There’s a slew of upcoming Stephen King initiatives heading to the 2025 launch schedule. The one I believed I used to be most excited for was the tonally intriguing Edgar Wright film The Working Man with Glen Powell (and Michael Cera wreaking havoc with a water gun within the trailer). That every one modified after I caught the trailer for The Lengthy Stroll. I truthfully can’t get by it with out shedding my s–t, and I’m frightened of what’s coming when the film hits the massive display screen.
The Lengthy Stroll Trailer Has Wrecked Me Repeatedly Now.
I’ve seen The Lengthy Stroll trailer 3 times now. As soon as, I screened it early whereas sitting subsequent to a slew of journalists at Lionsgate’s CinemaCon 2025 presentation. Regardless of the skilled setting, I cried. As soon as, I noticed it forward of a viewing of F1 and as soon as I’ve now watched it on my pc. Each single time I’ve had a visceral response to the fabric. My eyes effectively up, but I can’t tear them away from the display screen. My abdomen churns and my legs really feel like jelly. I’m actually horrified, and but really feel glued to my seat on the identical time. If that was the intention, the film has already succeeded.
The Lengthy Stroll follows a gaggle of children all strolling an indeterminate distance for life-changing prize cash. Solely there’s one hitch: in case you fall behind, you die. We’ve seen a scene the place the entire youngsters strolling appear to be spurring each other on. Nevertheless, one younger man is falling behind. A crack of a gun is heard. There’s one other second when one younger man’s shoe comes unfastened and he is struggling to get it again on earlier than issues take a severe flip.
Each time I see the unfastened shoe, I’m internally screaming, ‘Rise up! Rise up!’ I’ve even dreamt about it. I’ve seen sub-five minutes of this film to this point, and I already really feel scarred for all times.
The Lengthy Stroll Supply Materials Is So Robust It Took A Lengthy Time For The Film To Get Made
The event of the flick has been a very long time coming. We’ve beforehand explored the historical past of the movie coming collectively in our The Lengthy Stroll information, and varied voices concerned have defined how this film felt insurmountable and utterly unmakeable for years. At one level within the ‘80s, George Romero was reportedly connected. Frank Darabont held the rights for some time. André Øvredal was presupposed to make it in 2019, however the venture was dropped and we weren’t bullish it could ever transfer ahead.
Fifteen years in the past or so, dystopian fiction additionally got here to the forefront with content material like The Strolling Useless, The Starvation Video games and even well-liked initiatives like Divergent. Nonetheless, The Lengthy Stroll was not made.
We’ve coated this story earlier than on CinemaBlend. How a part of the issue appears to have been merely making a film about youngsters trudging on and on for days. How a part of the issue was the topic materials, as JT Pollner, who wrote the film, has referred to as it “disturbing and considerably controversial.” How one other drawback with The Lengthy Stroll was merely how a lot strolling the forged needed to do to really movie the film. The forged advised us that to be able to have comparable surroundings, they’d stroll one route time and again at ¾ of a mile per take.
Whomever was in control of continuity on this film, I salute you. However I additionally salute the younger males, who confirmed they walked over 300 miles through the making of The Lengthy Stroll.
I discussed how this flick has actually been sticking with me to my co-worker Eric Eisenberg, who additionally occurs to be CinemaBlend’s Stephen King professional. Which means, sure, he’s learn the 1979 supply materials the film will probably be primarily based on, and he advised me even he’s “flabbergasted” The Lengthy Stroll obtained made. I haven’t learn the guide, and I don’t know its ending, however I get the impression I’m going to have an actual gut-punch coming.
Plus, it strikes me that if I’m that emotional this early in, there’s solely going to be extra toil to return. If I can’t even deal with three minutes of this movie, how am I presupposed to get by the movie’s 108-minute runtime?
I’d say deliver it on, Stephen King, however truthfully, I’m too traumatized to confidently try this. The Lengthy Stroll will probably be right here to break our days on September twelfth.