Jeremiah Fraites, co-founder and songwriter of the Grammy-nominated band The Lumineers, has composed the original score for Lionsgate’s upcoming film The Long Walk, directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games franchise). The psychological thriller, based on Stephen King’s first-written novel, hits theaters nationwide on September 12.
A New Chapter for Fraites
This marks Fraites’ first feature film score, and his haunting, piano-and-strings-driven soundtrack aims to capture both the tension of King’s dystopian story and the fragile human connections between the characters.
“Strings and piano felt right in servicing the expected horror you’d find in Stephen King canon,” Fraites shared. “The real challenge for me was writing music that would properly represent the deep relationships these boys were forming while on this brutal walk.”
Fraites and Lawrence’s collaboration began years ago, when The Lumineers contributed to the Catching Fire soundtrack. The connection endured, with Lawrence staying in touch and following Fraites’ solo work.
“He’d send me vinyl versions of his solo albums, and it was exactly that work that made me think he’d be perfect for The Long Walk,” said Lawrence.
The Long Walk: Story and Cast
The Long Walk is a chilling and emotional adaptation of Stephen King’s earliest novel, originally published under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. The story follows a group of teenage boys in a dystopian future, forced to compete in a deadly endurance contest where only one can survive.
The cast features:
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Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer
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Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Odjick, and Josh Hamilton
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With Judy Greer and Mark Hamill
The film is directed by Francis Lawrence, written by JT Mollner, and produced by Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Cameron MacConomy, and Lawrence himself.
Fraites’ Musical Evolution
Beyond his work with The Lumineers, Fraites has released two critically acclaimed solo albums: Piano Piano (2021) and Piano Piano 2 (2023), both of which topped Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart. His music blends classical instrumentation with ambient textures, and he’s composed for projects like the documentary Here. Is. Better.
“It was the thrill of a lifetime to score this film,” said Fraites. “It was definitely a pinch-me moment to realize I was now getting the opportunity to write music over the incredible picture I was being sent.”
The Long Walk Opens September 12
With a chilling premise, powerful performances, and a debut score from one of today’s most compelling musical voices, The Long Walk is shaping up to be a must-watch cinematic event.
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