Francis Lawrence To Direct Adaptation Of Stephen King’s The Long Walk

Lionsgate has found a director for their adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk. THR reports that Lionsgate has acquired the rights to the film with Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) in final talks to helm the movie. J.T. Mollner will write the screenplay for the film.

The novella is one of King’s famous “Bachman Books.” The novel was the first King ever wrote, though it was not published until 1979 when he published it under his pseudonym. It is set in a dystopian world in which America is ruled by a totalitarian regime and a walking contest is held annually where 100 teen boys must keep walking at least four miles an hour without rest, and those who fall behind more than three times are killed. The last boy standing wins whatever he wants for the rest of his life.

There have been a number of attempts to bring the film to the screen over the years, but they’ve never come to fruition. New Line was last set to produce the film before Lionsgate, with André Øvredal set to direct at the time.