‘The Long Walk’ Trailer: Cooper Hoffman Faces Deadly Game in Stephen King Adaptation

‘The Long Walk’ debut trailer has finally been released online, and it’s just as dramatic and eerie as readers of Stephen King’s terrifying 1979 book might anticipate.

 The teaser, which was released by Lionsgate, depicts a future society in which 100 young males are entered into a cruel competition with the sole, bleak directive to continue walking at three miles per hour without stopping—or perish trying.  Cooper Hoffman, who plays Ray Garratty, one of the unfortunate participants in this arduous march, is at the heart of the movie.

David Jonsson, who plays fellow walker McVries, joins Hoffman.  The ‘The Long Walk’ trailer reveals that television crews and armed soldiers, under the command of a terrifying character known only as the Major—played by none other than Mark Hamill—are keeping a careful eye on the two and their fellow contenders.  Early on, a child stumbles and falls behind, making the stakes frighteningly obvious.  He is immediately put to death after only three warnings.

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 ‘The Long Walk’, which takes place in a near-future America that has been transformed into a police state, is based on King’s early writings from his undergraduate years.  In this desolate planet, winning the competition entitles you to everything you want for the rest of your life.  However, the odds are fatal because just one survivor is permitted.

‘The Long Walk’, which is described as a dramatic and emotional thriller, challenges viewers to consider the terrifying question of how far one could go in order to survive.

 Francis Lawrence, who is best known for making ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise a reality, directed this adaptation, which maintains the apocalyptic tone of the book while adding a cinematic level of tension.  According to early previews, the screenplay, written by J.T. Mollner (‘Strange Darling’), is a realistic yet visceral portrayal of one of King’s worst ideas.

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Ben Wang (‘Karate Kid: Legends’), Charlie Plummer, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Odjick, Josh Hamilton, and Judy Greer are just a few of the talented and up-and-coming actors that make up ‘The Long Walk’s cast.  ‘The Life of Chuck’ is scheduled to premiere soon after, making this the second consecutive Stephen King adaptation in Hamill’s career.

 On 12th September, ‘The Long Walk’ will burst into theatres, challenging viewers to follow up with a narrative in which survival is the ultimate goal and slowing down is not an option.

–Farheen Ali