This Is Great, But They’ll Never Fking Make This

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Currently, there are five Stephen King adaptations scheduled to debut in 2025, with a possible sixth one on standby for a confirmed release plan. The highly anticipated “The Long Walk,” directed by Francis Lawrence and handled by Lionsgate for production and distribution, wrapped up filming last year. Eager fans have been patiently awaiting an official premiere date. However, the delay has stirred some restlessness among followers, and this anticipation could grow even stronger due to King’s recent remarks about the movie.

This week’s issue of The King Beat features “The Long Walk” as its primary news item. However, accompanying this story are further insights from the author regarding how his interactions with Hollywood and the progression of adaptations have evolved since Brian De Palma directed “Carrie” and Tobe Hooper introduced “Salem’s Lot” to television screens in earlier years. Let’s dive into the rich details!

Stephen King Has Read The Script For The Long Walk, And He Sounds Amazed That It Went Into Production

During my summer interview with filmmaker JT Mollner of “Strange Darling,” I grew even more eager for the release of his Stephen King adaptation, “The Long Walk.” As fans of the novel are aware, it’s a harrowing and brutal tale. When he described his screenplay as intense and unsettling, he emphasized that no compromises were being made in terms of its graphic nature.

The assessment seems to be a common one, as evidenced by Stephen King’s reaction upon reading the script. He found the work so astonishingly good that he couldn’t believe it would ever make it to the screen.

This week on The Kingcast, there was a fresh hour-long chat with the esteemed author, and one of the most intriguing aspects of their conversation revolves around his perspectives on the upcoming movie adaptation of “The Long Walk.” He describes his feelings about the screenplay in a way that mirrors how he felt when he first read Frank Darabont’s script for “The Shawshank Redemption”: while he believed it was excellent, he initially assumed it would never make it to the big screen. In other words, the author shares similar reservations about the movie adaptation of “The Long Walk” as he had for “The Shawshank Redemption” at its inception.

I’m eager to find out how Francis Lawrence, also known as Francis, handled The Long Walk adaptation. After reading JT Mollner’s script, I thought it was fantastic. It reminded me of my feelings when reading the Shawshank Redemption script – I thought it was too good to be made. So, I’m intrigued to discover if they actually produce Mollner’s screenplay, and if they do, I believe it will be fascinating.

Having witnessed the remarkable success of Frank Darabont’s vision brought to life in The Shawshank Redemption, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation as I look forward to the upcoming adaptation of The Long Walk. While it may face high expectations due to its predecessor’s status as a modern classic, I believe there is potential for this film to be an impactful and unforgettable cinematic journey.

In essence, “The Long Walk” – originally published by Stephen King under the pen name Richard Bachman – is a chilling tale of dystopian horror that revolves around a groupp of American teenagers who are chosen to participate in a grueling competition named after itself. The objective: they must keep on walking at a consistent pace until only one teenager remains, as slowing down or stopping earns a warning. If three warnings are collected within an hour by any participant, they are fatally shot by soldiers keeping tabs on their progression.

The entire book presents an unrelenting, action-packed journey without pauses, and numerous filmmakers, including George A. Romero and Frank Darabont among them, have struggled and ultimately failed to bring it to the big screen. Due to its intense subject matter and tone, the story has consistently posed a challenge, but JT Mollner’s script managed to advance further than any previous efforts in adapting it for film.

It’s possible that “The Long Walk” will end up being similar to films such as “Requiem For A Dream” or “The Zone Of Interest,” in the sense that it may be a movie that people only need to watch once, but given my fondness for Stephen King’s writing and the book, I can hardly contain my eagerness to see how the adaptation turns out. The film, featuring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Roman Griffin Davis, Mark Hamill, and Judy Greer, is currently in post-production, so keep an eye on TopMob for updates on the release date as soon as it becomes available.

Stephen King Shares How His Relationship With Adaptations Has Changed Over The Last Half-Century

Stephen King stands unparalleled among contemporary authors whose works have inspired numerous films, with movies based on Philip K. Dick, Agatha Christie, John Grisham, and Nicholas Sparks paling in comparison. His debut novel, Carrie, was swiftly adapted into a film mere two years after its publication, marking the beginning of an uninterrupted stream of adaptations and new seasons of King’s television series that rarely takes a break, with hardly a year passing without at least one new adaptation or season premiere.

Over the past fifty years, how has his involvement with those projects evolved? This topic was brought up during the recent Kingcast interview. The author was questioned about the numerous adaptations scheduled for 2025 – featuring three movies (The Monkey, The Life Of Chuck, and The Running Man) and two TV shows (IT: Welcome To Derry and The Institute) – and he clarified why he now feels detached from all the Hollywood drama. Recalling his early career, he admits that it was more thrilling because it allowed him to support his family financially while also working as a professional writer full-time. King himself stated this.

Indeed, it’s an appealing venture, but unfortunately, it doesn’t provide… To clarify, when I embarked on this journey, my primary concern was establishing a financial buffer between my family and potential hardship. In essence, I went into writing with a clear understanding of the challenges that lay ahead. I am well aware that the majority of published authors struggle to earn a living solely from their writings. That’s the lifestyle I aspired to create.

Moving forward, he mentioned that although he didn’t earn significant income from the box office earnings of Brian De Palma’s “Carrie,” the film had a profound effect on his life in another aspect – book sales. He elaborated that having the movie poster as the cover of a paperback was quite influential, and this is where he noticed the most financial impact due to the adaptation.

When Carrie was added, it significantly boosted the book; no money exchange took place. If you inquire with MGM or United Artists, the current rights holders of Carrie, they’ll admit it didn’t turn a profit… However, there were some creative accounting tactics involved. I received a predetermined sum for the option, and a bit more from… Regrettably, Doubleday, who were somewhat unscrupulous at the time, took nearly half. Nevertheless, they managed to sell the book. They could place a movie cover on the paperback edition, which was quite unusual because paperbacks typically followed the success of hardcovers rather than the other way around. The paperback version regained popularity and made its way onto the bestseller list.

Indeed, it’s not solely about the financial aspect. He further mentioned that the joy he derives from witnessing his work on the screen is immeasurable, and he was overjoyed to see his subsequent novels receive the same level of acclaim that “Carrie” did.

Generally speaking, it’s common knowledge that Stephen King has long been critical of Stanley Kubrick’s interpretation of ‘The Shining’. However, the writer distinctly recalls his initial encounter with the renowned movie director, as he himself stated.

At first, I was eager and thrilled, particularly when Salem’s Lot and The Shining were announced for production. It’s like I hit the jackpot! One morning, my wife entered our room with a peculiar expression, leaving me to wonder if something tragic had happened. But she surprised me by sharing that Stanley Kubrick was on the phone to speak with me. Essentially, in the beginning, these events were incredibly exciting and fresh, much like new beginnings always are.

Labeling Stephen King as disillusioned regarding Hollywood and major studios/networks could be an overstatement; instead, his methodology when it comes to adaptations of his work seems more about separating the creative from the business aspects. He consistently produces new novels or collections annually (at least one), while expressing approval for movie or TV productions he finds appealing, and choosing silence in instances where he disapproves. In such cases where he doesn’t like a production, he prefers to keep his thoughts private.

Over time, I’ve never underestimated my good fortune; I’m deeply appreciative for everything I’ve received. Regarding movies, they and I are on opposite sides, but when I enjoy a film, I express my thoughts openly. I truly believe Life of Chuck is exceptional, I really do. As for the others, I tend to keep quiet about them because, as my mother taught me, if you can’t say something positive, it’s best not to say anything at all.

By 2025, things are off to quite an enthusiastic beginning. Apart from expressing his affection for “The Life Of Chuck” (set to hit theaters on May 30), Stephen King has also shown a great deal of admiration for “The Monkey”. This film, scheduled for release on February 21, has been labeled by the author as “completely insane.

This wraps up this week’s episode of The King Beat. Don’t forget to join me again as I share the latest news about Stephen King here on TopMob, every Thursday moving forward! Keep an eye out for my upcoming column and in the meantime, delve deeper into King’s screen history through my series Adapting Stephen King.

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2025-01-30 20:08