David Jonsson Stars in Stephen King’s “The Long Walk” Adaptation

Lionsgate has released the first trailer for “The Long Walk,” the highly-anticipated screen adaptation of Stephen King’s 1979 horror novel of the same name. BAFTA Rising Star awardee David Jonsson (“Rye Lane,” “Alien: Romulus”) leads the cast in this harrowing tale set in future America.

The film follows a group of young men who participate in a deadly marathon competition with no finish line. Each contestant must maintain a pace faster than three miles per hour without stopping or face lethal elimination. Only the last person alive will earn the ultimate prize.

Jonsson stars alongside Cooper Hoffman (“Licorice Pizza”) and veteran actor Mark Hamill (“The Life of Chuck”). The impressive ensemble cast also features Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, and Judy Greer.

“The Long Walk” holds a special significance in King’s bibliography as the first novel he ever penned, originally published under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

The film adaptation is directed by Francis Lawrence, known for his work in “The Hunger Games” franchise, with a screenplay by JT Mollner.

Lionsgate adds to its strong 2025 lineup with “The Long Walk” debuting in theaters on September 12. The release follows The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow” (May 16) and the John Wick spin-off “Ballerina” (June 6).​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Watch the trailer for “The Long Walk” here.