This week, we lace up our shoes, don our watch, accept our dog tags, and begin The Long Walk, the 2025 dystopian survival thriller directed by Francis Lawrence, starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Judy Greer and Mark Hamill. Fifty boys. One rule: don’t stop walking. If you slow… you die. Does this adaptation of Stephen King’s early novel earn its place, or is it just step into mediocrity at a medium pace?
#TheLongWalk #FrancisLawrence #StephenKing #FlickFlopsPodcast #DystopianMovie #SurvivalThriller #TeenHorror #MarkHamill #CooperHoffman #DavidJonsson #JudyGreer #RomanGriffinDavis #CharliePlummer #WalkingContestMovie #AdaptationMovie
Release Details
Title: The Long Walk
Year: 2025
Director: Francis Lawrence
Writer(s): JT Mollner (screenplay)
Top-Billed Stars:
• Cooper Hoffman
• David Jonsson
• Garrett Wareing
• Tut Nyuot
• Charlie Plummer
• Ben Wang
• Roman Griffin Davis
• Josh Hamilton
• Judy Greer
• Mark Hamill
Running Time: 108 minutes
Country of Origin: United States
Official Release Date(s):
• United States: September 12, 2025
• (Some other territories: e.g., Portugal Sept 11, Brazil Sept 18)
Background & Interesting Details
• The film is adapted from the 1979 novel The Long Walk by Stephen King (written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman).
• The adaptation faced a long development history: as early as 1988 director George A. Romero was considered. Later, in 2007, director Frank Darabont optioned it.
• Principal photography began July 24, 2024 in Winnipeg (Canada) and wrapped September 12, 2024.
• The film was shot chronologically, an uncommon approach meant to deepen the performers’ experience of the gradual physical and emotional decline.
• According to interviews, cast and crew logged 8-15 miles of walking per day (≈25,000-30,000 steps) during production, underscoring the physical demands of the film.
• The score was composed by Jeremiah Fraites (of The Lumineers fame) and includes an original country-ballad song “Took a Walk”.
• Visually and thematically, many reviewers compare the film’s tone to high-stakes dystopian contests (e.g., who will survive) and comment on its stark, relentless pacing. For example, one Guardian review calls it “surely one of the grimmest mainstream movies we’ve had for some time”.
• Criticisms include that the world-building is minimal and the premise thin, leaving viewers to fill in large gaps.
• The film is distributed by Lionsgate.
Other Projects (Director / Writer / Main Leads)
• Francis Lawrence: Known for The Hunger Games films (Catching Fire, Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2), I Am Legend, Constantine.
• JT Mollner: Screenwriter/director (less high-profile than the director, but notable for writing The Long Walk).
• Cooper Hoffman: Son of Philip Seymour Hoffman; breakout role in Licorice Pizza (2021) among others.
• David Jonsson: British actor; prior credits include The Underground Railroad (TV), The Rig (TV).
• Garrett Wareing: Younger actor; credits include Top Gun: Maverick (supporting) and Prey for the Devil (2022).
• Tut Nyuot: Emerging actor; less high-profile but part of ensemble.
• Charlie Plummer: Known for Lean on Pete (2017), All the Money in the World (2017).
• Ben Wang: Actor with roles in TV/film; earlier works lesser known.
• Roman Griffin Davis: Gained acclaim for Jojo Rabbit (2019).
• Judy Greer: Veteran actress; known for 13 Going on 30, Jurassic World, many supporting roles.
• Mark...
