We’re within the midst of one of many largest years of all time for brand new Stephen King variations. In February, audiences have been delighted to expertise the insanity of Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey; Mike Flanagan’s The Life Of Chuck and Edgar Wright’s The Operating Man are each set to hit theaters within the coming months; and on the small display screen, each HBO’s IT: Welcome To Derry and MGM+’s The Institute are set to premiere earlier than December. That’s a hell of quite a bit, however now the slate has gotten much more thrilling with the addition of Francis Lawrence’s The Lengthy Stroll.
Lionsgate hosted its presentation this morning at CinemaCon – the annual Las Vegas-based conference for theater house owners – and among the many superior information shared is that The Lengthy Stroll, primarily based on the e-book of the identical title, goes to reach in theaters in all places on September 12. The movie accomplished manufacturing final yr and Stephen King followers have spent months ready for launch date information, so this can be a terrifically thrilling improvement. It ought to be one hell of a hardcore cinematic expertise.
Initially printed underneath Stephen King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Lengthy Stroll is a dystopian novel that facilities on a grueling, lethal competitors. Youngsters from across the nation collect as contributors within the contest – which is basically a demise march. Strolling alongside a protracted stretch of freeway, they must spend days strolling at a relentless tempo. In the event that they decelerate or cease, they get a warning, and in the event that they get three warnings inside an hour (or attempt to escape), they’re shot lifeless by troopers. The final child standing wins the prize of their goals.
JT Mollner, who wrote and directed the critically acclaimed horror movie Unusual Darling in 2024, wrote the screenplay, and the spectacular ensemble forged of The Lengthy Stroll consists of Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, with Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.
The brand new launch date for the thriller places it on the discharge calendar between The Life Of Chuck (which shall be launched by Neon in the summertime) and The Operating Man, which shall be in theaters on November 7.
The Lengthy Stroll ought to be one hell of a factor to witness on the large display screen, as that is an adaptation that many filmmakers have tried and didn’t make – together with legends George A. Romero and Frank Darabont. When Stephen King learn the script, his response was. “That is nice, however they’ll by no means fucking make this,” however Lionsgate gave it the inexperienced gentle. JT Mollner has promised that the movie received’t be pulling any punches from the horrifying supply materials and has described it as a “disturbing and considerably controversial film.” I’m past excited to see it.
That is simply one of many thrilling bits of reports to come back out of the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon, and CinemaBlend is on the bottom overlaying the occasion all week. Be looking out for extra information and updates in regards to the 2025 film launch schedule, and for all the newest developments on the planet of Stephen King, remember to try my weekly column The King Beat, which matches dwell right here on the location each Thursday.