THE DARK TOWER Movie to be Developed after LOST Ends
Comments(58)
- By drvenkman
It has been a pretty long time since we had an update on Stephen Kings film adaptation of ‘The Dark Tower’ we reported way back in September of 2008 that J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof bought the rights to the Dark Tower series for the incredible amount of $19. The reason these guys haven’t got around to making the film is because of ‘LOST’. Yes, the TV show ‘LOST’ is the reason why we have not seen anything moving forward on a ‘Dark Tower’ movie. Now that ‘LOST’ is starting to come to a close, people are talking about it more. Specifically J.J. Abrams, who tells IGN.
“Damon Lindelof and I talked to Mr. King. We got the rights for ['Dark Tower'] as a film. Damon is obviously still on ‘Lost’ and we’ve been working on ‘Star Trek’ together. As soon as ‘Lost’ is done, hopefully we’ll begin tackling that.”
Hopefully!? Don’t they see what property they have here!? This is a film I have been waiting to see since I first read the first book. This is a movie that has to be made! I understand that they won’t be able to stick to every little detail of the book, but the story is so awesome. I also wouldn’t mind if they developed it into a series for HBO 10 episodes per book, that would be even more incredible. In fact I would much rather see that done than a movie. Here is what Lindelof recently told Lostpedia .
“We’re just so focused on finishing ‘Lost’ that it’s really hard to think about anything else. The last thing we want to think about is how to adapt a seven book series of, you know, basically the writer who we admire the most and look up to most and has inspired our work the most, and do anything with that. I think that it’s such a daunting task. We have a pretty daunting task in front of us ourselves [with the end of 'Lost'].”
As long as these guys can focus on it enough to make the best possible ‘Dark Tower’ film or TV series, it is sure to turn out amazing. Lindolf previously told AMC that he envisions the series on the same scope as Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. So that would just be INCREDIBLE! He goes on to say:
“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.”
If the movie gets made then people will see it! There is a huge fan base out there for it. If done well and marketed right ‘The Dark Tower’ could be just as big as ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Harry Potter’. What do you all think?
That is Awesome news!
I agree, I just wish they would get started. This could be another 2 years before they even start to film maybe even 3. That is the part that is going to bite.
If they do make this movie, I really believe that Daniel Day Lewis could be the only guy who can pull off being Roland, trust me I’ve been thinking about this for years and he is the only one who can pull off the part. He is big (yet skinny), tall, and becomes his character so well. And I bet he would be great at pulling off the “killer eyes” that Roland does
I always thought that Sam Elliot would be the best as Roland.
Can’t wait till this work comes together. I have spent many years waiting for each book.
I think that it must be done! I am in colege and i have been wait ing to hear something about a dark tower film/series (film would be sooo much bigger and likely better though) sine i read them the first time around when i was 15. His books are so deep and powerful. i am 19 now so i feell like i am right in the story! But definetly make it big. so many people love the dark tower, Mr. king and J.J need to make the movie the way that they want and i know it will be fantastic
No. there is no way anyone would get this movie right. Just no.
Silly Cody. It doesn't matter what you think. If Ka wills it, it'll happen. And hey! Ka wills it.
…as does Stephen King. He normally doesn't care about the movies made from his books, but he refused to sell the rights to The Dark Tower for a very, very long time. He considers it his masterpiece, his magnum opus, and he wasn't going to give it to just anybody. He trusts Abrams and Lindelof with his life's best work, so I'm sure they'll get it right. And if they don't, then they have truly, truly forgotten the faces of their fathers.
I'm just really worried about it being done correctly. Every book-to-movie adaptation lately has seemed to go terribly wrong. Dark Tower has the potential to surpass Lord Of The Rings in terms of movie greatness as long as corners aren't cut, which inevitably has to happen for the sake of time and under-age audiences. If it is done I'd like to see it done in CG like Beowulf to maximize the special effects, and minimize the dependence on human actors. Ugh, the more I think about it the more I don't see it. There's too many nuances and details to get right.
The real problem they run into making either a movie(be it three movies with a compacted story from the seven books or a seven movies series to get all the detail they can from each book) or a series for HBO is finding the right cast to play it. Roland and Jake are your two biggest problems. Roland is based off of Clint Eastwood from back in the day, but he's too old now, and some of the names that have been thrown around like Hugh Jackman Viggo Mortensen don't really carry that believability of someone who'd let a boy fall to his death without really hesitating. Also if you can actually find a kid to play Jake who can actually REALLY act, and use them in a live-action movie or series you have to keep up with his age. Especially since Jake is right around the age to start puberty so over a seven movie series his voice and appearance would be rapidly changing, and not to mention he won't even be in the second movie so there's going to be a huge change in the actor between the first and third movies. So if they can actually figure a way to overcome those hurtles and manage to stay true to the heart of the series then it should be kick ass.
You have stated almost every reason I dont want this movie made. There is no way that they could accomplish all of those things and still maintain the integrity of the story, unless they somehow started with wizard and glass and then moved forward (which I am totally against), which would make it easier, but still nearly impossible. If they make this movie, I will have to see it, and I will be thoroughly disappointed.
The only way to keep one kid actor at the proper age would be to shoot every seen Jake would be in within a one or maybe two year period for which ever amount of movies they try. A HBO series would be worse for the Jake kid actor as they would have to hire someone new every other sesson. Even Harry Potter got to grow in the stories making the seven movies a little easier to cast, but Jake is still the same age no matter what world he's living in at the time.
The movie's would never be perfect to the books, no film from book movies are! But it would be bigger than Harry Potter I think and would have a mssive fanbase, and may make other people start reading them.
i could see maybe josh brolin as the gunslinger….maybe. more than hugh jackman, anyway.
i think it would need to be a no name, maybe try and find some wannabe actor who doubles as a clint eastwood impersonator
Nerd
Obviously there are any number of things that could go terribly wrong with this film/ series. But honestly- will that stop me from going opening night? Not at all. The Dark Tower Series is incomparable to any other book-to-movie series for a few reasons- the biggest one being that magic, techonology, science, folklore, horror, comedy, western, sci-fi… it's all there. And to take on that large of a task is, as Abrahms said, daunting.
I think there is hope for the Dark Tower Series- it won't ever hold a candle to the books, but it may be a new, interesting take on the stories we all love so much.
But what I WILL say is definitely going to kill me- is when all the teeny boppers who obsess over Harry Potter (that I loved-as a kid- and grew tired of the more main stream it became) and Twilight (barf) turn Dark Tower into some hokey fad.
It is my hope that because of the nature of the books- it won't attract as much of the younger crowd (I'm nineteen, hardly old myself, but you know what I mean.) and that the conversion to "mainstream" won't ruin this masterpiece.
I completely agree with the 'mainstream; issue above.
I was thinking of Gary Sinise for Roland, but I think Daniel Day Lewis or Viggo Mortenson could pull it off. Also, 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…
***SPOILER ALERT***
I've felt that the movie and the books should be separate. I feel very close to the books (mostly 1-4) and I would hate to see them represented in any other way than how I pictured it in my head.
On the other hand, I think that it would be a great story to tell on screen. But I also have concerns about keeping the Dark Tower a private club. We've all invested a lot of time into these books and for someone to watch the movie and think they know the book….it's not cool.
So I think they should make a different movie. Credits Appear. Title comes up. Man in black flees across the desert and the gunslinger follows. Camera pans down the gunslinger and shows the brass horn. DT fans go crazy.
It's a whole different ball game now. The story will remain the same to some degree, but it doesn't have to hold up to every gritty detail of the books. DT fans can't argue about how it doesn't keep up with the original story because it's not the original story. It's completely new. And the fans won't know the original story until they sit down for a couple of months and read it. (it tooks years of waiting for me to finish it) And it's not such a bummer ending. I hate when movies or stories end like that "it was all a dream" shite.
I don't know. Just a thought. Also, don't know how King would react to his life's work being tweaked like that.
As far as all the actors mentioned above. Can em. I don't want to see anyone I recognize in this trilogy (stephen king excluded). If it's Hugh Jackman I'm going to think 'wolverine', If it's christian bale I'm going to think 'batman', if it's josh brolin…. Well I always think 'goonies' but that's just me.
All of these characters are from a different world so they should all be casted in Uzbekistan.
may I just say….thats just about every second scene in nearly a whole 6 books? you might as well try shoot the entire series over two years, an impossible task. And my god, if they compact the story in any way it will really be a dagger in the heart of literary ethics, but I doubt that Stephen King would let that happen….I hope
Christian Bale
Hahahaha very clever idea about the horn and the movies being a "follow on" of the books, but honestly, it would be one in a million if that is how it turns out, and many would feel it to be a rather cheap way of trying to finally end the quest for the tower. I know Christian Bale is Batman true, but isnt a mix between Batman and American Phsyco slight Rolandesque? Maybe Im wrong, after all, this is slightly just one moot argument rant
This HAS to happen!!!! I'm only 13 years olds. but im addictedddd. i've read this series twice already. it would be sooo great if it came out. i would LOVE it in a movie, because it would be BIG. A t.v. show, well i'm too buysy to even get 15 minuets of a day to watch t.v. so i wouldn't be able to whach it then. Pleaseeeeeee make this into a movieee! I'm sooo pumped now!
P.S. make each book a seprate movie, you need to get as many details in as possibleeee, or else the movie will ruin the whoel series.
I'd like to see an animated version in the manner of the VII cover art.
I don't think a film version could possibly do it justice.
i always thought that if they did make them into a film (which everyone who read these books does) that as much as i would be cool to see it live action/cgi, the only right way to make it is in animation.
with animation you have the freedom to really delve into the mind of King, and all of the alternate universes and timespans. i think that the best thing(in my opinion) would be to make the seven books in the same idea behind "the animatrix", and have seven different visual expressions and interpretations of the novels.
with that you wont really be able to bring the books to a huge audience because i dont think that it would work so well on the big screen (i hate to say that, but im a realist…kind of), but i think that we as loyal fans would do our best and i think that it has to be done….
ive read these books twice since i was 21 and i am a huge fan, but i have to give it up to those of you out there that had to wait for them to come out. that must have hurt.
There's too much for each book. even the Gunslinger will get fucked up if they make it into a single film.
In a way, I would LOVE for this to be a movie.
I've loved these books for years. They're flawless.
but thats the problem. Think of how mainstream The Dark Tower would be, after something like this?
countless 12 year olds would be wearing Dark tower T-shirts, playing with the brand new Roland action figure, buying books (which now show the actors in the movie on the cover, other than the ones we know, now) that they'd never read.
as much as I'd LOVE to see this happen…. I dont know any other way to say it other than, "if it aint broke, dont fix it".
Ha ha you are a carpet muncher ! ROFL…and Harry Potter is huge, it's not just for what you say "teeny boppers."
I agree with alo of the comments that have been posted, however, i would also hate to see this movie made. to even consider the rammifications of trying to simplifiy a sprawling epic such as this doesn't bare thinking about and the thought of dumbing it down for audiences to better understand is to me absolutly criminal. To take Stephen kings greatest achivement and turn it into something it's not makes me want to scream at JJ Abrahams until he gets it right or until i run out of breath. I sincerly hope he gets it right, tries to fit everything spot on or fails so misrably that no one notices, because, in my opinion, somethings are best left to the imagination.
Just dont make the movie and save us all (The real children of the Tower) a lot of heart ache. Im sick and tired of seeing the books I love destroyed by these so-called cinema geniuses who read the back covers and think they can make great movies based off that information alone! And as for trying to reach all ages, well, thats just rediculous! That would be like trying to turn Cujo into the next Benji! Like many others have stated, if its not broken leave it the (your favorite expletive here) alone!
First off, both Stephen King and JJ Abrhams would never "dumb-down" this series to appeal to more audiences. That act is done for plots which are unappealing. Who here can honestly say that while reading the series that their imagination has not been working as a movie inside their heads. Seccond, no one needs to worry about the Dark Tower going "mainstream". With extreme violence, descriptive sex and rape scenes, and explicit drug use, I don't think any parent in their right mind would allow their child to see this movie, which will undoubtedley be rated R, if not NC-17.
what about Daniel Day Lewis as Roland?
this is the most incredible book series ever in my personal opinion. i read the and completed the series and was just amazed with the scale and just how composed the story was. some other epic novels i've read were decent but never seemed to fit. only as far as story line and plot. as for the movie, i think every film is only as good as the director. i think that abrams is a perfect fit. with cloverfield and star trek under his belt he has the eye for a movie like the dark tower. he understands that the scale of the book is massive and thats just his style. the movie better be rated R. if its not its going to be a travesty, it'll look like a rings knock off. we all know the tower is far greater than the rings, lets just hope they don't cut too many corners and ignore our beloved story just to amp up visual scenes. can't wait for them to start banging out some ideas.
I didn't think any of Kings' books could be done properly in film. But they keep making his books into movies, and it's very interesting to see the difference your mind creates and the film-makers create.
It seems to me that any book to movie adaptation of King's has always been butchered in some way, shape, or form. However, Abrahams never does anything halfway. Lost is one of the all time greatest shows ever made and often shadows themes from The Dark Tower. I could easily see Lost existing inside the wheel that holds the universe together known as the Dark Tower. Star Trek wasn't half bad either. No matter how you slice it, there will be problems but there could also be amazing payoffs. I think true fans are itching to see Roland on the big screen but would be heartbroken if that portrayal wasn't near perfect. I mean this is a huge undertaking. I'm just watching to see how this unfolds. Its got my attention. I could only hope for the best. I personally don't think Eastwood is too old, but he is too well known to play the role. I never thought Ledger would make a good Joker, but was surprised with that pick. Maybe Abrahams will do the same.
Let Quentin Tarentino do the movie in the tradition of the "Kill Bill" series and "Pulp Fiction" and let it have an R rating to keep it from becoming a "kiddie" movie.
Why is it that everyone is saying to keep the story the same, but to also change it in minute details according to what they want the story to be like? Sure it's a given that these guys won't be able to do the series a complete justice. But the thing is, you have to look at the series of movies, as a series of movies. And definately not look at them as book adaptations. Think about it, the harry potter movies were so different than the books. But, if you look at them as just movies, pushing the details of the books to the back of your mind, you would know that the Harry Potter movies were amazing.
Just on a movie basis. (i have to do multiple comments XD)
As for people whom could star in it, in my opinion: If only Dakota Fanning were a boy she could play jake so well. Who else is that young and yet so intensely smart? Susannah would easily be Rosario Dawson. hands down. Eddie would have to be someone toned but without alot of muscle mass to fit the physical part of an on the wagon ex heroine addict. so the obvious choice is a tough choice between Ryan Gosling and James McAvoy. Our hero, Roland of Gilead would be (and don't kill me when i say:) Clooney or Depp. if only Johnny Depp had George Clooney's voice…
Ok, so I take the "Man with no Name" character, and insert him into Lord of the Rings. I remember when this was called Mad Max. Great phucking idea. Only you better hire Clint Eastwood to play Roland, otherwise you're going to get a BIG phucking back-last from non-Dark Tower fanatics who will scream "plagiarism"!!!!!
It's a cool book, I've read them. I'm not saying it's not a cool story. But, what some people call inspiration for this book, I call a rip off of Sergio Leone, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Miller and Byron Kennedy.
In the end, non-Dark Tower fans are going to say "I've already seen this movie, I swear"
George PHUCKING Clooney? Are you kidding me? What is this, Batman 7?
You need a loner for this character. Clooney ain't no phucking loner. Depp is too young. You need someone who is worn, and empty. Clint Eastwood….when he already played this roll in The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.
If you really need to make this rip off story into a movie, please think a little deeper then George Clooney.
You're absolutely right. If the cinema geniuses just took the time to read what was between the covers, they might just realize how bad, and how much of a rip off these books are. If we we are lucky, someone might just do the right thing, and call ol' Mr. Dick Bachman out for stealing from two great works, and making them one.
###SPOILER###
Would starting the Dark Tower movies with Roland having the Horn of Eld, be an interesting way to adapt the movies?
Same but different tale?
Crazy, Unnecessary, Stupid?
Love to hear you views
interesting concept, Mimi. Tarantino's just crooked enough to make it gel.
bravo, Steele! -i'd take Clooney, were he willing to go narrow enough…but Johnny would only have to smoke for six months to get the effect you're looking for.
a pack a day.
and, unless i miss my guess…he's a smoker already. not much to it but More Of The Same.
y'know?
Weazel: have you seen "Peacemaker", "Solaris", or "Three Kings"?
if so…watch them again.
and think of Roland.
once you fuse those elements, you come up with an entirely new dynamic.
right?
right.
you just defined Writing.
well, King's "expanded edition" adds a little to the number of flashbacks. in one of them, i suppose a younger Roland would yet retain the Horn.
as the original epic stands (if one forgives the pun), the Horn of Eld's import (at tale's end) comes across as rather…forced.
i think that's why he did the "clean-up" expansion(s) anyhow.
indulging his ability to "tweak".
but, y'know, hey: 'tis the age of Director's Cuts.
youre fucking nerds
I wouldn't mind changes to the movie versions as long as it was O.K.ed by Mr. King.I hate it when movies are deballed and dumbed down for kiddies.The first 2 books are the best so mabee only subtle changes that only people who have actually read the books would really notice or care. I think Ewan McGreggor for Eddie Dean would work great, and for Roland Michael O'Hare or a French or English Shakespearian actor with an accent.For Susan?… Whoopi Goldberg …..no way just kidding,mabee the girl in Death Proof with the foul mouth.
brad pitt would do the job great and i sure hope these guys finish off the Lost series as soon as possible; the problem with this series is that you really get lost once you missed one episode..
for stephen the scarlet king i would set for a 7 volumes filmseries
7 movies would be amazing… this would be something that we could be enthralled with over the course of the next 15 years! Please let the crew take as long as they need to do this thing right.
This is the first information I have ever seen on a film adaptation of The Dark Tower. I have to say, no matter how long it takes, I'm a happy guy. I'm sure it will be difficult to capture the books, but my doubts will not stop me from watching every movie/series released under this title. It could be epic, and could redeem King's work to those who only know of terrible film adaptations they have seen in the past. However, downrate if you choose, the ending of the last book has got to change to be worth the wait.
I would rather see it as a, very long, series on HBO or a like channel.
I remember reading The Gunslinger on an airplane in 1987, this guy saw me reading it and said that he envied me for just starting to read the series. Can't believe it's been that long. I hope waiting for the next movie won't take as long as waiting for the next novel!
They should focus on remaking The STAND first.
if they do they need to go HBO if the stand is adapted, I think they need to execute it the same way they executed carnival the only difference being, it could be ended on season 2 and not leave us wanting, maybe if you consider Stephen King's work a macro novel it could be like a series of miniseries adapting each novel, each lasting the length of the novel or short story, with a proper budget, however AMC might be just as equal, it seems HBO and AMC concentrate on a good story, showtime never made the list because with the exception of Dexter they are concentrated on sex and market, which in my opinion is what makes it a crappy network, but if you go the hybrid route which is HBO or AMC you could adapt the dark tower and the rest of the novels in order, with the exception of the darabont films those needn't be touched but I would say: Hearts in Atlantis, The Stand, IT (which is being made into a film again), The Talisman and Blackhouse all need to be adapted to form the opening chorus, afterword's we jump into All World and enjoy the ride, this is the way that the dark tower need be executed.
The Dark Tower was by far the best series I have ever read. Funny thing is it was 1988 when I first picked up the Dark Tower at the age of 15. I waited forever for the rest of the books to be written. I was 30 when I finished the series. I have read the series over 5 times now and love it all the more. And considering what they said about changing the ending NO WAY! It has to end that way! Dont change a damn thing about it. I dont mind waiting for the movie as long as I know it is coming I am good!