THE LONG WALK Screenwriter Was Terrified Stephen King Wouldn't Like the Film Adaptation
The Long Walk is easily one of the best Stephen King adaptations that has been made. It’s an exptreamly powerful film that is a must watch.
Directed by Francis Lawrence (Constantine, The Hunger Games series) and written by JT Mollner (Strange Darling), this grim dystopian thriller promises to remain faithful to King's ruthless and haunting original vision.
Prior to the film’s release, Mollner revealed that adapting this classic novel came with one huge, nerve-wracking challenge… the fear that Stephen King himself wouldn't approve.
Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con to ComicBook, Mollner shared just how daunting it was bringing King's work to the screen, especially since he's such a massive fan himself:
“It’s exciting. It’s also scary, especially when you love the writer so much. But when Roy introduced me to Francis, Francis told me what kind of movie he wanted to make, and that was the movie I wanted to write, you know?
“I’m so familiar with Stephen King, and I was so excited about the vision Francis had for this movie that I was very confident that I would have a good time writing it and I knew how I wanted to write it.
“I was just terrified that Stephen King wasn’t gonna like it. So, when we found out he liked it, it was a really, you know, important moment.”
Thankfully for Mollner, the legendary horror author gave the adaptation his seal of approval. That made all the difference for Mollner, who feels a deep personal connection to King’s storytelling style and tone:
“I love writing and telling original stories. But, if there’s a book that exists, a story that exists, that I feel connected to, that I feel like I could have written, or could have come up with myself that I feel like it has [or] shares artistic DNA with my heart, then it would feel right. This felt right.
“I will say about Francis that, even though there’s some obvious narrative parallels between this and a few other movies he’s directed, I think this is, like, a departure for him.
“I think it’s a different kind of movie … His approach to this was so unique, and it was so true to King’s DNA that he told me right off the bat he wanted to go all the way, you know?”
Originally published in 1979 under King's pseudonym, Richard Bachman, The Long Walk was actually the very first novel King completed when he was only 19. Despite several attempts over the years by filmmakers like George A. Romero, Frank Darabont, and André Øvredal, this chilling tale proved tough to adapt due to what King described to Vanity Fair earlier this year as its "merciless quality."
The movie adaptation of The Long Walk stars Cooper Hoffman as Ray Garraty and David Jonsson as Peter McVries, two young men trapped in a brutal televised competition set in a bleak future America.
Overseen by the sinister figure known as The Major, played by none other than Mark Hamill, the contest forces participants into a relentless walk. Slowing down below three miles per hour means execution by The Major’s ruthless soldiers, leaving only one survivor.
Fans can experience the terrifying intensity themselves as the movie is now in theaters. If you haven’t watch it yet, you should.