Reflective

Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. have teamed up for a new song, “Took a Walk.” The evocative song was written and recorded for Lionsgate’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King‘s The Long Walk, which was directed by Francis Lawrence and hits theaters Sept. 12.

The reflective country ballad was written by Shaboozey, Wilson Jr., Stephen Musselman, Connor Sullivan, Sean Cook, and Nevin Sastry, and produced by Sullivan, Musselman, Cook, and Sastry.

“I’m so thrilled that Francis thought of us to close out his film,” Shaboozey shared in a statement. “I really felt for these characters. These guys seemingly have no future, but hold on tight to the idea of hope—a better life, a better world. It felt familiar. The movie feels timeless and soulful, so I thought Stephen’s guitar would be the perfect complement to leave fans with a song that feels timeless.”

Wilson Jr. added, “As a fellow Stephen spelled with a ‘ph’, it’s no secret I’m a fan of Stephen King. When I was approached to write a counterpart to this song with Shaboozey, knowing it was based on Mr. King’s work, I was honored and humbled to be invited into the portrayal of such a storyline. I’m such a fan of Shaboozey and his authenticity, and jumped at the opportunity to sonically dance with this visceral but hopeful film and try to highlight the beauty in the most adverse moments.”

The Long Walk is an adaptation of King’s 1979 novel, about a group of 100 young men who enter an annual walking contest in dystopian America. During the competition, the losers are executed and the lone survivor is declared the winner. It stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.

For a long time, the book was consider unadaptable due to its brutality. Prior adaptations fell apart over the years. “I think maybe what held it back in those other adaptations is that merciless quality,” King told Vanity Fair. “Somebody putting down the money for it must’ve been, like, ‘I don’t know… this is hard. This is a painful one.’”