After scaring up over $700 million with last year’s IT, New Line Cinema is diving back into Stephen King’s library of literary horrors with an adaptation of The Long Walk, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The novel, originally written around 1966-67 but not published until 1979, was not the first King novel but was the first issued under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. The story follows a group of teenage contestants in dystopian future America who must journey in a non-stop, grueling competition where they are forced to walk under certain rules and restrictions until one is left standing.
New Line is teaming up with screenwriter James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man) to pen the adaptation and also produce. Vanderbilt also recently wrote and directed the 2015 drama Truth. The big-screen rights were initially held for years by Frank Darabont, who is well-known for bringing previous King works to life, including The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and The Mist. Longtime The Long Walk fan Vanderbilt had coveted the project for years, even writing a version on spec, until the Darabont rights finally lapsed and he rushed to take it on.
Bradley Fischer and William Sherak will produce alongside Vanderbilt via their company Mythology Entertainment. The production company currently has three upcoming horror projects set to release this year, including Slender Man that is set to hit theaters August 24, The House with a Clock in Its Walls releasing September 21, and the Suspiria remake set for a fall release.
Are you excited for one of the oldest Stephen King works to finally make its way to the big screen? Let us know in the comments below!
