In case you thought creator Stephen King was good at weaving a darkish and dreary story, it is best to take a look at the works of his darkish half, Richard Bachman. The pseudonym King penned a few of his grittier tales with, two of “the Bachman Books” have been tailored for the street of 2025 films forward. This September’s The Lengthy Stroll is the sooner entry of the 2, and from the seems of its earlier trailer, it already appeared like a dour affair.
So go away it to the oldsters at Lionsgate’s advertising division to say, “Maintain my pen,” and drop what seems like an much more miserable reel throughout its San Diego Comedian Con panel. In premise alone, The Lengthy Stroll is heartbreaking, as a pack of youths who volunteer for the titular competitors have however two decisions: stroll or die. Nevertheless, this trailer reveals the really tragic journey that lies forward.
Among the many solid of opponents are Saturday Night time’s Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, recent off of his spectacular position in final summer season’s Alien: Romulus. And therein lies my new emotional ache level with this upcoming Stephen King film; one which’s impressed each my and frequent King adapter Mike Flanagan’s curiosity.
As you see in each trailers, protagonist Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) and new pal Peter McVries (David Jonsson) appear to be bonding collectively within the face of this darkness. Nevertheless, this new trailer introduces what seems like a wrinkle in these plans.
Not solely does Peter lay down the rule that “it is best to by no means make buddies on The Lengthy Stroll,” he’s additionally proven actively befriending and guiding Raymond by means of his quest to win. Which solely makes this line from Cooper Hoffman’s character much more panic-inducing:
No person desires it greater than me. That is my likelihood to alter issues.
What follows that bombshell of a line are fast snippets of harrowing imagery – one such second being David Jonsson screaming in anguish. Whether or not it’s as a result of Raymond Garraty sacrifices himself or betrays Peter McVries in his personal favor, The Lengthy Stroll seems prefer it’s principally Stephen King’s model of The Fox and the Hound.
After all, the large distinction is the truth that this novel is constructed on a potent allegory of the Vietnam Warfare. So yeah, not precisely doing the tear ducts any favors when imagining Copper and Tod in the midst of a battlefield.
Additionally, with CinemaBlend’s resident King Beat correspondent Eric Eisenberg’s “flabergasted” disbelief that The Lengthy Stroll was even made, it sort of seems like your older sibling making an attempt to warn you concerning the darkness forward. That declare is doubly applicable when studying how Mr. Eisenberg feels that this might be 2025’s most hardcore Stephen King adaptation.
That is applicable, contemplating that I’ve by no means learn The Lengthy Stroll. I absolutely intend to take action with a purpose to additional my crash course in King. After all, the query is, do I digest this tragic tome earlier than the cinematic adaptation’s September twelfth launch date, or wait to expertise this potential heartbreak recent within the cinema? That query is for Stephen King, and solely Stephen King to reply – simply because I wish to see if he is really studying.