The Long Walk has new spring in its step as Lionsgate is now behind a big-screen adaptation of the Stephen King book.
Lionsgate has picked up the rights to the 1979 dystopian novel, with Francis Lawrence in final talks to direct. JT Mollner will pen the script. The move puts Lawrence back in business with Lionsgate, for whom he directed The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which is currently in theaters and has grossed more than $200 million globally.
Roy Lee is producing Long Walk with Lawrence.
New Line was previously developing the project with director André Øvredal and a script from James Vanderbilt before the rights lapsed in the summer of 2022. Now Lionsgate will begin anew with its own take.
“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,” said Joe Drake, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “We couldn’t be more excited about reuniting with him on The Long Walk. He is a truly unparalleled talent.”
First published under the author’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk centers on an annual contest in which 100 teen boys embark on the punishing titular journey that involves strict stipulations (they must walk at least four miles an hour) and ends with only one survivor. Over the years, such filmmakers as George A. Romero and Frank Darabont had eyed the project.
The book’s influence can be felt in later works, including Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games novel series. This makes Lawrence an appropriate fit, given that he helmed the franchise’s 2013 sequel The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and the subsequent Mockingjay two-parter. Lawrence returned to Panem with the recent prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler and Peter Dinklage and has topped the domestic box office in its first two weekends.
DONT FUCK THIS UP!!! Been waiting on this to become a movie for over 20 years!!!!
Dear Hollywood. There are more authors on the planet than just Stephen King.
Giving it to the guy who’s behind all of the ‘Hunger Games’ sequels, kinda makes me think the studio wants to make it into a Hunger Games esque movie, whereas the book was never about that.
It literally can be told as a no-budget movie with a bunch of kids walking and talking. That’s all the book is. The movie shouldn’t cost anywhere above $5 million.
Its about time someone took a shot at this movie. Hehe.
I’ve been waiting a long time for this movie. Hope it turns out well.
6 comments
The Long Walk has new spring in its step as Lionsgate is now behind a big-screen adaptation of the Stephen King book.
Lionsgate has picked up the rights to the 1979 dystopian novel, with Francis Lawrence in final talks to direct. JT Mollner will pen the script. The move puts Lawrence back in business with Lionsgate, for whom he directed The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which is currently in theaters and has grossed more than $200 million globally.
Roy Lee is producing Long Walk with Lawrence.
New Line was previously developing the project with director André Øvredal and a script from James Vanderbilt before the rights lapsed in the summer of 2022. Now Lionsgate will begin anew with its own take.
“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,” said Joe Drake, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “We couldn’t be more excited about reuniting with him on The Long Walk. He is a truly unparalleled talent.”
First published under the author’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk centers on an annual contest in which 100 teen boys embark on the punishing titular journey that involves strict stipulations (they must walk at least four miles an hour) and ends with only one survivor. Over the years, such filmmakers as George A. Romero and Frank Darabont had eyed the project.
The book’s influence can be felt in later works, including Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games novel series. This makes Lawrence an appropriate fit, given that he helmed the franchise’s 2013 sequel The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and the subsequent Mockingjay two-parter. Lawrence returned to Panem with the recent prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler and Peter Dinklage and has topped the domestic box office in its first two weekends.
DONT FUCK THIS UP!!! Been waiting on this to become a movie for over 20 years!!!!
Dear Hollywood. There are more authors on the planet than just Stephen King.
Giving it to the guy who’s behind all of the ‘Hunger Games’ sequels, kinda makes me think the studio wants to make it into a Hunger Games esque movie, whereas the book was never about that.
It literally can be told as a no-budget movie with a bunch of kids walking and talking. That’s all the book is. The movie shouldn’t cost anywhere above $5 million.
Its about time someone took a shot at this movie. Hehe.
I’ve been waiting a long time for this movie. Hope it turns out well.