Hunger Games Director Explains Stripping Down His Stephen King Adaptation: “It’s Very Problematic When You Can Do Anything”

Francis Lawrence’s The Lengthy Stroll was made on a decent price range, and the director of the Hunger Games films defined some methods they have been in a position to accomplish this. The Lengthy Stroll will likely be a milestone Stephen King adaptation, as it’s primarily based on the primary novel he ever wrote, and seems to have influenced the later Hunger Games books, making Lawrence a becoming option to direct.

The Lengthy Stroll follows the titular competitors, the place a big group of teenage boys should stroll at a sure pace indefinitely and are shot for failing, till just one stays. A film adaptation of The Lengthy Stroll has been in growth hell for years, however it is going to lastly hit the large display screen on September 12, 2025.

Nonetheless, the Hunger Games films actually had larger budgets, as they have been meant for a youthful and broader viewers. The R-rated The Lengthy Stroll was stripped down, as they needed to be extra “financially accountable,” in line with Lawrence in an interview with ScreenRant‘s Joe Deckelmeier.

The Lengthy Stroll lower prices by decreasing the variety of individuals within the competitors from 100 within the e-book to 50 within the film. Additionally they omitted a few of the crowds that seem within the e-book, so they might not need to pay for extras. Try Lawrence’s full rationalization of those cost-cutting measures beneath:

EXCLUSIVE: I’ve all the time actually appreciated making choices as a result of choices begin to create parameters, and I believe that I really feel extra comfy and extra relaxed as soon as there are extra parameters and fewer selections available. I believe it’s totally problematic when you are able to do something at any time.

We needed to be financially accountable with this film, as a result of it is a powerful film. We made it for a small sum of money, and that immediately creates parameters that I believe are actually attention-grabbing. How will we strip the crew down? What does that do to the variety of boys? There is a hundred within the e-book, however we’ve 50. What does that do to crowds? We won’t have each city they stroll via be crammed with folks as a result of that is 1000’s of extras that we won’t afford. Which means we’ve to construct into the story that actually we’re solely going to have crowds on the finish.

A part of it’s that there is enjoyable in arising with the creativity of the strategy to the film. And that was additionally pushed, not even actually financially, however by the type of film that is. As soon as that gun goes off and so they begin strolling, we’re on the transfer with them. I believe there are two different scenes within the film, that are flashbacks, the place we’re inside and the boys aren’t strolling. We had to determine what which means. The place’s our base camp? How are we capturing electrical automobiles with cranes on them and caravans of vehicles with the sound man and the video village?

The whole lot is on the transfer, and also you do a three-quarter of a mile stroll for each take, after which everyone goes again to at least one, and also you do it many times and once more. It was a really distinctive strategy to creating a film.

What Being “Financially Accountable” Means For The Lengthy Stroll

King’s dystopian fiction novel options lots of the identical themes as Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, which additionally revolves round a brutal competitors with one survivor, the winner rewarded with an obvious lifetime of ease. Lawrence took over directing the Hunger Games films from the second installment onwards, and the mega-blockbuster standing of this franchise meant that he would have had almost limitless assets.

The Lengthy Stroll has a unique audience and comes at a unique time on the field workplace, making a tighter price range the good selection. Nonetheless, primarily based on The Lengthy Stroll’s trailers, it does not seem like the film will endure due to this. It nonetheless has a high-quality look and is pushed by the harrowing story, with comparatively few A-listers working nicely with the youthful solid.

Our Take On The Lengthy Stroll’s Diminished Funds

The Lengthy Stroll may even profit from being a extra bare-bones film. The theatricality and luxurious of the Capitol are a significant thematic element of The Hunger Games, and it was justified to pour assets into bringing this to life when the film may simply earn it again. In distinction, focusing solely on the core occasions of The Lengthy Stroll will work in its favor.

50 boys as an alternative of 100 will not have any actual impact on the story, and I imagine it is extra attention-grabbing if there aren’t crowds watching them move by, doubtlessly implying individuals are too disturbed by the occasion to wish to witness it. These small adjustments will make it simpler for The Lengthy Stroll to be a field workplace success, however may additionally improve the narrative in delicate methods.