Mark Hamill and Judy Greer are the latest actors to join Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk. More on the upcoming film adaptation below.
A film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk has been in the making since the 80s, but filmmakers such as George A. Romero, Frank Darabont and André Øvredal tried and failed to get the film made. Thankfully, it looks like it’s finally happening.
We reported in June that Lionsgate had set the cast for the film, which is to be directed by Francis Lawrence. David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman are leading a cast that also includes Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyout, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Odjick, and Roman Griffin Davis.
Deadline now reports that Judy Greer and Mark Hamill have also joined the project. All the role details are currently kept secret, but as filming has just begun we expect to get more information on the film sooner rather than later.
Here’s a synopsis of the book: The Long Walk takes place in the future in which 100 teenage boys embark on an annual competition known as “The Long Walk.” The rules are simple: maintain a speed above 4 miles per hour. Receive three warnings in an hour and you’re shot dead. The last one walking gets whatever he wants for the rest of his life. Under these grim circumstances the boys develop deep friendships despite knowing that each of their friends’ survival is a threat to their own. The book has the spirit of other King coming-of-age stories, following boys who prevail amid hardship and despair ala the characters in Stand by Me and It.
The book was originally published in 1979 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. JT Mollner has penned the script for the film adaptation and with Lawrence’s experience in directing several of The Hunger Games films, we’d say he’s more than well equipped to do another dystopian film centering on a contest.
No word on when The Long Walk might hit cinemas, but we’ll make sure to give you an update when we know more.
