To promote its adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk, Lionsgate has devised a bold, immersive screening: replacing theater seats with treadmills. Attendees must maintain a walking pace of at least 3 mph for the film’s duration—approx. 108 minutes—or risk being escorted out. The setup is a literal embodiment of the film’s deadly walking contest.
This endurance test echoes the movie’s chilling premise—from King’s 1979 novel—of teens forced to walk nonstop under threat of execution. The immersive element has raised eyebrows, sparked intrigue, and reinforced the film’s thematic dread in a visceral way.
Lionsgate and the Culver Theater
The Culver Theater confirmed the screening as a private, invite-only event. Both the venue and Lionsgate have declined to elaborate—adding to the mystique around this unconventional marketing ploy.
Cast Walked the Walk, Literally
Actors report the physical toll of filming: Tut Nyuot, who plays Arthur, said the cast “walked—actually walked” through grueling takes. Garrett Wareing revealed some days shot logged 8 to 15 miles on foot—reinforcing the authenticity behind the stunt.
What Awaits in Theaters
The Long Walk, directed by Francis Lawrence and based on the novel by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman), follows a brutal, televised endurance event. Among the cast are Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, and Mark Hamill. The film reaches general cinemas on September 12, 2025.
