Stephen King’s epic novel series The Dark Tower is practically begging to be adapted into either a movie or a TV series. Early in 2009 it was reported that J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot production company were going to be bringing the book series to the big-screen. However, late last year Abrams revealed he wouldn’t be adapting the books after all.

But fear not Dark Tower fans as Deadline is reporting that Universal Pictures and NBC Universal have landed a deal to bring King’s epic to life. If it wasn’t exciting enough that King’s “magnum opus” is finally being adapted (for real this time), the adaptation will come to us in the form of not only a whole trilogy of movies but also a coinciding TV series.

How exactly can a TV series coincide with a trilogy of movies? Well, the details are quite complicated when you first look at them but they break down fairly simply if you really study them:

Things will start off with the first in the movie trilogy and then that will be bridged onto the first season of the TV series which will follow fairly quickly thereafter. Then the second movie in the trilogy will follow on from where the first season of the series leaves off. After that second movie is done things will be bridged back to the series for the second season and then once that’s done the story will continue on and conclude with the third part of the movie trilogy.

That’s quite a plan that’s been put together: They’re counting on audiences being willing to go and see the first Dark Tower movie and then jump over to TV to find out what happens next (then doing the same thing again when it comes to the movie sequel and the second season), all the while committing more time and effort to follow the storyline (hour-long episodes week-on-week as opposed to a single 2-3 hour movie). While it may be somewhat risky it nonetheless shows that the people behind the adaptation have commitment and belief in their vision.

As for who’s behind The Dark Tower adaptations on the creative side, Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind) will direct the first feature film and the entire first season of the TV series and Akiva Goldsman (I Am Legend) while write the first movie and the first season of the series. Both will produce the adaptations along with Howard’s Imagine Entertainment partner, Brian Grazer and Stephen King himself (I guess the author wants to have a hand in seeing this get done right).

I never read it.

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@audioidkid

I know the Hoffy Crew is with me on this one.

That's awesome. Loved the books (except for 7), and the comics have been pretty decent as well. I hope this actually happens.

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He should have stopped at wizard and glass, everything after that was self-indulgent crap. He missed the truly good story (Roland's past after Wizard and Glass) to write a story about himself.


And the ending (like most Stephen King books) really sucked. He can start a good story but has a real problem finishing.

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My only hope is that they actually cast at least one A-Lister for this series. I don't even care who. I just can't take another group of Stephen King movies starring Ron Pearlman and Rob Lowe.

this was that series i really wanted to try out but never had the time to get into it. and now i really can't stand to read king anymore.

i have heard really good things about this series, though.

I really enjoyed this series for this most part, especially the first four books, but felt the sixth book was pretty lame. Lots of readers were very disappointed by the ending, especially Roland's fate. I was hoping for a decent confrontation between Roland and Walter or Roland and the Crimson King. Both Walter's and CK's death were pretty lame considering they were extremely fucking evil and powerful and died like two bitches.

Ron Howard as a director doesn't do much for me. He doesn't make terrible movies but he doesn't make great ones either. I can't imagine who they would cast for Roland. No big name actor really sticks out to me as having the gunslinger's looks. Who out there is tall, thing, and haggard with cold blue eyes? Jamey Sheridan to reprise his role as Flagg/Walter? And what about the bumbler? Will it be CGI for Oy?

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Back off, Warchild. Seriously.

I always pictured Viggo or even Guy Pierce as potential Rolands. Neither have been in anything substantial in the last couple of years, and Viggo has the LOTR epic-movie experience to do a good job.

As long as Halle Berry plays Susanna, I'm good.

Bump.

Per Stephen King's website the role of Roland has been offered to Javier Bardem. I like him as an actor but it doesn't quite make sense to me. Roland is based off of Eastwood's role in the Sergio Leone trilogy. I don't think it's a bad choice. Just not quite right. Supposed we'll have to see how he looks in the costume and all.

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Back off, Warchild. Seriously.

I could see it... maybe. Just as long as the accent is completely gone.

I can see it.




Or his twin Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

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Interesting choice... not sure if I am crazy about it but he seems to be a decent actor.

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Pissed off BUMP.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/07/universal-wont-scale-stephen-kings-the-dark-tower-studio-declines-to-make-ambitious-trilogy-and-tv-series/

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BOO!

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https://www.backroadspubandgrill.com

Maybe this is a good thing. Ron Howard sort of sucks at directing. Eventually this will get made into movies or an HBO/SHowtime series.

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Even moreso, Akiva Goldsman being off the project should be heralded.

I honestly didn't really enjoy the idea of having three movies and a TV series. If that stupid wizard from England can get 7 movies, so can the Dark Tower.