Mark Hamill, renowned for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker, is set to star in the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s novel The Long Walk, and has publicly discussed Stephen King’s versatility beyond horror. Emphasizing that King’s body of work deserves recognition across genres, Hamill’s remarks shed new light on an author whose non-horror contributions have captivated audiences as much as his chilling tales.
Mark Hamill Takes on a New Role in The Long Walk Adaptation
Mark Hamill, who has been a fixture in the Star Wars universe for nearly five decades—from the original films to television appearances like The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett—prepares to enter Stephen King’s literary world in a significant way. In the new adaptation of The Long Walk, Hamill will portray the uncompromising Major. He is also set to appear as Albie Krantz in The Life of Chuck, diversifying his impressive filmography further. While Hamill previously made a brief appearance as Sheriff Jenkins in Sleepwalkers, his starring role as the Major marks his first major foray into depicting a King character.
The Long Walk centers on a grueling annual event where 100 participants are forced to walk continuously, without slowing below a set pace, under the threat of severe punishment or even death. The story’s regime-controlled contest is broadcast to a fascinated public, adding a dystopian edge to the plot. In the latest adaptation, readers noted the adjustment of the official walking speed to a more plausible three miles per hour, an update that earned director Francis Lawrence considerable praise from longtime fans who had advocated for this change.
Alongside The Long Walk, audiences are anticipating the trailer for Mike Flanagan’s interpretation of The Life of Chuck, another King story that explores powerful human themes outside the author’s best-known genre.
Hamill Highlights Stephen King’s Range Beyond Horror
While discussing The Life of Chuck in a conversation with Den of Geek, Mark Hamill reflected on his first brush with King’s work. When he first encountered Pet Sematary in 1983, Hamill admitted to being nearly overwhelmed by its horror. However, friends suggested that he explore King’s non-horror repertoire, recommending titles such as The Shawshank Redemption, The Body (adapted into Stand by Me), and The Green Mile. This exposure redefined Hamill’s understanding of Stephen King’s creative breadth, prompting him to express disappointment at the narrow “horror writer” label attached to King.
“It’s almost a shame that he’s typed as a horror writer when there’s so many other emotions that he elicits, not only in his non-genre work, but in something like The Shining. There are such human, relatable moments. I think that’s part of his gift, making you relate and believe in the people and the circumstances, so that when things go sideways, you’re unprepared.”
—Mark Hamill
Through these remarks, Hamill positions Stephen King as far more than a master of the frightening or supernatural, highlighting instead an author attuned to universal emotions and complex characters.
Differing Views on the Adaptation of The Shining
Despite King’s widespread reputation for horror, his feelings toward some film adaptations of his work, particularly Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, have been conflicted. King publicly disliked how Kubrick depicted the character of Wendy, played by Shelley Duvall, finding her portrayed as lacking independence and agency. He also criticized Jack Nicholson’s performance as Jack Torrance, stating that the character did not experience meaningful development through the film’s narrative.
“having no arc in that movie.”
—Stephen King
Yet for Hamill, Kubrick’s film adaptation had a different impact—it inspired him to delve deeper into King’s original work. The cinematic interpretation prompted Hamill to seek a better understanding of the story by reading the novel, where he could better access character perspectives and plot details absent from the film. He described completing the movie and heading straight to a bookstore to find answers to lingering questions.
“A lot is left to the audience in terms of interpretation, because that’s just the kind of director Kubrick is. He’s much more interested in the atmosphere and the composition. He’s a fabulous filmmaker, but when you read the book, you hear the character’s thoughts, you find out who the ghosts are, what incident occurred there that made it become haunted, all these things that you have to lose to make a movie two and a half hours long. So I walked straight from seeing The Shining to a bookstore to buy the book to figure out what the hell I just watched.”
—Mark Hamill
Upcoming Releases and Expanding Influence
The Long Walk is scheduled for release on September 12, 2025, with The Life of Chuck having debuted in select U.S. theaters on June 6, 2025, before a broader rollout on June 13. Hamill’s starring turn will be accompanied by Judy Greer as Mrs. Garraty, Ben Wang playing Henry Olson, and Garrett Wareing as Stebbins, alongside a talented supporting cast. These adaptations demonstrate the sustained interest in King’s stories, whether rooted in horror or exploring other dramatic landscapes.
In recent years, King has also made significant strides in crime fiction, with new adaptations aiming to bring these novels to a wider audience and further demonstrate King’s versatility. As these projects reach new viewers, the conversation about Stephen King’s legacy—his range from horror to deeply emotional explorations—continues to evolve.
Mark Hamill’s praise and insight challenge the longstanding perception of Stephen King as solely a horror writer. By spotlighting King’s ability to depict relatable characters and genuine emotion, even within his tense narratives, Hamill encourages both audiences and critics to reconsider the diversity and depth present in King’s body of work. For both longtime fans and newcomers, these upcoming film adaptations may provide even more evidence of Stephen King’s power to captivate far beyond the realm of horror.
