Stephen King's 'Dark Tower' Set For Film Trilogy, TV Series

DaHowie · Post by **DaHowie** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:45 pm

From
http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/stephen ... mind-trio/" target="_blank

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:00 pm

King movies are pretty hit-or-miss, but I'll be very happy if they get this right. Roland is one of my favorite characters.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:06 pm

My initial reaction is that they need Timothy Olyphant as Roland.

rshetts2 · Post by **rshetts2** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:12 pm

This was originally set to be done by Abrahms Bad Robot co. but rights passed and now it looks like Ron Howard will be taking this on. Ron Howard?! Didnt he just finish destroying both the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons? I cant possibly imagine how hes going to be able to handle material as heady as the Dark Tower if he cant handle pulp schlock like Brown. I cant see this as having much of a chance but still I was willing to give him a shot until the writer was mentioned. Akiva Goldsman, the mind behind the franchise destroying Batman and Robin and of course the childhood raping movie version of Lost in Space. Hell, the hack couldnt even get I am Legend right and that seems like a no brainer. Now I am convinced that this is a doomed project. Could someone please kick this over to somebody like Nolan so we can have some small hope that this will be worth watching.... please?

FTWalker · Post by **FTWalker** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:26 pm

I have my doubts for the sole reason that King's books rarely translate well to film.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:05 pm

Kelric wrote:My initial reaction is that they need Timothy Olyphant as Roland.

That would be justified.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:06 pm

rshetts2 wrote:Ron Howard?! Didnt he just finish destroying both the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons?

They already had a head start before he got to them.

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:10 pm

rshetts2 wrote:Ron Howard?! Didnt he just finish destroying both the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons? I cant possibly imagine how hes going to be able to handle material as heady as the Dark Tower if he cant handle pulp schlock like Brown.

Wait, huh? I'm not getting this at all.

DaVinci Code novel - huge hit? Check
DaVinci Code movie - huge hit? Check ($700M+ worldwide)
Angels & Demons novel - huge hit? Check (after everyone went back post DaVinci Code and read it)
Angels & Demons movie - huge hit? Check ($485M+ worldwide)

So by the measure of box-office success, what he did was the opposite of "destroyed."

And since the films by and large were faithful adaptations of the novels, it's rather hard to argue that Howard somehow "destroyed" their artistic integrity assuming the novels had any to begin with.

So I'm Lost. Your use of "destroyed" must be a Symbol for some particular aspect of Howard's work.

JonathanStrange · Post by **JonathanStrange** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:24 pm

I'll watch the Dark Tower series having read and finished the books. As I thought SK demolished his own series and sent it careening off into "I don't what happens to your characters except Roland" country, whatever they do to the series won't matter much to me. SK proved he hadn't thought his circular, meaningless series through at all, television won't hurt the Dark Tower much.

(As for the Da Vinci Code and its sequels, RH couldn't ruin what was already a huge abortion to begin with. That the books and the movies made money didn't make them any less trash.)

rshetts2 · Post by **rshetts2** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:38 pm

Sith Lord wrote:
rshetts2 wrote:Ron Howard?! Didnt he just finish destroying both the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons? I cant possibly imagine how hes going to be able to handle material as heady as the Dark Tower if he cant handle pulp schlock like Brown.
Wait, huh? I'm not getting this at all.

DaVinci Code novel - huge hit? Check
DaVinci Code movie - huge hit? Check ($700M+ worldwide)
Angels & Demons novel - huge hit? Check (after everyone went back post DaVinci Code and read it)
Angels & Demons movie - huge hit? Check ($485M+ worldwide)

So by the measure of box-office success, what he did was the opposite of "destroyed."

And since the films by and large were faithful adaptations of the novels, it's rather hard to argue that Howard somehow "destroyed" their artistic integrity assuming the novels had any to begin with.

So I'm Lost. Your use of "destroyed" must be a Symbol for some particular aspect of Howard's work.

Obviously I was stating a personal opinion in regards to both movies and not making a reference to their commercial success. I completely disagree that the movies were "faithful" adaptations especially with Angels and Demons where many crucial plot points were completely ignored. If you go by financial figures to establish a movies pedigree then Transformers 2 was a fantastic film! IMHO it was a complete train wreck but each to their own.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:51 pm

Grifman wrote:
Kelric wrote:My initial reaction is that they need Timothy Olyphant as Roland.
That would be justified.

I'll eventually watch that show....

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:01 pm

I think Ron Howard is fairly competent. It's Akiva Goldsman that's a bigger issue. I'm not sure why they work together so much. I've been wanting a Dark Tower series for a long time now, and I'm still excited by this news. Just, not as much as I might've been if they'd gone with another director/writer.

Guy Incognito · Post by **Guy Incognito** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:46 pm

Just don't know how this'll translate.

I'm about 120 pages away from finishing the last book. Parts I absolutely love, parts I hate. If not for a friend I wouldn't have made it past the first book. I enjoy the parts that focus on Roland and his world. The rest? Not so much.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:41 pm

Guy Incognito wrote:Just don't know how this'll translate.

I'm about 120 pages away from finishing the last book. Parts I absolutely love, parts I hate. If not for a friend I wouldn't have made it past the first book. I enjoy the parts that focus on Roland and his world. The rest? Not so much.

Are you reading the book seven edition that has the second ending in it?

DD* · Post by DD* » Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:49 pm

Roland = Clint Eastwood circa 1985 or so. On this, there can be no argument.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:19 pm

This is my nightmare cast:

Roland......Tom Hanks
Jake.........Haley Joel Osmont
Eddie........Vince Vaughn
Odetta......Oprah Winfrey
Oy...........CGI by the same people that are doing the Yogi Bear movie

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Sat May 01, 2010 12:49 am

DD* wrote:Roland = Clint Eastwood circa 1985 or so. On this, there can be no argument.

Of course. But Olyphant is an acceptable substitute, I think. Roland should be older than Olyphant (as 1985 Eastwood was), but some hair dying and makeup can take care of that.

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sat May 01, 2010 1:01 am

Kelric, I haven't see Olyphant in much, so right now I totally cannot see him as Roland at all. But, as I said, I haven't seen him in much. Can you recommend me a movie or two where he's at his best? I'm curious.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Sat May 01, 2010 1:11 am

Kyosho wrote:Kelric, I haven't see Olyphant in much, so right now I totally cannot see him as Roland at all. But, as I said, I haven't seen him in much. Can you recommend me a movie or two where he's at his best? I'm curious.

Honesty I base this recommendation about 95% on how he looks and how I picture Roland (like a 1985 Clint Eastwood or an aging Olyphant) and about 5% on the awesomeness that is The Girl Next Door. He just fits how I imagine Roland - tall, skinny, brown hair, kind of crazy.

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sat May 01, 2010 1:24 am

Oh. As far as just looks go, I'd prefer some one like Kevin McKidd. I just don't know if he could do a role like that.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Sat May 01, 2010 2:21 am

Kyosho wrote:Oh. As far as just looks go, I'd prefer some one like Kevin McKidd. I just don't know if he could do a role like that.

He carried Rome. He could carry Roland.

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sat May 01, 2010 2:41 am

Ah, yeah, you know I never saw that. Good point though. Hmm.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Sat May 01, 2010 2:54 am

Kyosho wrote:Ah, yeah, you know I never saw that. Good point though. Hmm.

Srsly? Please tell me your only exposure to him isn't Grey's Anatomy. Please.

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sat May 01, 2010 6:52 am

Um, no, of course not. I've seen him in..uh..... Aha! He was in GTA Vice City. As some character I don't recall even though I've played the game through multiple times. But yeah, I'm sure he was great in that! I don't watch Grey's Anatomy, no sir. Definitely not.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Sat May 01, 2010 11:40 pm

Kyosho wrote:Um, no, of course not. I've seen him in..uh..... Aha! He was in GTA Vice City. As some character I don't recall even though I've played the game through multiple times. But yeah, I'm sure he was great in that! I don't watch Grey's Anatomy, no sir. Definitely not.

Oh, well, you probably saw him in Made Of Honor, then, right?

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sun May 02, 2010 1:52 am

Is that better to admit to than Grey's Anatomy? If so, let's go with that.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Sun May 02, 2010 1:54 am

Kyosho wrote:Is that better to admit to than Grey's Anatomy? If so, let's go with that.

I'd guess no. I just looked at his IMDB page. It seemed worse.

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Sun May 02, 2010 9:15 am

Speaking of the Dark Tower, I just picked up the last few issues of the 5-part (30-issue, I think?) graphic novel series and got to finish the whole thing. It's the story of Roland and his first ka-tet, beginning with him winning his guns from Cort and ending with the disastrous battle of Jericho Hill. It includes the time in Meijis/Hambry, of course.

They were written by Peter David, who's work I often like, based on plotlines developed by Robin Furth, King's research assistant during the final three novels of the series.

I thought the series was excellent. Each issue was about 70% story and 30% "other stuff." The "other stuff" included everything from reflections on the series by Furth and others to pencil sketches of both used and unused artwork. The best ones, though, had backstory on various aspects of the Dark Tower universe - Maerlyn's rainbow, Arthur Eld, poisons, magic, North Central Positronics, etc., etc.

My only regret, and it's a small one, is that I bought each issue as a comic, rather than getting the hardbound collected editions. I'd have liked to put that next to the original novels on my bookshelf. They're about $12-16 (for each of the five) on Amazon. If I had the money, I think I'd buy them anyway, and duplication be damned.

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Mon May 03, 2010 9:20 am

On my blog today I expanded a bit on my thoughts above and review the completed Dark Tower comic series.

A Completed Journey - Stephen King's Dark Tower Graphic Novels

Jaddison · Post by **Jaddison** » Mon May 03, 2010 11:01 am

I could see josh brolin or hugh laurie as Roland. Hugh Laurie with the piercing blue eyes is a pretty good fit. Wizard and Glass is tougher to cast with young Roland, Cuthbert and Alain.

I could even see Gary Sinese as Roland

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Mon May 03, 2010 11:06 am

Jaddison wrote:I could even see Gary Sinese as Roland

I find that hard to picture, but then casting actors has never really been my strong suit. Josh Brolin seems like a good fit, but it would be awfully similar to his Jonah Hex role - probably too similar.

Jaddison · Post by **Jaddison** » Mon May 03, 2010 11:40 am

weird as it may sound Laurence Fishburne would a damn fine Roland as well. Jason Patric, Guy Pearce as well

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:27 pm

Jaddison wrote:weird as it may sound Laurence Fishburne would a damn fine Roland as well. Jason Patric, Guy Pearce as well

Guy Pearce could pull it off. How about Paul Bettany?

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:28 pm

Jaddison wrote:weird as it may sound Laurence Fishburne

It'd be a little strange for Suzannah to refer to Laurence Fishburne as a "honkey ma-fa" for most of The Drawing of the Three.

Jaddison · Post by **Jaddison** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:30 pm

easily re-written as high yellow or uncle tom or probably any number of expressions I have never heard

Guy Incognito · Post by **Guy Incognito** » Mon May 03, 2010 2:16 pm

Kelric wrote:
Guy Incognito wrote:Just don't know how this'll translate.

I'm about 120 pages away from finishing the last book. Parts I absolutely love, parts I hate. If not for a friend I wouldn't have made it past the first book. I enjoy the parts that focus on Roland and his world. The rest? Not so much.
Are you reading the book seven edition that has the second ending in it?

I assume the one with the 2nd ending but I don't know. The book ended, King wrote that I should probably stop reading, then he talked for a little bit and the story went back to Roland.

Newcastle · Post by **Newcastle** » Mon May 03, 2010 2:25 pm

rshetts2 wrote:
Sith Lord wrote:
rshetts2 wrote:Ron Howard?! Didnt he just finish destroying both the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons? I cant possibly imagine how hes going to be able to handle material as heady as the Dark Tower if he cant handle pulp schlock like Brown.
Wait, huh? I'm not getting this at all.

DaVinci Code novel - huge hit? Check
DaVinci Code movie - huge hit? Check ($700M+ worldwide)
Angels & Demons novel - huge hit? Check (after everyone went back post DaVinci Code and read it)
Angels & Demons movie - huge hit? Check ($485M+ worldwide)

So by the measure of box-office success, what he did was the opposite of "destroyed."

And since the films by and large were faithful adaptations of the novels, it's rather hard to argue that Howard somehow "destroyed" their artistic integrity assuming the novels had any to begin with.

So I'm Lost. Your use of "destroyed" must be a Symbol for some particular aspect of Howard's work.
Obviously I was stating a personal opinion in regards to both movies and not making a reference to their commercial success. I completely disagree that the movies were "faithful" adaptations especially with Angels and Demons where many crucial plot points were completely ignored. If you go by financial figures to establish a movies pedigree then Transformers 2 was a fantastic film! IMHO it was a complete train wreck but each to their own.

i really enjoyed the da vinci code book & angel & demons. They were fun reads with nice little twists in them and tossing in the historical angle & conspiracy clues was a nice little touch. I enjoyed the books for what they were and not read deeper into hating catholicism or whatever.

however, i honestly dont think the source material can easily translate into a good movie, simply there are a lot of little details and actions that take place in the main characters minds, and to translate each and every bit of those to the movie would have blown up the movie to 4+ hours. So i think a good movie adaption was in fact extremely hard to do. I do think Ron howard is a pretty damn good directory though and hopefully he can pull this off. I started reading the dark tower in the early 90's but stopped after book 3 or so, since i had read somewhere that king was gonna take his time finishing the series.

Also about timothy olyphant, he can be seen in justified on FX right now. Fun little show.

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Mon May 03, 2010 2:48 pm

Guy Incognito wrote:
Kelric wrote:Are you reading the book seven edition that has the second ending in it?
I assume the one with the 2nd ending but I don't know. The book ended, King wrote that I should probably stop reading, then he talked for a little bit and the story went back to Roland.

Wait, what's this about a second ending? My copy is a first edition hardcover (bought it for my wife - she's been a King fan since before I ever started the Dark Tower). It's 845 pages long, including

Spoiler:

Is that everything or am I missing something?

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Mon May 03, 2010 2:51 pm

Newcastle wrote:I started reading the dark tower in the early 90's but stopped after book 3 or so, since i had read somewhere that king was gonna take his time finishing the series.

The impression I get, and I don't know that King has ever come right out and said it, is that if not for getting hit by that van, he very well might never have finished it. I think it had gotten a lot bigger than he'd ever expected and I suspect it probably even scared him a little (or a lot) so he put it off and put it off and did other stuff. It was his magnum opus, after all - remember that he said he was retiring after he finished it, planning to never write again. I think that might have lasted almost an entire year, but I'm not sure it was that long.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Mon May 03, 2010 3:01 pm

Guy Incognito wrote:
Kelric wrote:
Guy Incognito wrote:Just don't know how this'll translate.

I'm about 120 pages away from finishing the last book. Parts I absolutely love, parts I hate. If not for a friend I wouldn't have made it past the first book. I enjoy the parts that focus on Roland and his world. The rest? Not so much.
Are you reading the book seven edition that has the second ending in it?
I assume the one with the 2nd ending but I don't know. The book ended, King wrote that I should probably stop reading, then he talked for a little bit and the story went back to Roland.

Right, that would be the second ending.

Sith Lord

Spoiler: