Even though he has spent the last few decades being one of the most successful and prolific authors of all-time, all while also having countless works of his adapted into famous films and mini-series, Stephen King has never been hotter. That’s because after the smash box office success of It Hollywood can’t get enough of the horror maven. Now one of his darkest and best novels, The Long Walk, is making its way to the big screen, and it couldn’t come at a better time.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, New Line Cinema, which produced last year’s It, has begun development on an adaptation of King’s 1979 novel, with James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man films) writing the screenplay. Vanderbilt had apparently tried to obtain the movie’s rights for a decade, which he finally acquired after Frank Darabont lost them.
The premise of the novel is simple but terrifying. It takes place in alternate, totalitarian United States, where every year 100 teenage boys participate in “The Long Walk” contest. Starting at the Maine/Canadian border they start walking down I-95 and are required to maintain a certain speed–no matter what–to avoid being eliminated, and the last survivor wins. It’s incredibly tense, and that only grows as the hours and days pass and the group gets smaller. It’s also incredibly dark even for King, which is no surprise since he wrote it under his pseudonym and bleaker alter ego, Richard Bachman.
But it’s also smart and insightful, and its message is particularly timely right now. That’s because, while there are no demons, creatures, or ghosts, the boys all volunteer for the walk, despite knowing 99 of them won’t be going home. In this messed-up world society has not only accepted being ruled by a fascist, they are eager to assist in their own control, which is far more terrifying. And sadly it feels all too timely in 2018.
The Long Walk to make it to the big screen for a long time now, so we’re thrilled in their mad rush Hollywood finally realized they should have been running to make it.
What do you hope to see with this film? Tell us in the comments below.
Images: Signet Books, Paramount
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