Stephen King’s ‘The Long Walk’ Movie Gets Release Date & Sinister Trailer

by

Summary

  • The Long Walk‘s release date is set for September 12, 2025, during the fall movie season.
  • The movie features a dark and sinister competition similar to The Hunger Games.
  • The film stars Mark Hamill as a villain and is directed by Francis Lawrence.

Stephen King is often associated with horror literature, and his works have been translated for both big and small screens for many years, with varying levels of achievement. Yet, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, King penned darker tales. Now, one of “Bachman’s” novels, The Long Walk, is making its way to cinemas, and it has been confirmed that it will be released on this specific date.

The screening date for “The Long Walk” coincides perfectly with the autumn cinema schedule, which is typically craved by moviegoers seeking thrilling and chilling films to watch. With its apocalyptic narrative revolving around a menacing contest, “The Long Walk” is expected to captivate fans of The Hunger Games, especially since it’s directed by Francis Lawrence, who also helmed the Hunger Games franchise.

The Long Walk’s Release Date Will Be September 12, 2025

By the specified date, Lionsgate revealed that “The Long Walk” would premiere on September 12th. During CinemaCon, they unveiled a trailer where Lawrence and star Mark Hamill were present. The clip displayed a menacing Hamill, who might not play the Joker anymore but can still excel as an antagonist, firing the initial gunshot to initiate the grueling contest. In this competition, 100 boys are compelled to walk without stopping, with those moving too slowly or unable to progress further being eliminated. “There’s only one winner and no finish line,” Hamill ominously states in the trailer for “The Long Walk.” The actor, known for his roles as both protagonists and antagonists, appeared excited about returning to the dark side (since he might also no longer portray Luke Skywalker), stating “If you can’t be the hero, there’s nothing better than being the villain.” Besides Hamill, the film also features Judy Greer, Cooper Hoffman, Charlie Plummer, and David Jonsson.

Director Francis Lawrence, known for directing films involving children in intense competitions, shared his enthusiasm about taking charge of the Stephen King adaptation, stating it as his favorite book by the author. As he put it, “The idea behind it really captured my interest.” Essentially, one can envision themselves stepping into the shoes of these young characters. Indeed, The Long Walk, a chilling narrative, follows the gradual deterioration of the protagonists’ spirits as they are compelled to continue walking despite their increasing exhaustion and disillusionment. Interestingly, this novel was penned under King’s pseudonym, and in the afterword to his short story collection Full Dark, No Stars, King revealed that it was the very first book he ever wrote.

Interestingly, not just The Long Walk will see an adaptation this year; another Stephen King/Richard Bachman work, The Running Man, is set to release on November 21, 2025. This film, like The Long Walk, features a futuristic competition where one man is pursued for entertainment but can win money by surviving. First adapted in 1987, Edgar Wright’s new version aims to stay true to the original material, with Glen Powell taking on the lead role. Apart from this, The Life of Chuck, directed by Mike Flanagan following his work on Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep, is also due for release this year. Unlike a horror movie, The Life of Chuck, based on one of King’s short stories, offers a more philosophical exploration of an individual’s life and its impact on the universe as a whole. As such, it appears that 2025 is gearing up to be an exciting year for fans of Stephen King.

The Long Walk will premiere in theaters on September 12, 2025.

Read More

2025-04-02 23:14