In an interview, actor Jordan Gonzalez discusses his role as Richard Harkness in his debut feature film, The Long Walk. Gonzalez shares his experience adapting a character from a novel to the screen. The Long Walk is based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Stephen King.
The film is directed by Francis Lawrence, the visionary director of The Hunger Games franchise films, and is an intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far could you go? Following the story of a group of boys entering the Long Walk competition, the story centers on Cooper Hoffman’s character. ‘Garraty’ may be the focal point, but his character is the springboard used to meet the troupe he walks with. He quickly befriends David Jonsson’s ‘McVries,’ and the two’s friendship becomes the beating heart of the story. Gonzalez plays Richard Harkness, one of the boys in the group.
Potential Spoilers Ahead.
Jordan Gonzalez talks “The Long Walk”
Gonzalez, a rising talent from rural Georgia, has had swift success in his acting career. He was a breakout star in “Pretty Little Liars: Summer School,” where he played Ash. He has also had a guest appearance on “The L Word: Generation Q” for Showtime. Beyond acting, Gonzalez aspires to work behind the camera to craft and share diverse narratives and serve as a representative for others who identify with him.
Jordan Gonzalez on bringing Richard Harkness to the Big Screen
Gonzalez shared his experience adapting a character from a novel he had previously read. He noted that Harkness is not in the book often, so he had to “stretch him out” for the film. To do this, he physically wrote notes in a notebook while on the walk, recording what he saw, experienced, and felt. He also personalized the character by adding flowers, which he saw as a symbol of Harkness being a “truth seeker” and “truth teller”. Gonzalez spoke with director Francis Lawrence about keeping a flower in his jacket pocket, so that as Harkness started to lose his “earnestness” and “innocence,” the flower would also die.
When asked what Harkness’s book would have been like if he had finished it, Gonzalez said Harkness would have wanted to be like Stephen King, a “beloved novelist” and someone who speaks the truth and stands up for marginalized communities. He also expressed his desire to ask Stephen King if Harkness is a representation of himself in the book.
Gonzalez on the Relevance of the Story
Gonzalez was drawn to the film because many had tried and failed to adapt the novel. He found it cool to watch the director, Francis Lawrence, be so intentional in making the project possible. Gonzalez believes the novel, despite being written long ago, is still relevant to this day.
He hopes the film will encourage people to “move the needle forward” and create a better world. He states The Long Walk is more powerful than other dystopian films because it’s deeply rooted in something that is still happening, and isn’t fantastical.
The Long Walk will release in the United States on September 12, 2025.
