“The Long Walk” features a group of guys who meet as strangers, go walking for hundreds of miles, and form lasting bonds along the way.
The actors starring in the dystopian thriller (in theaters now) had a similar experience, and thankfully didn’t get shot in the face for failing to keep up. For Cooper Hoffman, it cemented his love of movies with “intensely strong male friendships,” he says. “I find them to be very comforting.”
Based on the 1979 Stephen King novel, “The Long Walk" imagines an America ruled by an authoritarian regime where young men volunteer for a grueling annual walking contest. The last one standing wins great riches and a wish for anything they want. Everyone else meets a cruel fate: Competitors who fall under 3 mph and receive three warnings are executed by the villainous Major (Mark Hamill).
Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
Even under such dire circumstances, the characters form relationships, most strongly between Ray Garraty (Hoffman) and Pete McVries (David Jonsson). Life imitated art, as the actors got to know each other on the road, talking music and movies, playing games and unleashing jokes. “We just laughed about stupid stuff. Our senses of humor are really silly and dark,” Jonsson, 32, says with a chuckle.
