This Stephen King Novel Needs To Be The Next Richard Bachman Adaptation

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Stephen King is having an incredibly busy and successful year. In addition to publishing a new novel, Never Flinch, four films and two TV series adapted from his stories have already been released, and another movie based on his Richard Bachman novel, The Running Man, is on its way. Notably, two of this year’s films were based on books originally published under the name Richard Bachman.

In 2025, four films were released, including adaptations of the short stories “The Monkey” and “The Life of Chuck,” as well as two based on Stephen King’s Bachman books, “The Long Walk” and “The Running Man.” A streaming series based on “The Institute” and a prequel to “It” were also produced. Given the success of the two Bachman adaptations that year, it’s time for Hollywood to bring another Bachman story to the screen.

Running Man & The Long Walk Opens Door For Roadwork

In 2025, two adaptations of Richard Bachman’s work really stood out. Although The Running Man remains popular with Arnold Schwarzenegger fans, the recent Edgar Wright film is a more accurate portrayal of the book and a stronger movie in general. Thinner, on the other hand, was a low-budget horror film that didn’t leave much of a lasting impression.

Both The Long Walk and the recent remake of The Running Man have been well-received – The Long Walk as a gripping thriller with strong performances, and The Running Man as a high-octane action film. Now is a good time to adapt another Richard Bachman novel, Roadwork, into a movie. But viewers should know that Roadwork is a very different kind of story than these other adaptations.

In 1981, Stephen King published the novel Roadwork using the pen name Richard Bachman, not long after the death of his mother. She had passed away from cancer the previous year, and he was grappling with his grief when he wrote this deeply sad story. In the introduction to The Bachman Books, he explained:

“Roadwork tries so hard to be good and find some answers to the conundrum of human pain.“

The story centers around Barton Dawes, a man upset about a planned highway expansion. He’s devastated to discover the project will take his property, and the law allows the city to force him to sell his house and relocate. The home holds special meaning for him, as his son passed away from a brain tumor three years prior, and he cherishes the memories they made there.

Driven to desperation, he resorts to violence after exhausting all legal options. The story explores the devastating effects of trauma and how personal loss can consume a person, particularly in a cold, profit-driven world.

The story also hints at government corruption within the roadwork projects, which feels particularly relevant now. However, this isn’t a typical Stephen King horror film; it’s a more serious, adult drama, making it potentially harder to market to a broad audience compared to action-oriented stories like The Running Man or The Long Walk.

Roadwork Is Very Different From Other Stephen King Stories

Fans had eagerly awaited a film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk for years. Many directors, including George A. Romero and Frank Darabont, had expressed interest in the project since 1988, but it wasn’t until recently that it finally came to fruition. Francis Lawrence, known for directing The Hunger Games, was the one who ultimately brought the story to the screen.

Prior to this, only two of Stephen King’s (writing as Richard Bachman) books had been turned into movies: the 1980s action film The Running Man and the 1990s horror film Thinner. Neither film was particularly successful, although The Running Man has gained a dedicated following despite being very different from King’s original novel beyond the basic premise of a competition.

Unlike most of Stephen King’s books written as Richard Bachman, Roadwork stands out. While The Running Man is an action-packed thriller, Thinner focuses on horror, Rage is a high school story, and The Long Walk is a dystopian thriller, Roadwork is simply a straightforward drama that deals with very troubling themes.

This drama unfolds slowly, focusing on a man battling a powerful and corrupt system while grappling with deep trauma. While it shares some similarities with films like Falling Down, the protagonist doesn’t lose control; he quietly and resolutely holds his ground.

Bringing Dawes’ character to life requires an actor who can capture his complexities and maintain audience sympathy throughout the heartbreaking story. The director needs to understand this isn’t a fast-paced thriller, but a story that unfolds at a measured pace. For inspiration, consider the work Frank Darabont did on films like Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.

Stephen King Calls Roadwork His Favorite Bachman Story

You know, it’s fascinating to see how a story’s reputation can evolve. I recently revisited this work and learned Stephen King himself wasn’t a fan for a long time! He admitted in the introduction to The Bachman Books that it hit too close to home – it stirred up personal trauma, and he felt that overshadowed the story’s quality. But he’s clearly had a change of heart since then, which really makes you look at it with fresh eyes.

When the Bachman Books were first published as a collection, Stephen King explained that he wrote Roadwork between ‘Salem’s Lot and The Shining. He wanted to demonstrate his ability to write something more “serious,” but later admitted he thought Roadwork was the “worst” of the four books.

The latest edition includes a new introduction, and Stephen King has completely changed his opinion of Roadwork. He now calls it his “favorite of the early Bachman books” without saying why. But he’s right – Roadwork is a truly great story and would make an excellent Richard Bachman film.

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2025-11-11 03:12