Director Frances Lawrence takes time off from directing the Hunger Games franchise to tackle one of the original battle royale stories with THE LONG WALK by Richard Bachman. In episode 362, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they discuss changing this Bachman story back into a King story, the changing metaphor behind the grueling contest, how adaptation decisions by the screenwriter and overseen by the author changes the entire message of the story. They end by casting their votes on which was ultimately the better version: the book or the movie!

• Pickup The Long Walk or any of the novels they’ve covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop! https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Support Ink to Film on Patreon for bonus content, merch, and the ability to vote on upcoming projects! https://www.patreon.com/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Familiar Faces video

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Social Media: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/social
• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Enigmatic author Richard Bachman drew comparisons to another famous author from the jump, but it would be years before the truth about him was finally exposed. In episode 361, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they strap on their best shoes and take a long walk into the past as they explore the noteworthy history behind this novel, consider toxic masculinity’s role in controlling young boys, unpack some surprisingly scandalous moments, and take some time to explain the novel’s surprising ending. Join them next week as they compare the 2025 adaptation directed by Francis Lawrence and produced by Stephen King!

• Pickup The Long Walk or any of the novels they’ve covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop! https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Support Ink to Film on Patreon for bonus content, merch, and the ability to vote on upcoming projects! https://www.patreon.com/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Familiar Faces video

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Social Media: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/social
• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Paul Verhoeven’s adaptation of Heinlein’s classic novel divided critics at the time as many found the satire to be indistinguishable from endorsement, but its antifascist subtext plays a bit different in 2025. In episode 360, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they compare the film to Helldivers II, try to find the line between satire and approval, recount some surprising behind-the-scenes stories, and finally cast their votes on which version is better: the book or the movie?

• Pickup any of the novels they’ve covered at the Ink to Film Bookshop! https://bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Support Ink to Film on Patreon for bonus content, merch, and the ability to vote on upcoming projects! https://www.patreon.com/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Familiar Faces video

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Social Media: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/social
• Writing: https://www.lukeelliottauthor.com/publications

James Bailey

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamebail.bsky.social
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/