Will you walk or die? Stephen King’s first book, The Long Walk, is finally coming to the big screen and fans at San Diego Comic-Con walked into Hall H to get a first look at the film. The crowd enjoyed seeing not just scenes from the movie but also hearing anecdotes from the creators and cast. The panelists discussed that JT Mollner’s screenplay was the catalyst that got the film moving forward after all this time. The novel was originally published in 1979 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, and Mollner let the fans know the story would not be toned down or neutered. The panelists noted that this is a story of friendship, but also brutality and terror. Shot chronologically and often with 30,000 steps a day, this was described as a shared experience for the cast that was bonding.
Of note, cast includes Mark Hamil who plays the villain in this movie. Hamil said “I know this guy. I’ve seen him firsthand” when he was approached for the role of the Major. Hamil grew up in a military family and saw some terrible things in Japanese military drills.
Fans were also treated to the first 20 minutes of the movie which will be released September 12, 2025.
SDCC Panel Descrition:
Master storyteller Stephen King’s first novel finally hits the big screen in The Long Walk, from visionary director Francis Lawrence (‘The Hunger Games’ franchise films) and adapted by screenwriter JT Mollner (‘Strange Darling’). Cast and filmmakers join for an in-depth Q&A session and first look at the intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: How far could you go?
All photo credit to Brian Gray for Horror News Network.
