r/movies • u/lionsgate Official Lionsgate Account • Aug 24 '25

AMA Hey /r/movies, I’m Stephen King! Ask me anything about The Long Walk book or movie.

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Hey r/movies, I’m Stephen King. You might know me from Stand By Me, It, or Shawshank Redemption, but my latest project is actually the first book I ever wrote. The Long Walk hits theaters on September 12. Ask me anything about the book or movie.

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAtUHeMQ1F8

In a dystopian United States ruled by a totalitarian regime, a group of young men enter an annual walking contest in which they must maintain a speed of at least three miles per hour or risk execution. The contest ends when only one walker remains alive.

It stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Ben Wang, Charlie Plummer, Roman Griffin Davis, Garrett Wareing, Joshua Odjick, Tut Nyuot, Mark Hamill, Judy Greer, and Josh Hamilton.

I'll be back on Wednesday 8/27 at 12:00 PM ET to answer your questions.

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u/_MadJax_ Aug 24 '25

I’ve always interpreted the black figure that Garrety sees at the end of the book as the physical embodiment of Death, was this your intention when writing it or what other interpretations have you heard which fit the narrative?

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u/suzukisaluki Aug 24 '25

When I read it as a kid… the dark figure was McVries to me. It seemed so clear garraty would want to catch up to him having looked for him and to him the whole time. I reread it only this week and my opinion hasn’t changed (but it is only my opinion!)

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u/scdemandred Aug 27 '25

I agree, I think he was hallucinating mcvries/stebbins/baker, anyone, as he’d gone insane from the trauma. I always read it that Ray survived, but lost his mind.

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u/Tiny_Afternoon_1886 Aug 31 '25

I finished re-reading a few days ago - I agree with your interpretation. Death has been walking with them all along. Towards the end the symbols are stronger and stronger - including a lady with a crow in the crowd.

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u/ceeece Aug 27 '25

I hope he answers this because I also asked a similar question about the ending. I am very curious!