s “Slumberland” for Netflix was another clunker for Lawrence. But the director and Lionsgate have another box office winner on their hands with “Songbirds & Snakes”; it’s topped all other films domestically two weeks in a row.
The other big question is when Lawrence and Lionsgate will get around to “The Long Walk.” Lawrence is already attached to sequels to his 2005 film “Constantine” and his 2007 movie “I Am Legend,” as well as a live-action adaptation of the “BioShock” videogame franchise for Netflix. Where does “The Long Walk” fit in between all that stuff? Only time will tell there, but hopefully it doesn’t mean King’s novel fails to get made into a movie yet again.