“The Long Walk”, a dystopian novella written by Stephen King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, has been a subject of interest for potential filmmakers, but the story’s unique focus on psychological conflict and its rule against violent harm poses challenges for adaptation.
The story takes place in a future, authoritarian America where 100 male teenagers are selected to participate in a “Long Walk”, a physical endurance test where contestants must walk non-stop. The tale follows Ray Garraty, a 16-year-old walker, as he meets various walkers throughout his journey. King’s novella doesn’t go into the backstory of the dystopian world, leaving it to the reader’s imagination, which could work well in an adaptation.
Stephen King (Via IMDB)
One peculiar aspect of the story is the rule preventing contestants from harming each other. This rule, which is also a focal point in the story, makes the narrative both internal and “art house.” The horror in the story stems from witnessing children befriend each other only to face the cruel instinct to help each other survive. This unique aspect is a significant part of what makes the story feel “unfilmable”. As such, an adaptation would need to carefully balance the focus on internal conflict.
Stephen King is no stranger to having multiple projects in the works at once. His next publication, “You Like It Darker”, set to release on May 21, features 12 short tales, some of which have never been seen by the public. Despite the challenges in adapting “The Long Walk”, the potential for a cinematic adaptation remains, pending the right approach and execution.
