The Long Walk, adapted from Stephen King’s earliest written novel and sixth published, fits into the dystopian films like The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, and the book came out before those series did, reflecting on the United States post Vietnam.
The titular contest presents a simple task: walk above a pace of 3.1 miles per hour or die. The winner gets a big cash prize and one wish granted. As The Major touts, the competition will make America number one in the world economically once more. 50 young men sign up for the competition, but only one can win — the last one who survives the over 300-mile stretch.
RELATED: ‘The Long Walk’ Review: Stephen King Adaptation Is Distinctly Dystopian And Disturbingly Prescient
Meet the brave young men who volunteered for the dark event and see where you may recognize the actors from below:
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Cooper Hoffman as Raymond Garraty
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, stars as Raymond Garraty, who receives dogtag #47. He and Peter McVries (David Jonsson) form a fast friendship before the walk even starts. Ray is very determined to win the competition and change society with his wish.
Hoffman starred as Gary in Licorice Pizza (2021), Dick Ebersol in Saturday Night (2024) and Wihlborg in Old Guy (2024). He will also soon appear as Ari Zimmer in Poetic License, Maude Appatow’s directorial debut.
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David Jonsson as Peter McVries
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close David Jonsson plays walker #23, Peter McVries, a compliment to Ray Garraty who sees more hope in the world, even amidst the brutal dystopian event in which the boys are participating. Pete has a past that keeps him walking.
Jonsson appeared as Cromwell Ames in Endeavor, Isaac Turner in Deep State (2019) and Gus Sackey in HBO’s Industry. His breakout film role was Alien: Romulus (2024), and he will appear alongside Tom Blyth in Wasteman.
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Mark Hamill as The Major
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close Mark Hamill plays “The Major,” the strict figure who oversees The Long Walk. The bleak competition was his idea, and as a proponent, he rides in a jeep the whole time, encouraging the participants even though he knows only one of them will remain alive.
Hamill is most well known for playing Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars films. He is also known for his voice work on several films like English dub versions of Hiyao Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky (1986) and The Boy and the Heron (2023) as well as The Wild Robot (2024).
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Ben Wang as Hank Olson
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close Ben Wang plays walker #46, Hank Olson, who is as unfiltered as they come. His quick quips and humor lighten the mood of the Long Walk, but he also philosophizes with the boys as well. He grows close with Ray, Peter and Arthur and becomes a member of “The Four Musketeers.”
Wang is known for playing Jin Wang in American Born Chinese, Jacob Zheng in Mean Girls (2024) and Li Fong in Karate Kid: Legends (2025). He will also appear as Wyatt Callow in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026) reteaming with director Francis Lawrence.
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Tut Nyuot as Arthur Baker
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close Tut Nyuot plays walker #6, Art Baker, who grew up dirt-poor in Louisiana. He is also a religious boy, and he feels he has nothing to lose by undergoing The Long Walk should he make it to the end. His wish is to go to the moon in a rocket, but he also wants to make some friends.
Nyuot played Shen in The Witcher: Blood Origin (2022) and Tyrone Stevens-Mensah in Dark Money.
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Garrett Wareing as Stebbins
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close Garrett Wareing appeared as #38, Stebbins, who knows a lot about The Long Walk from trivia and statistics to past winners and how the competition narrowed down. He comes prepared with an extra pair of shoes and food.
Wareing appeared as TJ Morrison in Manifest, and he is also known for playing Lucas Russell in Ransom Canyon, which was renewed for a second season on Netflix.
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Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close Charlie Plummer plays walker #5, Gary Barkovitch, who quickly becomes the antagonist within the group with how he taunts his co-competitors. His rebellious attitude can be seen in his attempts to document The Long Walk on his camera and his fearlessness in flipping off police.
Plummer is known for portraying Miles ‘Pudge’ Halter in Hulu’s Looking for Alaska based on John Green’s best-selling novel. He appeared as Tyler Burnside in The Clovehitch Killer (2018), Dylan in Share (2019) and as Charley in Lean on Pete (2017).
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Roman Griffin Davis as Curly
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close Roman Griffin Davis plays walker #7, Curly, the youngest member of the group. He lied about his age to get into The Long Walk, but a cramp makes him the first member to receive his ticket.
Davis portrayed Jojo in Jojo Rabbit (2019) and Art in Silent Night (2021).
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Jordan Gonzalez as Richard Harkness
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close #49 Richard Harkness is played by Jordan Gonzalez. The young walker is an aspiring journalist aiming to write a book about The Long Walk, chronicling the event from the inside.
Gonzalez also appeared as Ash Romero in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin and as Hugo in The L Word: Generation Q.
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Joshua Odjick as Collie Parker
Image Credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close Joshua Odjick plays Collie Parker, an Indigenous participant who gets dogtag #48 for the walk. He sparks tension with Barkovitch after the miles upon miles wear down his tough exterior.
Odjick will soon appear in HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry, and he played Niizh in Little Bird as well as Pasmay in Wildhood (2021).
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Judy Greer as Ginny Garraty
Image Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate Judy Greer portrays Ray’s mother Ginny Garraty, who has a hard time giving him up to the cruel competition.
Greer is known for playing Lucy Wyman in 13 Going on 30 (2004), Cornelia in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), Maggie Lang in Ant-Man and Karen in Jurassic World (2015). She has also recently appeared as Grace in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) and in Apple TV+’s Stick as Amber-Linn.