Summary
The Long Walkstar David Jonsson has revealed how far he actually has to walk each day on set. The upcoming Francis Lawrence movie, based on the 1979 Stephen King novel of the same name written as Richard Bachman, is set in a dystopian world where 100 teenage boys are forced into an annual contest where they must keep walking down U.S. Route 1 - or die - until only one is left standing. The cast ofThe Long Walkmoviealso includes Cooper Hoffman, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Mark Hamill, and Judy Greer.
GQsat down for an interview with David Jonsson while he was promoting his new movieAlien: Romulus. During their conversation, the topic turned toThe Long Walk, and he shared some insight into how “beautifully brutal” the process of filming the Stephen King adaptation has been. He shared that he thinks that the Francis Lawrence movie is “really going to be something,” though it is an arduous shoot wherehe is “kind ofliving in this log cabin” and walking “14 miles a day"by his count. Read Jonsson’s full quote below:
It’s a brilliant story, man. I’m working with Francis Lawrence, who did I Am Legend, The Hunger Games; we’re shooting this dystopian tale of endurance and brutality, which is partially why I’m kind of living in this log cabin and walking 14 miles a day. It’s kind of brutal, but I think it’s really going to be something… beautifully brutal.
The Brutal On-Set Experience Could Enhance The Long Walk
The Stephen King Movie May Benefit From Ample Real-Life Walking
It makes sense that shooting scenes in theupcoming Stephen King moviewould be brutal. The nature of the story ofThe Long Walkis that its characters are constantly in motion, which wouldrequire the main actors and supporting teenage cast to be walking in nearly every shot. Additionally, when shots are being reset, they would have to return to their starting positions and begin again, though there are likely many amenities that offer opportunities for the stars to recuperate during the grueling shoot, including golf carts to return them to their marks after long takes.
This could make it one of the most memorable Stephen King movies of the modern era, even during a time when there has been a wealth of prominent adaptations.
Ultimately,this approach could benefit the movie considerably, especially if it is being shot in sequence, beginning at the start of the contest and concluding toward its grisly finale. With the actors genuinely walking for so much of their shooting day, the physical exertion will become apparent onscreen, highlighting the tension of the movie, especially as the competition reaches a boiling point. If the movie takes after the originalStephen King book, it will explore how the characters' moral frameworks are worn down after so much physical and emotional exhaustion, so a physical reflection of that theme could become invaluable.
Principal photography onThe Long Walkbegan on July 24 and is set to wrap on September 12.
Despite the simplicity of its premise, the genuine, practical nature of the wayThe Long Walkis brought to life will likely drive home its brutality even more than if it was full of splashy special effects. This could make it one of the most memorable Stephen King movies of the modern era, even during a time when there has been a wealth of prominent adaptations including theItduology,Doctor Sleep,Gerald’s Game, andThe Outsider.
The Long Walk
Cast
Adapted from Stephen King’s first novel, The Long Walk follows 100 teenage boys forced into a walking contest at four miles per hour or face lethal consequences.
