Stephen King’s “The Long Walk” Film Sparks Controversy with Brutal Mandate

Los Angeles, August 31, 2025 - An explosive revelation about the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1979 novel The Long Walk dominated entertainment headlines today, as the author insisted on retaining the novel’s graphic violence in the movie.

In an exclusive report, Yahoo Movies revealed that King agreed to the film adaptation only on the condition that it “show kids getting shot,” ensuring the brutal essence of his dystopian tale remained intact. The article quotes King’s adamant stance: “It had to be bloody,” underscoring his commitment to an unflinching portrayal of the story’s lethal endurance contest.

Meanwhile, Sportskeeda published an in-depth feature confirming that the film remains a faithful adaptation of King’s original work, rather than drawing on real-world events. The article clarifies that while the novel’s premise-a televised walking contest with fatal consequences-may sound unbelievable, it is purely fictional, crafted under King’s Richard Bachman pseudonym and now faithfully translated to screen.

Adding to the buzz, insiders at Lionsgate’s CinemaCon presentation revealed that Francis Lawrence’s film will be rated R to preserve the psychological and physical intensity of the story. The director emphasized that viewers must “feel the degradation emotionally, psychologically, physically,” validating King’s insistence on raw, unfiltered violence.

The Long Walk, starring Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, officially hits theaters on September 12, 2025.