Director Promises THE LONG WALK Feature Film Will Honor Stephen King’s Novel
It’s been about a month since we reported that Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark director André Øvredal has been tapped by New Line to helm a feature film adaptation of The Long Walk, based on the novel by Stephen King (written under the pseudonym, Richard Bachman). Øvredal recently sat down with Michael Gingold at Rue Morgue, where the filmmaker discussed the upcoming project extensively.
Related Article: SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK Director to Helm Adaptation of Stephen King’s THE LONG WALK
A script has been penned by James Vanderbilt; Øvredal states King has read it and really likes it. He also explains how he came on board.
“Vanderbilt wrote the script on spec because he loved the book so much, even though he didn’t have the rights to it. When Frank Darabont’s rights expired, he and his producing partner Brad Fischer immediately snapped it up. King, from what I gather, already loved his adaptation, and then they spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to get the movie made. It went through various directors, I think; I’m not quite familiar with the whole process. Then New Line took it on, and suddenly, it’s got momentum.”
He continues:
“When I read the script, which is so close to the book – it really honors what King wrote in a beautiful way – I felt like I had told the story [in my short film The Tunnel], but in a different way, which connected to the idea of being on a journey you cannot stop. It’s an unstoppable journey, and the only way out is death, really.”
You can read the interview in its entirity, HERE.
We don’t have any casting information or a target release date for The Long Walk at this time, but we’ll bring you updates as they are announced. Stay tuned and check back often. Read the synopsis for King’s novel below.
Synopsis:
Against the wishes of his mother, sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual grueling match of stamina and wits known as The Long Walk. One hundred boys must keep a steady pace of four miles per hour without ever stopping…with the winner being awarded “The Prize”—anything he wants for the rest of his life. But, as part of this national tournament that sweeps through a dystopian America year after year, there are some harsh rules that Garraty and ninety-nine others must adhere to in order to beat out the rest. There is no finish line—the winner is the last man standing. Contestants cannot receive any outside aid whatsoever. Slow down under the speed limit and you’re given a warning. Three warnings and you’re out of the game—permanently…
Have you read The Long Walk by Stephen King? Are you excited to check out the feature film adaptation directed by André Øvredal? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
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