Stephen King Criticizes “Pornographic” Violence in Superhero Films
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Stephen King says his only condition for allowing an adaptation of his novel The Long Walk was that the violent elements not be removed. In an interview with The Times, the author criticized Marvel and DC superhero movies for failing to show realistic consequences of violence.
King explained: “If you look at these superhero movies, you see… some supervillains destroy entire city blocks, but there’s no blood. And that, my friend, is wrong. It’s almost pornographic.” Superhero films often avoid graphic violence so as not to alienate family audiences, but movies like Deadpool & Wolverine, The Suicide Squad, and Kraven the Hunter did not shy away from gore.
Regarding the brutality of The Long Walk, he said: “I told them, if you’re not going to show it, then don’t bother. So they made a very brutal film.”
The story follows 100 young men competing in a dystopian America, forced to walk continuously without rest—if they stop, they are executed. The cast includes David Jonsson, Garret Wareing, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jorden Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Joshua Odjick, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.
A film adaptation of the novel has been in development for over 40 years. George Romero first attempted it in the 1980s, followed by Frank Darabont, director of The Shawshank Redemption, in the 2000s, and later André Øvredal in 2019.
The Long Walk will be released on September 12.
