What happens when fifty young men enter an annual walking contest in a dystopian America that promises wealth and any wish fulfilled to the lone contestant who survives the brutal conditions and escapes execution under a totalitarian regime? You get the haunting novel by Stephen King (Carrie) and its onscreen adaptation from Francis Lawrence (Constantine), known as The Long Walk.
While violent and heartbreaking, The Long Walk reveals that in the midst of economic struggle, people will go to extraordinary lengths to secure their futures and support their families—risking their very lives for even the faintest glimmer of hope. Yet what unexpectedly emerges on The Long Walk is that, under such extreme conditions and despite all odds, bonds of brotherhood form as contestants try to cope with the trauma and horror they endure each day. It is as much a story of friendship and community as it is one of desperation.
One of the contestants in The Long Walk is Richard Harkness, also known as #49 (Jordan Gonzalez, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), a budding young author who records every detail of his experience with the intent of turning it into a book—if he makes it out alive. Nerdophiles had the chance to chat with Gonzalez about Harkness’ journey and what brotherhood and community mean to him after stepping into this role. Check out our conversation here:
Watch The Long Walk In Theaters Now!
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