The Long Walkis set to be one of several exciting Stephen King adaptations releasing in 2025, and the upcoming film is already attracting comparisons toThe Hunger Games. Directed by Francis Lawrence, thebrutal trailer forThe Long Walkseesa group of young men walking while surrounded by a military presence. Any of the contestants who are unable to keep up are killed, and there is the promise of a prize for the last one standing. This calls to mind some comparisons toThe Hunger Games, although there are, surprisingly, even more connections than this.
While it’s already an excellentyear for King adaptations, this new film promises to be uniquely brutal. Originally published in 1979 under King’s pseudonym, Richard Bachman, a film adaptation of the acclaimed novel has been tossed around Hollywood for some time. Filmmakers includingGeorge A. Romero and Frank Darabont were attached at various points. The eventual film, however, has some surprising connections to another popular franchise, especially behind the scenes, that can’t be ignored.
The Long Walk’s Survival Game Immediately Draws Comparisons To The Hunger Games
The New Movie’s Setup Mirrors The Popular Dystopian Franchise
The new trailer forThe Long Walkinvites several comparisons between the new film, which seesMark Hamill as a villain, andThe Hunger Games. Both projects are based on novels andrevolve around twisted games that pit teenagers against one another.In both of these, this deadly game, which promises a significant prize, is enacted by twisted and cruel government forces. This terrifying promise sets up enormous tension in the new film.
Granted, there are manyfilms likeThe Hunger Games, but this upcoming release appears to examine similar themes and ideas. Seeing the strong cast, led by David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman, react even in this short preview creates a powerful setup for the film.The new movie promises to show the charismatic camaraderie between its cast before tracing the devolution in their relationships.As only one young man can survive the ordeal, the film promises to go to some very dark and powerful places.
Stephen King’s book came out 29 years before Suzanne Collins published the first Hunger Games book. King’s novel may not have been a direct influence on Collins' work, but the parallels are still clear.
The similarities betweenThe Long WalkandThe Hunger Gamesin their basic setups are not an example of the new film copying the major movie franchise.King’s book came out 29 years before Suzanne Collins published the firstHunger Gamesbook in 2008. King’s novel may not have been a direct influence on Collins' work, but the parallels are still clear. WithHunger GamesbeatingThe Long Walkto movie theaters, the new film could feel to some like it is attempting to replicate the former’s success.
The Long Walk’s Trailer Openly Acknowledges Its Hunger Games Connection
Francis Lawrence Has Directed Several Installments In The Hunger Games Franchise
The new trailer shows an even greater connection toThe Hunger Gamesin itsfirst look atThe Long Walkasit proudly lists Francis Lawrence as its director. This is presented in big, bold text for the Lionsgate film, acknowledging Lawrence as the director ofThe Hunger Games: Catching Fireand its sequels,The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1andPart 2, as well asThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.The American director also helmedI Am LegendandWater for Elephants.
Lawrence shared in a recent interview withVanity Fairthat he tried to adaptThe Long Walkas early as 2006 but failed, so he signed up to make theHunger Gamesmovies instead.
Lawrence is clearly deeply invested in theHunger Gamesfilms, and will next directThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which is based on anew book about Haymitch’s games. With the director being so immersed in that world, it makes sense that some of his latest work would feel connected to that franchise. As another exploration of children being forced to turn on one another,The Long Walkcould provide a genuinely original look at these already explored ideasfrom a unique vantage point.
By making Lawrence’s history withHunger Gamesknown, it’s apparent that Lionsgate - the studio behind the franchise andThe Long Walk- informs audiences that this new film is coming from someone behind a $3.3 billion franchise. It’s a clever way to potentially entice people who have never read the King book but are entertained by theHunger Gamesseries. Additionally,King adaptations can be a hit or a miss, so having an experienced director in the genre with plenty of franchise success adds confidence toThe Long Walk.
How The Long Walk Will Be Different From The Hunger Games
The Look And Feel Of The New Film Is Significantly Different
Even though the two projects share some similarities,The Long Walklooks starkly different fromThe Hunger Games. While the latter focuses on presentation and broadcast, the King adaptation looks like a much more contained and smaller competition. Rather than being forced to perform on television, this competition forces the boys to walk together. Notably,the boys are not actively trying to kill one another,and there’s even a sense of camaraderie that’s rare in The Hunger Games. Lawrence acknowledged this key difference regarding the characters' dynamic and the impact of the firstLong Walkdeath in aVanity Fairinterview:
Anything that has a contest with death as the stakes and some sort of big prize if you win can be connected in some way. But inThe Hunger Games, everybody’s competing in a very different kind of way. There are alliances and you are trying to kill one another. Here, you’renotactually trying to kill one another. It’s a very different dynamic, in terms of relationships.
I’m, like, ‘I don’t want this to feel likeThe Hunger Games.I’m really only interested in the emotional value of it. You want that impact. He doesn’t seem like he’s going to be the first one to go.
Lawrence has a point concerning how the contestants behave and think differently due to the circumstances. InThe Hunger Games, alliances can help tributes to survive as long as possible, but even those can be temporary once it comes down to the last finalists. In contrast, the King adaptationwill likely illustrate a different psychological impact on the contestant, who would have to endure walking tirelessly on the roads and watching their friends slowly lose their lives when they give up. The trailer has already hinted at this brotherhood, which could take an emotional toll and test their limits.
On the other hand,The Hunger Gamesis about systemic political oppression, and it appears thatThe Long Walkwill examine those same ideas but in different ways. The pervasive power of the dystopian regime appears to be less technological, andthere seems to be a much more natural and rural lookin the new film. However, even the political climate is more low-key and has less significance inThe Long Walk, while the same issue became the catalyst for laterHunger Gamesinstallments, where the oppression and brutality led to a rebellion.
Will The Long Walk Start A Movie Franchise Like The Hunger Games Did?
The Box Office Returns Will Decide
The Long Walkis not likely to start a franchise, but anything is possible.The Hunger Gameswas based on a three-volume book series, andthe first film went on to gross over $694 million at the worldwide box office. That world was more sensationalized and featured a larger cast ofHunger Gamescharactersthat could run through its various interconnected stories.The Long Walkfeels much more isolated than that, and a sequel does not seem like the logical path forward for the franchise.
The Richard Bachman-attributed novel has a dark ending, and the movie likely will too.The setup for the film does not appear to lend itself well to the idea of making sequels.However, even the mostcontroversial sequels likeJoker: Folie à Deuxget made if the first film makes enough money. WhileThe Long Walkdoes not look set to break out and become an enormous global hit, an event like that would certainly provoke Lionsgate to look at possible sequel opportunities, no matter how unnatural they might be.
With the incredible success ofThe Hunger Gamesfranchise, it makes sense that the new film might hope to appeal to some of the same audience.
The Long Walkis already drawing comparisons toThe Hunger Games, and it seems that the new film intends to embrace that. With the incredible success ofThe Hunger Gamesfranchise,it makes sense that the new film might hope to appeal to some of the same audience.How that impacts the new film’s box office remains to be seen, butThe Long Walkpromises to be a dark and intense look at youth and violence when it releases in September.
