Lionsgate has begun production on The Long Walk, an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1979 novel which will be directed by The Hunger Games‘ Francis Lawrence, and the film has added seven young actors to its ensemble cast along with veterans Mark Hamill (Star Wars) and Judy Greer (Jurassic World).
Featuring in the film will be Garrett Wareing (Ransom Canyon), Tut Nyuot (The Witcher: Blood Origin), Charlie Plummer (National Anthem), Ben Wang (American Born Chinese), Jordan Gonzalez (Pretty Little Liars: Summer School), Joshua Odjick (Welcome to Derry) and Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit).
They join the previously cast Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza) and David Jonsson (Industry).
The Long Walk, which King had written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, takes place in “a dystopian America that is entertained by the Long Walk — a competition in which 50 teenage boys walk without rest. Each competitor must keep walking faster than three miles per hour — or risk being eliminated.”
Lawrence will direct from a script by JT Mollner (Strange Darling) as well as producing through his company about:blank. Production will take place throughout the summer.
This was a book I never knew anything about until I heard Just King Things cover it. I feel like there is potential for this to be really, really good depending on the choices they make.