Additional Coverage:
- Mark Hamill says ‘everyone will hate my guts’ in Stephen King movie so scary SDCC blacked out bits (themirror.com)
Get ready to walk, or die. Stephen King’s dystopian thriller, The Long Walk, is hitting theaters September 12th, and it promises to be a brutal experience. Mark Hamill, trading his lightsaber for a decidedly darker role, stars as the chilling antagonist, The Major.
At San Diego Comic Con, Hamill joined co-stars Garrett Wareing and Tut Nyot to discuss the film, adapted from King’s 1979 novel (originally published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman). Wareing warned attendees, calling the film “freaky” and saying it “gets [him] in the gut every time.”
The story follows a terrifying competition in a dystopian future: fifty teenage boys must walk without rest. If their pace drops below three miles per hour, they’re eliminated – permanently. The last one walking wins whatever prize they desire.
Hamill, relishing his departure from Luke Skywalker, embraced his villainous turn. “I’m just a bad a–,” he declared. “If I do my job right, everyone will hate my guts, that’s okay.”
Director Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games) and screenwriter JT Mollner were tight-lipped about the specifics of Hamill’s performance, aiming to preserve the surprise for audiences. Mollner hinted that Hamill delivers something truly unique, unlike anything seen from him before.
The Comic Con audience got a sneak peek with a 22-minute preview, although a particularly intense scene was censored for being too graphic. Even with the redacted footage, the brutality of the competition was clear.
Despite the darkness, Nyot emphasized the film’s deeper themes: “The heart of the story is brotherhood and friendship,” he explained, adding that the film’s message about the journey of life is universally relatable. King himself made a virtual appearance, reminding everyone with chilling simplicity: “walk or die.”