Lionsgate just dropped the first trailer for The Long Walk, a new adaptation of Stephen King‘s 1979 dystopian horror novel (written under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman). Set to hit theaters September 12, the film brings King’s chilling tale to life with an even darker, more intense edge.
Directed by Francis Lawrence, known for his work on The Hunger Games series, The Long Walk is anything but a leisurely stroll.
The film revolves around 100 teenagers who volunteer for an annual walking contest—but with a deadly twist.
The rules? Simple but brutal: keep moving at a pace of at least 4 miles per hour. Slow down or stop for more than 30 seconds, and you get a warning. Get three warnings and you’re out—permanently. And in this deadly contest, “eliminated” means you don’t just lose the game—you lose your life.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the trailer perfectly sets the tone for this high-stakes, psychological horror. With each step, the tension builds as the young contestants are forced to push their limits, all under the watchful eye of the sadistic Major, played by Star Wars legend Mark Hamill.
Alongside Hamill, the film boasts a stellar cast, including Alien: Romulus’ David Jonsson and Licorice Pizza’s Cooper Hoffman. The rest of the ensemble cast features Garrett Wareing (Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists), Charlie Plummer (All the Money in the World), Ben Wang (American Born Chinese), Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit), Joshua Odjick (Wildhood), and Judy Greer (Arrested Development).
Originally penned by King in 1979, The Long Walk has had several filmmakers attached over the years, including horror legends George A. Romero and Frank Darabont. But it’s Lawrence’s turn to bring this deadly, dystopian world to life.
According to Lawrence, this project was a personal passion—The Long Walk has always been one of his favorite King stories, and the timing was finally right for him to dive into this intense material.
Check out the trailer below.
