The Dark Tower Movie Update
Comments(127)
- By drvenkman
There are several people out there that have been waiting for ‘The Dark Tower’ to get made into a movie and it looks like the fans like myself may have to wait a bit longer. In the end it may be worth the wait if the filmmakers get to do what they want. A little over a year ago Stephen King optioned ‘The Dark Tower’ series to J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof for a huge sum of money… $19. Since that transaction has taken place there has not been much news on the project. So why are they just sitting on this money making machine? Here is what Damon Lindelof has to say:
“The Dark Tower is to me every bit as daunting an adaptation as the Lord of the Rings trilogy must have been for Peter Jackson, except we’ve got seven books we’re looking at. And the idea of doing that at the same time Carlton and I are bringing Lost to a close is simply not viable. There are always Dark Tower conversations, but the figuring out of what this will look like as a movie has not begun. If The Dark Tower were in the right hands, I would love to see seven movies executed just right. But you have to get people to see the first one to get them to come and see the second one.”
I for one would love to see the 7 books made into films! How awesome would that be! How likely is it that the series will make it to number 7? lets face it its not as popular as Harry Potter. Like Lindelof says, they got to get people to see the first film. I don’t think it would be that hard to do, but there are many people in this world that may have not heard of ‘The Dark Tower’. That type of story may not appeal to some people. Who knows. All I do know is they have to make the first movie so we can find out.
I hate that the TV show ‘LOST’ is putting the delay on this movie. We have another 2 or 3 years before they even will think about getting to work on ‘The Dark Tower’ movie. Times a wastin, let someone else do it. There are lots of good filmmakers in the world that I am sure would jump at the chance. Oh well, what can you do. Looks like we’ll just have to wait a few more years is all. Crap.
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I think it should be a scifi series like Battle Star Galactica or maybe an HBO series. HBO would be preferrable. They could make it graphic and show it in less episodes. Maybe split the seasons into Books 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7. They could really chop a lot out of it too. I mean the first 4 books were great, but they started to get a little ridiculous and long toward the end.
I have to say though, after reading ‘Salem’s Lot, the scene with Pa Callahan’s death/redemption is absolutely necessary.
Thats right there Adam is a Fantastic idea! That is what needs to be done with the series. You sold me.
Here’s a clue… Why not just make The Gunslinger into an actually good film rather than making The Dark Tower into an unstoppably crappy serial? The first book is the only really good one anyway.
I disagree, I think it should only be done like lord of the rings or harry potter. i thought they where all amazing books…the only one i didnt read fast was wizerd and the glass i thought it was to slow but it inriched the plot a hell of alot. I dieff, think jj is the best fit too. anyway if there gunna do it they better do it quick…cause i cant wait anylonger!!!
I love the books but i can hang on for the movie a few years coz the movies are never EVER as good as the book versions. No matter how good a job they do It’ll probably leave me disappointed and wondering what happened to the parts they will inevitably cut out. Besides, the lord of the rings movies came out decades after the final book was written because they never had the resources to make a worthwhile adaptation. Maybe the same applies here to a certain extent. Maybe not, I don’t know. Whatever happens they’ll have a hard time casting for it, who could possibly play Roland and nail what King strived over three decades to convey about the nature of such a cold hearted yet, in some ways, vulnerable character. Or a decent child actor who could convincingly portray Jake without being annoying and getting it completely wrong. I hope they can do it is all I can say.
tragic
Ok here’s the thing the dark tower in any other hands besides the creators of LOST would be a complete mistake. I mean come on have you seen the show. The character development the mystery. No one else could do it justice. It would be really hard to make some parts into a movie especially the parts with Stephen King actually in the book. I mean those scenes were vital to the end but wouldn’t make since in a movie. They were only powerful scenes because he was the author and was in the story. What are they gonna let Roland show up and surprise J.J.?? It would have to be completely redone
Like it or not, this is one of, if not the best American epic novels ever written. It’s always been just a matter of time until it’s made into a major motion picture or a TV series. I hope and think that King sees the short comings (and achievements) of his prior works and trust that his decision to let JJ do this film is the right decision. Honestly, I’m pretty geeked about it… In the end, (like it or not), someone will be picked to portray each character who will forever be tied to the series (i.e. Elija Woods LOTR) and I for one hope that they take the time to draw it out a little and show the character development that King worked so hard to give us in his work. I think it would be pretty awesome if they were able to incorporate some of the previous actors (ex Jamey Sheridan – The Stand ‘94) from some of the prior movies into the story to ‘tie’ the different stories together. I along with everyone else hope it comes our perfect and does the books right. Say thankee!
Well, they should actually make a movie or what adam says. But i think the best book is the third one. The Bald Lands is awesome.
The Bald Lands?! Its The Waste Lands man. Where did you get that from? I’m not being mean but thats just so funny and random! Oh man, I love that, do it again.
By the way, I think thats the best one too. That and ‘Wizard and Glass’.
I personally, will wait. I do not want to rush this thing. I want it to come in its own time, so that it isn’t completely messed up. Also, it WILL be a disapointment. It’s the rule of movies made from books. There is always a group of people who said the book was better. The most JJ can do is to whittle down the size of that group. Also, it may lose a lot of its intricacies due to the fact that thoughts of people in movies are not well displayed; nowhere near as well as they are in books. Also, movies will not be able to do the strange type of writing where King breaks a paragraph in two and puts a somewhat disturbing statement in italic parentheses.
I don’t know if any of you have seen the TV show “House,” but I think Hugh Laurie would be a fantastic Roland. Sean Patrick Flannery (Bonndock Saints, Suicide Kings) Would be excellent in the roll of Eddie. That’s All I’ve got figured out so far.
i am all about them making seven movies, one for each book. i had an intersting thought about the ending though. at the end of seven roland finds cuthberts horn, witch is possibly his salvation from running on an endless loop to save the tower. maybe in the opening scene of the first movie roland will have the horn already, meaning the movies take place right where the books left off. then the whole thing could run the same as the books, only with roland actually ending his quest somehow instead of the cycle repeating again. if you think this is a good idea please spread it around. many dt fans ive talked to think it would be exciting to see the actual end.
as a huge dark tower freak, i have to say that’s a pretty darn good idea. except don’t change the ending. don’t ever, ever, change the ending. the horn idea is good though, and only die-hard fans will get it. that makes us special(er). long days and pleasant nights…
I agree Foil. I think that will also give liberty to the directors to leave out scrutinized detail. It could tell the same story in a different way and give fans a surprise at the end.
Every now and then I come back to this page just to check out the comments to see if there are any good ideas on the DT movie and, ‘i eat foil’, that is the best I’ve read by far. Its perfect and I just hope to God ( or Gan?) that the right people get to hear about this. In a way I kinda wish I hadn’t read that coz JJ probably won’t do it that way and knowing it could’ve been done so well might just make me so bitter and twisted that…. well I don’t know what but I’ll be pissed off for sure.
Don’t change the ending. That would take away from everything. What makes the ending so interesting to me is everyones different theories on why they chose that ending. “is this rolands hell since he is the real monster letting all these people die for his personal greed of reaching the dark tower”
“Does roland finally have the horn because he had finally decided to risk his life to save jakes and say the hell with the dark tower?” and so on.
The movie would be cool and all, but an animated series on adult swim would do more justice I think.
I’ve thought about the character of Roland D. for a long time: who could play him, from today’s lineup? Jim Caviezel’s ending fight scene with “Mondego” in The Count of Monte Cristo lends to his credence as a possible candidate (the stern face and “gunslinger eyes” he gave when he appeared through the doorway,…”Kings to you, Fernand”… that was Very Roland). Also, and coincidently, Matthew Fox from Lost definitely has the look and perhaps the developing debth of Roland.
I’m so happy I read the whole Dark Tower series before searching for stuff on any movie information. I would have been pissed off to have had a great ending like that spoiled for me by a guy nick named “i eat foil”. Thanks foil, you ruined it for someone out there. Next time type in “Spoiler- DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU WANT TO STOP READING THE SERIES”. Totally dumb dude. Think next time. This series of books is to great to say, ” Oh, well people should have read the books when they came out. It’s not my fault I spoiled it for them.” That’s just selfish. Some people are not even aware that something this great is out there. I myself keep introducing new people to the series and now I have to tell them to not search for anything on the Dark Tower because there are people out there, like you, who can’t keep their dam mouth shut or give a respectful spoiler warning before diarrhea of the fingers settle in. Aside from that, I think the series should end the way it completely ends in the book and then release an alternate ending for the fans of the series showing Roland at the end of his quest, with the Horn of the ELD, on the DVD release. Long days and pleasant nights.
P.S. Sorry for all that ranting, but seeing that kinda ticked me off.
Attn JJ and Damon: Take all the time you need, but get it right. I would rather wait ten years for a GOOD Dark Tower movie, something on par with the LOTR movies, than have a piece of crap movie tomorrow. I am both exited and deeply frightened by the thought of anyone trying to adapt The Gunslinger to the big screen. I have had too many of my favorite books raped by hollywood. If you guys mess this up history will never forgive you, and neither will I.
LMAO at the “Bad lands” dude
that guy, you totally are “that guy”.
Okay here’s the deal.
They have to get Anthony Hopkins to play Ted Brautigan again, all the folks from “The Stand”, and “Desperation” mini-series, and all the other actors from all the Stephen King movie adaptations that play a role in the D. T. Books.
(Not seriously, but you gotta admit it’d be a hoot to go back down memeory lane with all those cats.)
Viggo Mortensen would be a great choice for Roland, but I liked him so much in LOTR that I’ll always see him as Aragorn.
Clint really woulda been great but time marches on. Are there any other “gritty” male actors out there today that could pull the role off? Jude Law is just a little to “cute”; same same Jake Gyllenhal; Can’t be too young either. H’mmm?
How about either Wanda Sykes, or the Actress who plays the Meter Maid Reaper from “Dead Like Me” for Odetta? Jake could be the hardest of all to cast.
Ed Harris has done King movies before and might be a good Flagg he might even still be able to pull of Roland.
I really hope they do a good job on this because I was a huge fan of the Dragonlance stories and they turned it into a cartoon with two completely differing styles of animation and it just RUINED it. I want to hear more on casting from you guys! Post more ideas!!
Fat
As far as cast goes..
Should they not choose brand new or relativley unknown actors?? As in any GOOD epic (Lord of the Rings), the viewers get so attached to the characters, that they only see them in that role for the rest of their career. Such as Viggo as Aragorn…
Lord of the Rings did it (with the exception of Elijah Wood and Hugo Weaving), but they were still not on the top (Brad Pitt, Leo Dicaprio).
So i think the cast should be brand new. So we can all connect with them on a deeper level, as we do in the books, simply because we dont know what they truly look like.
I do like the idea of a 7 movie epic IF they pull it off correctly. Which is very difficult to do (especially with kings writings).
If they did however go with an experienced cast.. I would like..
Roland- Clive Owen, or perhaps Russell Crowe?
I would also like Edward Norton in there. He’s underrated for sure.
Casting for such an intense series would be ridiculously difficult. In King’s writings he gives an incredible description while still leaving SO much room for interpretation from the reader that there’s no actor out there that would satisfy every Tower Junkie out there. While I agree that there would be alot of benefit from having new, unknown actors because of the connection the veiwers need to be able to establish with them, I just can’t picture anyone playing Ted other than Anthony Hopkins (this is my fault though: I watched Hearts in Atlantis before reading the series).
I would absolutely love to see all seven books made into full length films in a style similar to LOTR, however- I would almost feel safer if they were to only focus making the Gunslinger. Then, if they don’t screw that up, do the rest.
I think though that they MUST show the ending that’s written in the Coda if they make the final book into a film. But maybe that can be an after-credit scene so those of you out there screaming “Nooooo!” in your heads can avert your eyes or leave the theater.
I can’t wait for the DT to make itself known- I just hope it doesn’t get ruined by becoming too mainstream. I love knowing it’s a mystery and pleasant discovery to those who I recommend it too.
Besides… My tattoo wouldn’t be as cool if everyone already knew where it came from
Daniel Craig as Rohland. He has the perfect “bombadier eyes” and the sheer brutality he brought to the James Bond role, as well as the heart wrenching pain he portrays at the end when his love dies, nails Rohland perfectly, in my opinion.
hmmmm not daniel craig. I cant stand that guy. I think he ruined the bond movies. Clive owen is perfect.
So whats your tattoo of Susan?
(Warning: may contain spoilers)
As much as I would love to see the Dark Tower turned into a series of movies just so I can make a tradition of going to the theater to watch them, I still feel in my gut that the story would be better served as a series on HBO or Showtime. There’s a lot of material that needs to be covered, and the pacing of a movie might not fit that well with the pacing of the books. I also think that in order to pull off the last three books just right, they will need to introduce the idea early on that Stephen King is writting the books as we watch the movies/episodes. That way when Roland comes face to face with King, it will make sense to those unfortunate souls out there that haven’t had the pleasure of reading the books yet.
Also, I do like the idea of the first movie or first season of episodes starting with Roland carrying the horn, though I think it would make for a stonger ending if he reaches the top of the tower, steps through the door, and is back in the desert and is carrying it with him. In order for that subtle change to stand out, they’ll have to do something to bring attention to the fact that he didn’t carry it before (especially considering how much time will have passed from the beginning of the movie/series to the end).
As for the cast, I have to agree with Fatpastor. When I started reading the books last year, my friend who introduced me to them and I often talked at work about who we would like to see play the characters in a movie. Right away I thought of Viggo Mortensen. I watched Hidalgo a few months before reading The Gunslinger, so an image of him in old western attire was readily available in my imagination, and I also think that he just fits that kind of rugged, determined, focused to the point of seeming hearless attitude that Roland exhibits throughout the story. As much as I loved the LOTR movies, it almost makes me hate them when I think that he might pass up the role (if it were ever offered to him) because he’s already played such an epic role before.
I also think that Jamie Sherridan should reprise the role of Flagg, just because I think he did a wonderful job in The Stand. For Eddie I think Ryan Reynolds would be a good fit, especially since I always pictured Eddie as kind of a wise cracker who never took things too seriously, and Reynolds can pull that off. Jake would have to be a no-name child actor, but they’d have to find someone a bit older who looks young to avoid too many changes in his appearance while filming the whole thing. I think Paula Patton (Deja Vu, Mirrors) would be good as Susannah.
FATPASTOR… Viggo Mortensen would be my choice too. A better movie to pull from is ‘Hildago’. He pretty much plays Roland in that movie. At the end of that movie I actually saw Roland walking through the hard pan desert.
I also think he’s a good age to do flashbacks and look older than he is.
I can’t WAIT to see it on film! I don’t care if it’s broken into 2, 4, or 10 movies. *Please no Haley Joel Osmont as Jake..please..no.
I just hope that if it happens they at least get to the Wolves of Calla. That’s the film I’d really love to see the most, maybe other than maybe The Wastelands… or Song of Susannah… or screw it. I’ve been geeking out about this movie for a couple years now, ever since the rumor came out on IMDB that there was talk about making a movie. I just don’t know if anyone can cover the vast expanse of the Dark Tower Series. It’s certainly one of the most complex plots I have ever seen in a series, and spans so much of the imagination as well as the real world. It’ll be incredibly tough, and I’m pretty positive that nothing will live up to the series.
What always helps epic movies is a great sound track… Puhlease, J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof?
Why not make it into a really great animated series? This way the “actors” wouldn’t die, quit, get fired, or age within the time it will take to pull off all seven movies.
Or…just condense the seven books into 3 or 4 movies, and cut out a lot of the unnecessary fluff that is in the books.
Vitz, hope that was sarcasm, because unless you are a child and like to butcher works of art with shortcuts for dummies, there is no way you can turn 7 Epic tales into 4 movies let alone have them be animated. Thinking adults don’t watch cartoons. Children do. The content of these novels were not meant for children (violence, complicated character developement, sex, and plot twists) are made for imaginative adults. King didn’t sign on with JJ to do a Clone Wars ( see dumb assGeoerge Lucas) its was to create a movie franchise catered to adults. That unnecessary fluff (u speak of) holds the story of Roland’s search and the mystery of the Dark Tower together. King would love a critique from you. End Rant. Yes unknown actors for sure.
My tattoo is “Lend me your wings, bird.” One of Roland’s fleeting thoughts in the Gunslinger. It has become my personal mantra. I think my next one will either be “If you love me, then love me.”(Susan, WAG) or “It was the possibility of darkness that made the day seem so bright.”(Susannah, WOTC)
My boyfriend has a blue coffin on his left hand from Wizard and Glass. And is also planning another DT tatt.
And btw, Vitz, cartoon DT? That’s blasphemous. I’d rather there be no film/tv series/whatever than have such an amazing story ruined by someone cutting corners. It’s all or nothing with the tower. You can’t BS it.
Ugh!
Also- under the assumption that the whole series was to be made- would it be too much to split up the final book into two parts like it was originally intended to be published? Ugh 8 movies would be even harder to execute… I worry that so much will get lost from the story- because only hard core tower junkies will sit through a 6 hour movie; you know they have to make serious editing decisions.
I love the fact that I am not alone in my obsession with this series of books. When I was done reading The Dark Tower, I felt saddened by the fact that the story goes on but I don’t get the chance to. As much as I would love to see these books brought to the big screen, I don’t think it would work. I don’t feel that society, as a whole, have the patience or the brain power to handle 7 films. If they do it at all it should be a TV series, preferably HBO. I think that is the only possible way for this story to have any impact on the general public. There is no way 3 hours can encompass even a portion of one of the books. I know I sound jaded, but I feel strongly about these books and I would be even more jaded The Gunslinger was made into a movie and it blew chunks!
Ok. I give up. I just… can’t imagine them making 7 movies. It just won’t happen. They won’t be able to get it right. SO… I have been swayed. TV series if they want to do all; or only the Gunslinger if they want to make a movie. My boyfriend and I finally reached an agreement that The Gunslinger and Wizard and Glass would be executable as films just because they could be considered “stand alones” and they lack alot of the magic and complexities of the other 5. So… I’d like to see a well made Gunslinger film- and maybe Wizard and Glass… But…I’m not going to hope [too much] for a 7 movie series any longer. I’d only be disappointed.
Ok this is hard, all i can think about is Clint for Roland, thats the only person out there man enough, except the guy who is Bond now, but he doesn’t have the Roland look. I’ve always thought of Eddy as Johny Knocksville from Jackass but he is not good enough as an actor. Jake, i dont care who, just any kid actor who can play it off, and Odetta should be some hot black chick who can look insane too. i think the black chick in the 2nd and 3rd pirates of the carribean has the voice. if they pick Hugh Jackman i will poo myself, although he is the best cannidate so far. they should just find some new unheard of guy to play roland, but check with me 1st
I mean for Detta cuz Detta is the one who talks crazy
The only person I can see pulling off Roland would have to be Daniel Day-Lewis.
This reminds me a lot of Roland.
http://www.lahiguera.net/cinemania/actores/daniel_day_lewis/fotos/5953/daniel_day_lewis.jpg
Give this man some revolvers, blue contacts, and a weathered cowboy hat and you’ve got Roland Deschain.
Any thoughts on who could play young Roland in Wizard and Glass? Thats gonna be pretty hard considering he’s supposed to be like 14 or something and totally kick ass – two factors that can’t really work together on screen.
I agree with Jeff, Daniel Day-Lewis would be a bad ass Roland! He has that crazy look and he is tall and skinny just like Roland. Good call to Jeff. Now they better pick him to be the actor or i’ll be piss. Young Roland……Hm i just dont know. But Clint Eastwood should play as that Calahan priest sense he was already Harry Calahan(Dirty Harry)and I am pretty sure Stephen King was already thinking this
Daniel Day-Lewis as Roland: FAIL.
I would not like that at all. Roland needs to be an unknown.
To Susan Delgado…I think Daniel Day Lewis would be the perfect Roland. Jake as a no name. Halle Berry as Susannah, and Balthazar Getty as Eddie. Frank Oz as Oy. Falconi from both batman’s as Andolini.
King likes to use the some of the same actors is his films and made for tv movies. Like thrash can man in the stand and desperation. Also Steven Weber in new shining and desperation. He also sticks to certain narrators of the Dark tower books on cd.
I think Adam Storke,the guy that played Larry in The Stand would make a good Eddie.http://infinitecoolness.com/galleries/stand/thestand01-126.jpg
Sorry, try this link
http://infinitecoolness.com/galleries/stand/thestand01-126.jpg
I am in agreement about them missing ALOT of the details and important stuff that makes the books what they are if they try to make movies. Every King book that they have tried to make into a big screen movie turns out so different from the book. But the ones that they made for TV were alot more inline with the stories. For example, when they made The Shining it ended up being more of what the movie writers wanted and not what was in the book, but when they remade it for TV it was much more like the book with a lot more of the details. Although, it is not impossible to make 6 or 7 movies. They have been doing it with Harry Potter and I am certain that if Rowlings had written more books they would continue to make the movies. But, I do believe that the best way to go would be a TV series.
I’m not sure of characters, but the person who did the cinemotography in the LOTR movies should do it in these movies. The lady that did the voices for the kids on the Boondocks might make a good Odetta/Detta. She also played the Presidents sister on 24.
The ladies name is Regina King.
I think the little boy from the mist (Nathan Gamble) as Jake- by the time they make the films/show he’ll be about the right age. My boyfriend says Edward Norton as Eddie. (but he watches Fight Club alot so that’s to be expected)
We also joked with the idea of Kevin Costner as Roland. His Waterworld character had that same attitude. But I just don’t know if I could take it seriously lol.
Cuthbert: it’s not that I don’t think Daniel Day Lewis is able to ACT like Roland… But he doesn’t have the “look” I picture Roland with. I need a little more of that “ruggedly handsome” factor.
Hahahaha maybe Tom Selleck.
I dunno- I’d be happy with an unknown Roland… however you’ve got to get people to come to the theater/watch the show and the easiest way to do that is bring out big name actors.
Tom Wilkinson (Falcone from Batman begins) as Balazar or Eric Roberts (Maroni from the Dark Knight)would be good.
Has anyone thought about the great sage and eminent junkie Henry Dean? Or the cast for Wizard and Glass [GOOD young actors are hard to find nowadays... all of them are Disney brats]? God there are SO many characters in these books! Lol I think everyone here could get to see one or more of their favorite actors…Also: what about Mia? Or Flagg? I want a new Flagg- not the one from The Stand.
No matter what- no one will be able to completely do the books justice. But all the same… I can’t wait.
thomas jane as roland , if you saw the punisher he is perfect unknown child actor as jake, mabey jared leto as eddie dean ,christopher walken as randal flagg/the man in black, the chick from the movie strange days to play susannah (her name escapes me at the moment) and adam west as blaine the mono,as for oi,mabey CGI? any way they do it it will be done and never will they get it just right, that would be impossible(for a stephen king MOVIE)but as shemei sacha baron choen lmfao.thankeesay and good day.
i think it would a great movie as a candidate for green screen production, as in the sanctuary series it would allow for true to book visuals
I love the fact that the dark tower is gonna be a movie. It is gonna be hard to incorporate some of the stuff in. A movie based on a book is NEVER as good as the book. There is always something that has to be left out. I’ve just come to let go of the OCD and deal with it. i’m taking my time on any judgements on actors for the films. I am a HUGE Clint Eastwood fan and the entire time I was reading the books, I pictured him as roland. (I think Viggo would work though) As far as Jake, that’s hard. He doesn’t age in the book but an actor will..
I much rather see DT done as a well-done set of movies than a tv series. TV adaptation just cheapens the idea of the on screen adaptation. Besides people won’t really pay attention or get the full scope of art of this story unless they’re in a theatre watching it.
I could go with a series of movies or a well done TV serieson SciFi or Showtime or HBO. But what I really want to say is that the tune,”Green Grass and High Tides” by the Outlaws would make a great theme for the series. It really catches the essence of the stories.
I don’t think viggo has the right voice for Roland. Eastwood would have been great, since that’s who he actually is- but he’s too old now. maybe javier bardem, the guy who played the killer in no country for old men. -he’s a killer and i think he could pull it off- not too well known in the states…
micheal imperioli would be a great eddie, and not just cause he already played a great heroin addict on sopranos/ edward norton could be good too, since he is probably one of the best actors ever
angela bassett as susannah and a really talented kid for jake
if they can do half as good as they did with the stand(miniseries) or the shank(movie), it doesn’t matter which way they present it.
I just want it to be good, since its my favorite of his books…besides eyes of the dragon, which i highly recommend and few people have heard of it
and abrams is the man, except this season of lost lost me
As much as I would love to see the DT series adapted as a film/series I can’t help but consider just how daunting a task it is to translate the novels to film. Not to mention the “tie in’s” to several other of King’s novels. (Ex. Salem’s Lot, Black House, Hearts in Atlantis, The Stand and INSOMNIA.) I don’t know how you would create a DT film/series that works and make sense without telling those tales as well. (Insomnia is being adapted into a film, by the way.) And yes I’m aware of the Salem’s Lot and The stand TV mini series but, honestly, the 1979 Salem’s TV series could use a fresher version.
The Dark Tower is a very complex and involving story and I would hate to see it created sub par.
first of all, it cant be made into 7 movies. they would need to make into 4 t the most. secondly, there was enough, how should i put it, unimportant or to involved with other king novels, suff that they would have to cut out. in my opinion, viggo doesnt fit what i think of as Roland. my cast would maybe include a rougher, gruffer leading man. without thinking to much on it, i think eastwood was made for the role and the cover art for the first book looks alot like him, maybe a christian bail with a beard as and a few years older as Roland, a young guy like jake gylenhall(i know i didnt spell that right) as eddy, and an iconic figure like peter fonda as the wizard. jake and sue could be played by alot of actors so i wont try and go into that. but i dont think it should be made into a movie untill they can do it right. i can count the # of king movies i like on 1 hand. they never turn out right. im glad j.j.has a art in this.
John Glover as Flagg. I went too see my mom the other day who is obsessed with Smallville and he plays Lionel Luther. I wouldn’t have originally thought of him- but now that I am reading Eyes of the Dragon (a DT related King book for the few of you who haven’t read it), and Flagg is one of the main characters, I feel that I’ve been able to get more of a solid image of him and that John Glover fits perfectly.
I think Dark Tower movies are a great idea, but if they do a tv series or a cartoon version i personaly will not watch it! That would ruin all….hell the movies themselves might ruin all but it would be better than a cartoon, I could almost deal with a seris but not a cartoon. Other than that it needs to be about 5-7 movies. They could possibly cram 2 into one to save time but even if they do 7 movies there will be no justice unless they are all about 3-5 hrs long. I’m excited to see what comes of it, these are the best i’ve ever read, i get lost in Mid world!!!
i love the idea of an hbo series, like the first poster (adam) said. i think seven full length movies would be just too drawn out. and NO NO NO to changing the ending. screw happy endings! that’s not what the dark tower is about and i definitely do not think SK would approve of a different ending. the ending he wrote is what all of the books were meant to add up to and i love it that way.
I tend to lean towards the HBO idea. If it is made into film I think they will rewrite the whole ending to alter or eliminate the Stephen King “character” from the films. I also think an animated version on a network like HBO could worj really well. When it comes to casting how about Ian McShane for Eldred Jonas?
As Jake, how about Jaymie Dornan from Turn the River? Hes not very well known and as i watched Turn the river Jaymie played the part of a lonely young boy with a mean father pretty well…..and that is pretty much Jakes character.
In my humble opinion, the first two should be made into one movie, Wizard and glass shouldn’t be left out, but a lot of it cut down. I don’t think I’m alone in the world when I say that it moved at a crawling pace, but was still necessessary to the story.
Get these things made, and have them be movies. I will not settle for less. And it does not deserve less than movies. Maybe not seven movies, as stated before, but it definatley needs to be more than a fucking mini series on some god damn HBO show.
Long days, pleasent nights, all that rubbish.
As excited as I am to see an adaptation of my favourite book series ever, I am still a bit apprehensive about how they pull it off. The scale of this story alone is bigger than anything that Lindloff or Abrams have ever done. I want very badly to see Roland’s quest brought to life I just hope that King’s trust in the Lost creators is justified.
By the way, Gary Olman would be the perfect fit to play every incarnation of Flagg.(Martin Broadcloak, Walter O’Dim)
Oldman
The sris should be one season and comprise of 14 odd 1 hour episodes this would allow them to get all the books done and would be of a length that would allow the seris to be made in entirity. The problem with feature length films is the time they take to make and that it could be axed 3 movies in or funding is reduced so the last movies are crap.
14 to 21 eps would allow for the smaller books and bigger books to be evenly spread across one season and blend into each other and get in depth enough for the detail required.
Clint would have been a great roland but has retired Brad Pitt could pull it if he wasnt such a nounce. The one important thing would be in the gunslinger when roland catches up with the man in black and the chat that scene where it all is shown as it is in the universe would have to be done right to make sence to the simple people out there.
Whoever they cast lets just hope they do it justice unlike so many king stories.
PS the stand needs to be remade and done right
Alot of people are dissing a cartoon version but what would go alright is a frank miller adaptation where it jumps out at u like 300 or sin city and has that comic/cartoon aspect to it
The main reason i want it to be a animation is because they might end end up using some jackass action movie star instead of an actor who can capture the mysteriousness and toughness of roland.
Also there needs to be a narrator in the movie with a old western voice.
i could do without a movie. i’m currently on wizard and glass and had a thought about a silver screen version but now i am thinking it would be a horrible mistake. stephen king doesn’t translate well to the screen regardless of actors and directors. it just doesn’t work.
I think it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a true animated classic, and i think that the dark tower would make a great adult animated film. Some parts of the series are simply so fantastic and\or metaphysical that i think they would best be conveyed through animated sequences. I love the LOTR films but felt that they missed the mark in some areas, (all book to film projects seem to) however the animated LOTR film, though around thirty years older, and having a drastically smaller budget, was able to capture much of the magic. Also animaiton alleviates the worry of putting the wrong face on a character, while simultaneously granting the creator total control of EVERY aspect, something i feel is absolutely necessary in order to bring the dark tower to the screen justly… also I hate Lost, seems to swing unabashedly from mysterious and dramatic to ridiculous and over the top in a haphazard contagion of taking things to far.
All of this is well and good… but most people are forgetting the fact that Jake does not age by a lot of years between the first book and the last one.
Personally, I think it’s a bad idea to turn it into a CG or animated film, but how else can the filmmakers pull off the age factor? Casting a preteen actor in the first movie and then be reprised for the third one would prove difficult for the producers. Not even effects or special make-up could do this unless it was a CG film! Think about it, the audience would really hate to see Jake age significantly when the 7th film finally comes around. The audience would also be disappointed if the filmmakers decided to change the actor for Jake as the years pass by.
My solutions would be:
1. Don’t make a movie
2. Don’t make a TV series
3. If they really want this to happen, make it CG but with technology that can capture an actor’s real facial expressions (absolutely important, and this should be VERY realistic)
4. If they want a series of movies with real live actors in it, get someone who LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE FIRST ACTOR who plays Jake in the first film (equal to that of a clone! it’s that crucial)
5. WING IT
6. Cartoons are an option, albeit, a bad one
7. RUSH THE FUCKING THING (also a very bad idea)
Choose any of the options above, but mind you these are all very compromising, and I doubt that everyone will be happy with any of them.
SK, your looking way to much into that issue. I don’t think people will be that pissed if the actors age over time. The people who might say “hey jake wasn’t that old in the seventh book” are the people who read it. ANd those people are going to be happy just to have a movie….they’re not going to complain. THey know how lucky they are.
i feel like i should go and live in the woods for the rest of my life so that i never have to see the crap they end up churning out.
No one can play Roland. The movies should never be made. Plus all the a-holes who have never read the books that are going to love the movie are going to piss me off.
what about David Carradine as Roland? I watched Kill Bill on tv recently and i think if he was given the right stuff to work with he could pull off Roland.
As for the soundtrack….Get a little bit of Coheed And Cambria in it. A lot of theyre concept parralels the DT series. For example from “Gravemakers and Gunslingers”… “We’ll keep marching to the top of this tower, as God isn’t at home. There’s nothing in the way that can stop us, it’s your time to go” Also maybe a little Harry Chapin for 70’s era NYC, something about chapin just reminds me of the series. Wizard and Glass could be done completely in flashbacks to 6 movies theoretically.
It has to be done in 7 movies. I just don’t see it working too well in a mini-series. As for casting, new unknown people so we can make a deeper connection. If the DO use people we already know, I’d have to say Hugh Laurie (House) for Roland. Just a thought. My only fer is that they will do to it that they have done to other Stephen King’s books-gone-movie. Face it, most of them sucked compared to the books. It makes me hesitant to see DT when it comes out. But I will see it nonetheless.
There’s no way to but all 7 books into one film ’cause those books are really good…and i think when the film comes it’ll do better than Harry Potter, ’cause books are better;) and i can’t wait the film… but i think in that case…when there’s no time to do film..i’ll manage to wait some years. I really loved the end of all story, but actually it’s not the end:) Firstly i found it little confusing and not so good, but then i realised, that it shows that ka is wheel.. and ’cause of that movies should be make of all seven books, ’cause one just doesn’t work…that’s my opinion.
I personally would not want to see the movie. The film reel in my head would be a much more vivid and adventures version of the Dark Tower, not to mention Roland and his friends, the man in black, and all the other characters of his epic novels. T’would be a shame to have any other faces in thy mind, so it would.
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned Daniel Day-Lewis for the part of Roland. For Eddie, I’d give it to Ed Norton. Jake would have to be a newcomer, by the time these films are made, any current and competent child actor would be too old. Odetta/Suzanna should be played by Halle Berry she absolutely has the range and intensity. I think Crispin Glover would be phenomonal as Walter/The Man in Black. Cuthbert, Tim Roth.
*****POSSIBLE SPOILERS****Okay, I guess I missed a few posts. I went back and saw that someone HAD already mentioned Daniel Day-Lewis for Roland. He is the absolute only actor that could pull it off. The man is a chameleon. He can look and act just about any possible role you can think of. He has been known to take as long as two whole years developing a character before filming begins. He has the range, he has the intensity, he has the chops. The only thing he doesn’t have is the ice cold blue steel eyes. That can be delt with easily. As for the problem with putting SK in the film, cast a look-a-like. He’s too old now to play himself. As for the musical score, what about Tom Waits????
stephen king could play rolands father
okay. i saw “wanted” and i couldent help thinking that the main charecter, i dont know his name, would be a PERFECT eddie dean…
Stephen King is in the book so he would play himself. I would think.
Maybe it’s cause I like this guy, but I think Sam Elliot would be a good Roland.
I watched the short television series Jericho and saw James Remar in it and he got my Roland cogs working .. his voice seems to fit as well(in my mind)
http://l.yimg.com/img.tv.yahoo.com/tv/us/img/site/35/65/0000043565_20071001180447.jpg
I would love to see this amazing series to be done in the theater, but if you go with the HBO series you can get so much more of the little things in there that the movie just simply couldn’t .. I feel the little things in The Dark Tower make the book great.
How about Russel Crowe (3:10 to Yuma) as Roland.
Edward Norton would be perfect for eddie
for Roland, i like Val Kilmer. Watching him play a variety of roles including jim morrison in the doors makes me think he can play this role
What about the chick who played Calipso in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as Suzanna.
Timothy Oliphant would be a great Eddie
I love the idea of Daniel-Day Lewis as Roland. He is the only actor of our generation that could pull it off. The only problem is, he probably wouldn’t do it.
Ok, so I just finished the last book about an hour ago and have spent the time since going trough these comments.
Ever since I finished the Gunslinger, I’ve always caught myself thinking how EPIC it would be to see these books turned into a cinematic saga. There would be SEVERAL difficulties in doing it RIGHT however. (and if it can’t be done right, DON’T DO IT!!)
I think one of the most necessary things about the making of these films would be to do it ALL at the SAME TIME. This would be the most ideal way to fit in all the necessary flashbacks and would fix the problem of Jake aging (which so many of you are concerned about) and in doing this you could perfectly make the beginning of the first film identical to the very end of the last (if you’ve read the books, you know what I mean)
Possible actors:
Roland Deschain – Hugh Jackman
Eddie Dean – Shia LaBeouf (if film done 2012 or after, he needs “seasoning”)
Susannah – Halle Berry
Jake Chambers – ??
Callahan – Liam Neeson
Mordred – Hayden Christensen
(Loved the idea of Stephen King as Steven Deschain)
For those of you who think Wizard and Glass would be better left out, I see this as one of the major turning points of the saga. This is where we truly see that Roland is not just a bloodthirsty killer but also a lover.
This saga will contain almost every film genre ever created: western, romance, action, comedy, sci-fi, and drama. Now that I’ve finished the series, I want to start to create a basic script and story line that could eventually be used in the making of the films (I want to be a film producer for a living)
I believe the most imperative element about these wonderful books becoming a sure to be blockbuster is that THEY ARE DONE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. of course the one setback to this will be financial problems, but thats just my thinking. please leave comments to what i’ve said. I WANT FEEDBACK
Regardless of how it’s done (either HBO, Movie, or Anime)picking the cast will be the toughest part. I dont’ think I agree with any of the people that have been listed for Roland as of yet. I do think that if you could pull Clint Eastwood away from directing that he could play Roland. Remember that as you move through the books that Roland is OLD. This would also make Wizards and Glass a little easier too because then you could cast his son to play a younger Roland. William Defoe could be a better selection for Roland if you died his hair and kept him under control. Think of the expressions he made in Spiderman as the goblin for the gun fights then take the seriousness that he took with The Last Temptation and I think he could pull it off.
As far as Shia LeBeouf… Come on… he would be good at the begining when he’s stoned but by the end of the “eddie” part of the series most of the audience wouldn’t be taking him seriously because they’d be seeing the studdering idiot from Transformers. Edward Norton definatley could pull it off. Although I think he’s getting a little old to play a late 20’s Junkie without a slight script rewrite.
Susanna played by Halle Berry? She’s got the boobs but not the strength that would be needed for the part or the facial expression. I think Jada Pinkett-Smith would be better suited.
Jake would be the only one that I agree on with most other people. Get a young new actor. A no name. That’s the only way that part will be filled.
As far as the rest of the cast they could be cameo’s by just about any actor out there just as long as you get the Ka-tet correct. If the Ka-tet doesn’t have the correct chemistry then it won’t matter how close to the book they follow it will go down like Battlefield Earth with John Travolta.
And one final thing with Stephen King. If they did the movie in the next 5 years I don’t see why they couldn’t cast him as himself from the later books. They will base it off present day at that point anyhow. A younger stand it will be required for thier first meet at the lake though so… Sorry Stephen… You can’t play your 30 year old self…
If only clint eastwood were still young. He’d be perfect for playing Roland!
7 books = 3-3 hour movies. Johnny Depp as Gasher.
just some ideas on who i thought would be good at these parts.I know some of these names were already said. but great minds think alike
Roland- Clive owen or Daniel Day Lewis
Eddie Dean- Ed Norton
Susannah Dean- Rosario Dawson
Jake Chambers- Camreron Bright (Thank u for smoking)
Callahan- Harvey Keitel
Tick Tock man- Nick Cage
Sheemie Ruiz- Shia Labeouf
Enrico Ballazar- Antonio Banderas
Jack Andolini- James Gandalfini
Susan Delgato- Meggan Fox
Benny Slightman the elder- Paul giamonty
I am a very big fan of these books. my favorit is the wolvs of the calla, but everyone of them was hard for me to put down. this is some of the best story telling ive ever read.
Something you obviously haven’t done your research on: $19 is not a large sum of money, it’s actually one of the LOWEST in bidding offers for the film, but Stephen King chose such a low offer BECAUSE he is a HUGE JJ Abrams fan (he turned down some lofty sums – just do the research). He watches LOST religiously and feels that the creators have an eye for what Sai King was imagining when working on this series. They’ll do a better job than anyone else at this point. And why are you complaining about waiting 2 or 3 years when we’ve all been waiting much longer? He’s been sitting on this idea of The Dark Tower being adapted into film, refusing to let anyone do it – until now. So hooray! Right???
All the books are great, but ive always thought the fourth was the best because it reveals alot of rolands past that is vital for the rest of the book, also the riddling and common sense that destroyed blaine was good.
But to make the books into movies every S.King reader will have something bad to say cause no movies are ever as good as books because there is not as much need to think of what things will look like, in a movie its all there for the eyes.
But i will watch just like i have with Lotr and the jurassic park movies and see what comes of it.
They definatly need new actors though it would be shite with any we already no with few exeptions.
….no. this book needs to hit the big screens.
thankee sai
hahahah!!!
If they make it into a television series, I wouldn't watch it. Mainly because.. the effects of a TV show and the effects of a movie are completely different. It'd be horrible as a series.. And it'd just ruin .. well everything really.
I live by 19.
-M.Susan.J.M.
Has anyone cosidered Gary Sinise for Roland? Before you start hating, think about how weathered and haunted that motherfather can be. and you know he can sling hard calibers__
As one of many Constant Readers I have felt as if i was part of Roland's ka-tet for many years. This said, I truely believe that "there will be water, if God wills it ". Now Im not trying to speak in riddles so let me be clear, this movie is the next logical step. Stephen would not let his lifes work fall into the hands of the low-men. The rose is safe ( for now). I myself cannot wait to see it
I was also thinking of Gary Sinise for Roland, but I think Daniel Day Lewis or Viggo Mortenson could pull it off. I think Paul Newman could have been a good Roland.
I know you guys aren't going to like this but I think Sean William Scott should be given a shot with Eddie if he can tone down his wisecracking stoner attitude like Ashton Kutcher did in The Butterfly Effect.
I like Rosario Dawson for Susannah and a no-name for Jake.
I can't wait for these to come out!!!! God, I hope they won't make a TV series out of them…
As sad as it sounds, I think you have to do some rearranging of content to get the movies to actually succeed in theaters. I think they'd have to pretty much use the intros of all the main characters from Gunslinger and Drawing of the Three as the first movie to get audiences hooked on the main cast. I think a great portion of Gunslinger might have to be interspersed throughout the rest of the movies as flashbacks.
As a sad truth, the success of these movies will lie in getting adults who haven't read the books to go see it. Especially if they're R-rated. You're not gonna be bringing kids into these flicks like you are for other long series like Harry Potter and the like. It would be hard to get audiences (who haven't read the books) to latch on if you didn't introduce several main characters until the 2nd movie. And obviously, if you don't get the audiences early, you might only wind up with the one movie, and wouldn't that suck?
As far as characters, I've not come up with a complete cast, but reading through the previous posts made me want to mention the fact that some of the actors mentioned are gonna be a bit too old to play certain parts (i.e. Ed Norton (40 years old in August) as Eddie; Halle Berry (40+) and Angela Bassett (50+) as Suze). I'm thinking more along the lines of Milo Ventimiglia (Peter from Heroes) as Eddie and Rosario Dawson (as previously mentioned) or Kerry Washington (Last King of Scotland) as Suze. But even these two are gonna be in their mid-thirties by the time they start shooting in a couple years. Might have to think even younger. I do think Norton would be able to shine as the Man in Black, though.
For Jake, there's a kid on the CW show One Tree Hill, Jackson Brundage, who's only 8 right now, but by the time they start shooting, may be about the right age so that he won't be in his 20's by the time they finish shooting. I haven't seen him show too much of the edge that Jake has, but he's at least shown a little range. Plus he's got some time to develop a little, too.
word swag! but wizz and glass was also very dope
sshhhh.
I love " The Dark Tower" series. To me, the best story EVER! Having said that, I think the only way to do this right would be through animation. Today animation is awesome and that's the only way to do it right. Think about the time this series will take to make. Actors will age and not fit parts anymore. Jake? Eddie? Oy? I would not have suggested this a few years ago but now… let's face it, animation is really good and I think the way to go with this one,,, Plus, they'll be able to stick closer to the book. I vote ANIMATION Anyone else??
After JJ Abrahms completley butchers the timeline of the Star Trek Universe tell me you think Dark Tower fans would be any thing but …… ahem ……… LOST…. if he does the same to Kings work like he has Roddenberry's.
omg nerd alert ! "long days and pleasant nights…" ha ha ha dweeb nerd.
yeh "debth" lol dweeb nerd it's depth. omg
omg nerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd. ha ha ha who cares he can say the ending …it's a dark tower website dweeb nerd alert. ha ha ha you're an idiot ! no really, you are and you know it. and what's with the "long days and pleasant nights" shiz.? sooooooooooooooo nerdy. my god you all have never been with a girl b4 ha ha ha ha nerrrds.
I never thought about Gary Sinese, that might kinda work. Ed harris might be good too!I talk about it with all my buddies, and as we are a ka-tet of avid fans, we agree that it might be best to find someone whom is not a famous star so as to make a new connection with the character. Eddie might have to be a no-name as well. But for Suze, Jada Pinkett might be a descent cast, but i doubt she would have the comitment it would take to film 6 of 7 movies should it come to that.
Call me crazy, but the guy from 28 days later, scarecrow in the new batmans, if he isnt the man in black, then im jumping into todash space. It would give me chills if stephen king played himself where amiable. With cgi, the camera could young him up a little when needed. It would be great to see three Sia Kings at the foot of the Castle Roi.
Just reading all your coment…Giving Roland the Horn of Eld at the biggining of the first movie is blasphemy. How dare you, being the fan that you are (and this goes for all you) even consider changing this story, even a little. What would be the point of the journey? The new viewers wouldnt understand the severity of his sacrifices to reach the tower if he didnt have to make the journey again. And to give him the horn suggests changing the ending! Would you dare change what is already written, what arguably could be the best set of american novels by a modern writer ever. Surely i hope not.
Im excited…even if they ruin it. Im sure they wont be able to ruin the entire thing, unless ofcourse they were trying. Even JJ said on in interview that to change anything that he neednt would pain him. And in all honesty, the movie that i feel would be easiest to nail right on the head would be the Gunslinger.(i set my watch and warrant on it) and if that breaks box office records, then you have a committed hollywood to make sure they dont dip below and already set standard.
May i say thankee sias if it does ya. Long days and pleasant night.
All that you love and hold dear, in the end will be taken away. Therfore take solace in your resolve and do not go quietly into that goodnight. we are all travellers on the path of the beam,and must serve it accordingly . let Ka take care of the film for triumph or ruin, only time will tell.
Im sorry but I do not have the time to read ALL of the posts on here so could someone please tell me when the projected date for the first movie is, if there is one. Also, I agree with Pesky on the point he made about changing the story line. Why? I loved the story I read. I would only want it to be portrayed the same way on screen. Thank you.
"Thinking adults don't watch cartoons. Children do." OK, that's an ignorant comment.
"epic tales can't be animated" And then you refer to Clone Wars, which is 3d, not animated.
I grew disenchanted with King when he went back and rewrote Gunslinger, the best written book in the series. How many Gunslinger fans here even read the original?
They need to remake the the STAND first. Flagg undergoes major Villain Decay in DT. Moreso because many recent King fans read DT first. And the Stand is King's best book, hands down.
Guess it's not "epic" enough… or more precisely JJ Abrams and co. have thoroughly strip-mined it for ideas in the past 10 years.
The problem with DT is that it's extremely uneven (just like LOST!) because King LOST his original story notes, so we'll never know what was originally intended in the plot suggested by the original Gunslinger. King had the thoroughly postmodern idea that he could go back and make the open nded plot mean whatever he wanted it to mean, just like Abrams. The first, third and fifth books are the high points, it seems to me.