Stephen King Adaptations ‘the Long Walk‘ and ‘The Running Man’ Head to Theaters – Which One Should You See?
Two Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) novels are being adapted for the big screen, offering fans a choice between dystopian endurance challenges. ‘The Long Walk,’ directed by Matt Lawrence, and ‘The running Man,’ helmed by Edgar Wright, both arrive in 2025, presenting distinct tones and approaches to their source material.
‘The Long Walk’ follows a group of one hundred teenage boys competing in a walking contest where the last man standing wins a lifetime of luxury. The film reportedly makes critical changes to the novel’s ending, maintaining its bleakness while adapting it for the screen.
‘The Running Man,’ a story of a desperate man participating in a televised death match, boasts a cast including Glen Powell as the lead, Lee Pace as a key antagonist, and josh Brolin as a producer and overarching villain. Colman Domingo will portray the TV host. The original 1987 film concluded with a relatively optimistic, though ultimately unsatisfying, ending. Wright faces the challenge of adapting the novel’s more destructive finale – a plane crashing into a skyscraper - in a post-9/11 world, potentially landing on a middle ground or forging a new path.
Both Bachman novels are known for their nihilistic themes. ‘The Long walk’ ends with a solitary, psychologically scarred victor. ‘The Running Man’ originally concluded with the protagonist destroying the network headquarters but sacrificing his life.
Ultimately, the choice between the two films may come down to preference: ‘The Long Walk’ offers a slower, more purposeful pace, while ‘The Running Man’ promises a faster, more action-packed experience. Both represent a strong moment for fans of King/Bachman’s work, alongside other recent adaptations like ‘Christine.’
