The Long Walk: Why David Jonsson thinks Stephen King’s bleakest story will never lose its relevance

The Long Walk is the latest Stephen King adaptation to offer a look into one of his novels. King began writing this book sometime in the late 1960s, and it was published in 1974, the year after the withdrawal from the Vietnam War. So, many readers considered it to be a metaphor for the soldiers from the war who could have died at any given moment.

The comparison doesn't feel too far off either. King's dystopian novel follows a group of young men walking through the streets of the US in the hope of a big reward. However, they risk getting killed if they stop or don't maintain the speed limit. It's an annual game brought to life by a totalitarian regime that feels eerily similar to the authorities in our present-day world.

David Jonsson, the young star from Industry, Rye Lane, and Alien: Romulus, plays Peter McVries, one of the enigmatic participants in this Squid Game-like contest. He recently spoke with Esquire Magazine about his upcoming projects, including The Long Walk. That's when he was asked about the story's relevance to the current reality.

"I knew while I was doing it that this was something that would feel relevant and draw some form of parallel to the world that we’re living in. I knew that was there, but I had no idea how relevant it was going to be. It feels really, really, timely. It’s a people piece, man," Jonsson said.

He further added,

"I think that Stephen King knew that this would always be about the people [versus the state], and as long as we have a state, this story will always be relevant. I think people are really going to feel something, and that’s all you really want when you make movies. I always say, “I’m not political, but the work is.”

David Jonsson spoke about his character and about "carrying the knowledge of death"

The Long Walk centres around this strange annual walking contest, but there's far more to the story than what meets the eye. It's not simply about a do-or-die situation; it's also about finding that intrinsic motivation despite knowing you may not survive by the end of the day. Yet, to keep moving, you must blind yourselves to the possibility of death at the same time.

It's a strange, paradoxical tightrope that the characters in The Long Walk have to walk on to make it till the end. When asked about carrying this "knowledge of death," David Jonsson said,

"That is an awesome question. You’ve just given me butterflies. I think that one thing I found in playing him was [that] he has a certain way of seeing life that’s a bit poetical. Personally, I don’t think it’s pretentious. It’s just naturally poetical, in the way that I imagine a Nick Drake or any kind of amazing musician would think about life. And because of that, I remember really feeling, “Oh, there’s something way bigger than all of us [here].”"

However, he later added,

"I don’t know… I’ve felt that way sometimes, where it’s like, “I’m not even thinking about death, but also I am.” I feel [the presence of death], and it’s, like, two seconds away. And if it is… it is, you know? That’s not morbid. It’s just a weird feeling to talk about. I don’t know if that answers you. I think I’m still picking it apart myself."

More details about The Long Walk

Based on Stephen King's debut novel, The Long Walk is brought back to life with JT Mollner's script and Francis Lawrence's direction. Here's the official plot synopsis for this dystopian thriller:

"Teens participate in a grueling, high-stakes contest where they must continuously walk or be shot by a member of their military escort"

Much like the novel, the film is expected to analyze morality, fate, and youthful optimism through a premise that hits a little too close to home. The film's cast and characters include:

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• David Jonsson as Peter McVries
• Cooper Hoffman as Raymond Garraty
• Tut Nyuot as Arthur Baker
• Ben Wang as Hank Olson
• Charlie Plummer as Gary Barkovitch
• Judy Greer as Ms. Garraty
• Jordan Gonzalez as Richard Harkness
• Mark Hamill as the Major
• Roman Griffin Davis as Thomas Curley
• Joshua Odjick as Collie Parker
• Garrett Wareing as Stebbins
• Izabella Raven
• Josh Hamilton

The Long Walk is slated to be released on September 12, 2025. No streaming details have been provided so far; it will be released in theatres first.

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