The Long Walk

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Experience one of Hollywood’s thrilling weeks! The yearly CinemaCon, taking place in Las Vegas and catering to movie theater owners since Monday, is a spectacle that’s particularly captivating for Stephen King enthusiasts like me, given the jam-packed schedule of adaptations slated for 2025. Regrettably, no updates have been shared about the small screen projects such as IT: Welcome To Derry and The Institute. However, I’ve had the pleasure of watching some truly exhilarating previews for upcoming big-screen projects, and I can’t wait to delve into them in this week’s The King Beat.

In this week’s article, I’ll be sharing what happened at CinemaCon, kicking things off with an exclusive sneak peek of The Long Walk presented by Lionsgate. But there’s plenty more where that came from! Let’s dive right in!

The Long Walk Trailer Makes The Movie Look Just Like The Book, And It Dropped My Jaw

I find it unsurprising that Stephen King’s The Long Walk hasn’t been adapted yet, and I imagine most readers share this sentiment. A major challenge lies in the structure of the story, as it mainly consists of characters walking along a road for nearly the entire book. However, what makes it truly difficult to adapt is its brutality – a brutality that’s not just intense but downright severe. It seems unlikely that any attempt to turn it into a film wouldn’t involve a studio or filmmakers trying to tone down the material and make it more acceptable for general audiences.

After observing the progress of director Francis Lawrence’s movie “The Long Walk” over the past year, a worry I’ve had simmering at the back of my mind has been put to rest following this week’s CinemaCon screening. Now, I find myself bracing for what promises to be an intensely suspenseful and emotionally charged film that could very well be among the most impactful movies hitting theaters in 2025.

In an electrifying turn of events during the Lionsgate showcase at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Tuesday morning, I was among the privileged few who witnessed the unveiling of the first trailer for “The Long Walk.” The footage that unfolded before us began with a soothing ambiance, featuring gentle acoustic guitar melodies, captivating shots of characters leisurely strolling along a serene countryside path, and an initial exchange where Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) and the other participants in the titular contest introduced themselves. The atmosphere was filled with smiles, camaraderie, and aspirations to inspire the nation, as well as anticipation about the lucrative prize money. However, the mood soon shifted dramatically. When one of the teenagers experienced a debilitating cramp and fell behind, he received three stern warnings over a loudspeaker. Tragically, when he couldn’t recover, soldiers emerged, pointed their rifles at him, and ended his life. Though Ray appeared horrified, he was unable to look back.

Mark Hamill’s character, The Major, lays out the fundamental rules for the competition: they must walk at a steady pace of three miles per hour or face elimination. He also alerts the participants about the potential hazards they will encounter, hinting that despite their efforts to push themselves to the limit, some may experience emotional or physical breakdowns. The term “Warning” is recurrently heard in the background music as clips showcase attempts of escape, swollen and bleeding feet, exhausted expressions, and a child experiencing a seizure. Boldly, The Major states that “There is only one winner and no end to this race.

As a cinephile, I must say, the cinematography in this film brilliantly captured the bond shared among the characters and the nail-biting intensity of their competition – it felt as if I was seated right there at The Colosseum, tension mounting with each passing moment. If ‘The Long Walk’ lives up to its promising trailer, it could very well become one of Stephen King’s most emotionally charged adaptations yet.

We won’t have to wait too much longer to witness it! On Stephen King’s upcoming film schedule, “The Long Walk” is slated for a theater release on September 12, 2025. It falls between Mike Flanagan’s “The Life Of Chuck,” which is due out this June, and Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man,” set for November. The star-studded cast includes David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer, Cooper Hoffman, and Mark Hamill.

Get Ready For Some Updates About The Running Man Later Today At CinemaCon

In this week’s edition of The King Beat, I’d like to shift gears slightly and provide you with an advanced notice about upcoming events instead of the usual roundup of Stephen King-related news from the past seven days.

On Tuesday, Lionsgate presented its CinemaCon event, but today, April 3rd, reps from Paramount Pictures are scheduled to appear on The Colosseum stage at Caesars Palace. It’s certain that we will receive a sneak peek of Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” ahead of schedule.

As I compose this text, I can’t definitively predict what the upcoming Stephen King thriller adaptation will entail. However, it is verified that Edgar Wright, along with stars Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, and Colman Domingo, are currently in Las Vegas. Since they are there, we can guess that they will be ready to showcase their work on the project. Given that filming has been wrapped up, it’s reasonable to anticipate some sneak peeks – whether it’s just a trailer or even a glimpse of an entire scene from the movie.

Much like “The Long Walk,” “The Running Man” is a gripping tale that was initially penned under Stephen King’s pseudonym, Richard Bachman. This book, in my opinion, is one of his less-acknowledged masterpieces. The story revolves around a man named Ben Richards who finds himself living in a dystopian United States, where desperation has driven him to the brink. Desperate for medicine to save his ailing child, he makes a fateful decision: to participate in one of the country’s dangerous state-sanctioned game shows. His luck turns when he gets chosen for the wildly popular program “The Running Man.” In this high-stakes game, Ben essentially becomes public enemy number one in America. The longer he can evade a team of ruthless, trained killers who are hot on his trail across the country, the more money he earns for his family.

The upcoming movie is expected to offer a far truer representation of its original content compared to the 1987 film featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger (widely regarded as one of Stephen King’s least faithful adaptations). Beyond the previously mentioned actors, the impressive cast also includes Katy O’Brian, Daniel Ezra, Karl Glusman, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, William H. Macy, David Zayas, Sean Hayes, and others.

Since the film “The Running Man” isn’t scheduled to hit theaters until November 7, it’s not very likely that any footage shown at CinemaCon will leak online. However, keep an eye out for my coverage of the Paramount Presentation here on TopMob later today!

A Limited Edition Dead Zone Steelbook Is Available For Pre-Order, And It’s A Thing Of Beauty

For devoted Stephen King enthusiasts and collectors of physical media, Scream Factory has been a reliable companion. This specialized home video company has put out numerous high-quality 4K UHDs and Blu-rays throughout the years, ranging from timeless hits like Carrie, Firestarter and Creepshow to lesser-known titles such as Sleepwalkers, Tales From The Darkside: The Movie and Thinner. They excel at restorations, and their Collector’s Editions are packed with special features. What sets them apart, though, is the attention they pay to packaging details, as demonstrated by the recent Steelbook release of David Cronenberg’s The Dead Zone, now available for pre-order.

Initially, Scream Factory released a 4K UHD of “The Dead Zone” in December 2023. The initial edition came with a slipcover resembling the classic poster and reversible interior artwork. However, collectors now have an opportunity to enhance their collection with an Amazon exclusive Steelbook version. To be transparent, it’s on the pricier side (currently $44.98), but it’s worth it as it showcases original cover art not found in the initial release.

Below, I invite you to visualize the interior design as images are currently not accessible.

Drawing inspiration from Stephen King’s 1979 novel titled “The Dead Zone“, this film stars Christopher Walken as Johnny Smith – a cherished high school teacher who slips into a coma lasting several years after a severe car accident. Upon regaining consciousness, he finds himself endowed with an extraordinary talent: when he touches a person or a significant item, he is bombarded with vivid psychic visions. Over four decades since its initial release, this movie is still celebrated as one of the finest King adaptations, and if you don’t already own it in your home video library, now would be an ideal time to acquire the most impressive version ever released on home media.

This concludes today’s episode of The King Beat. Since there’s always something fresh happening in the realm of Stephen King, I’ll return here on TopMob next Thursday with a new installment brimming with latest updates. Until then, delve into the rich history of King adaptations through my series titled “Adapting Stephen King.

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2025-04-03 17:11