The new movie The Long Walk is based on the first novel that Stephen King ever wrote and there are some differences in how the two projects end.
While King wrote the book in the mid-1960s, it wasn’t published until 1979.
The story is set in a dystopian future where there is an annual contest in which a group of young men must walk continuously, while maintaining a speed of 3mph, until there is only one man standing. Each contestant who stops walking or falls below the speed minimum is shot dead and the winner is given a massive cash prize, along with one wish that will be granted.
Cooper Hoffman plays Ray Garraty, the protagonist of the story, and we also follow the stories of Peter McVries, played by David Jonsson, and Billy Stebbins, played by Garrett Wareing, among others.
While there are 100 contestants in the book, the movie only has 50 contestants: one for every state.
So, how does the movie end? And how is it different than the ending of the book? Beware of spoilers ahead!
Keep reading to find out more…
In the movie, we learn that Ray has joined The Long Walk with the hopes of winning the contest so that he can kill The Major, played by Mark Hamill. Ray’s dad was executed by The Major for opposing the political regime.
Ray’s biggest ally in the walk, Peter, confides in him that his parents died when he was young and that he doesn’t really have anyone in his life anymore. He planned on walking as far as he could and when he’s too tired, he would just sit down and wait to die. Peter also tries to discourage Ray from taking revenge on The Major and to use the winnings to do good in the world instead.
Billy falls ill during the walk, but continues to go as far as he could. When the final three contestants are just him, Ray, and Peter, he confides in them that The Major is his father and he wanted to win the contest to force his father to accept him. Billy gets too sick to continue and decides to quit.
The final two walkers are Ray and Peter. Eventually, Peter decides to sit down and allow Ray to win so he can see his mother again. Ray makes Peter get back up and does the exact same thing, which Peter doesn’t notice until it’s too late.
Ray is executed by The Major as the final kill of the walk and Peter is declared the winner. Peter is distraught, but he decides to use his wish to enact Ray’s plan. He wishes for the gun that is held by a soldier right next to him, then uses the gun to kill The Major. The movie ends with Peter continuing to walk down the road into the dark.
So, how does the ending differ from the book?
The final three in the book are also Ray, Peter, and Billy, but the order in which they die and the winner are all different.
Peter comes in third place when he decides to sit down and have peaceful death. Ray is so distraught over Peter’s death that he wants to quit, because he doesn’t think that he can beat Billy.
At this moment, Billy is overcome with exhaustion and falls over dead. Ray is declared the winner.
After The Major tells him he’s the winner, Ray just ignores The Major and sees a dark figure in the distance. He runs toward the figure as the book comes to an end.
See photos of the cast stepping out together at the Los Angeles premiere!
Another King novel is being made into a movie at Netflix.
Source: justjared.com