NEWS - THE DARK TOWER

Is The Dark Tower on again?

Posted: August 21, 2012, 23:03

Is The Dark Tower on again? Well, Deadline posted this update:

Media Rights Capital is in serious talks to take on The Dark Tower after Warner Bros declined to make what potentially amounts to three feature films and two limited run TV series. MRC’s Modi Wiczyk is a big fan of the Stephen King novel series, I hear, and the company is eager to capitalize on the positive momentum they got from developing and financing the Seth MacFarlane-directed summer sleeper hit Ted with Mark Wahlberg. MRC next has the Neill Blomkamp-directed Elysium with Matt Damon, and the company has the capital to back an ambitious project like The Dark Tower with director Ron Howard eyeing Russell Crowe as the gunslinger Roland Deschain and his quest to travel through a Western-style world woven with magic to find the Dark Tower, mankind’s only hope. Akiva Goldsman adapted the book and is producing along with Brian Grazer and Stephen King. Even though MRC was unavailable to comment, I expect this deal to make quickly. MRC has a distribution arrangement with Universal, but it’s unclear whether that studio would release the film. Universal developed it but passed on making the project before it moved to Warner Bros.

Thanks to Gordon W. Olson

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Is the Dark Tower dead?

Posted: August 21, 2012, 08:26

Warner has, like Universal passed on The Dark Tower. The studio looked at the package as part of its weekend read and decided to pass.

So, is this the end for the movie version of The Dark Tower? Not according to Ron Howard.

Here are some articles:

Hollywood reporter
Vulture
Slashfilm
Comingsoon

Thanks to Rick Urban and Lou Sytsma

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Russell Crowe as Roland?

Posted: August 3, 2012, 13:27

Looks like Ron Howard wants Russell Crowe to play Roland... Any thoughts on that?

The multi-film and TV miniseries adaptation of Stephen King‘s epic novel cycle The Dark Tower isn’t dead yet, and it could end up marking the reunion of director Ron Howard and his A Beautiful Mind star Russell Crowe.

Deadline reports that within the next two weeks Warners will make a decision on whether to greenlight the very ambitious adaptation that was cut loose from Universal and developed without a studio until Warners started getting interested months ago.

Javier Bardem, who was attached to play Deschain for some time, through multiple stages of the difficult project, is no longer set for the role, says Deadline.

Read more here.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson

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The Dark Tower still alive!

Posted: May 7, 2012, 11:24

Ron Howard tweeted this yesterday:

Spent day today in a story session on...Dark Tower :-) Terrific meeting w/ Akiva Goldsman & Erica Huggins No timetables but very positive

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Is Warner going to The Dark Tower?

Posted: March 13, 2012, 22:28

According to Deadline Warner is very close to a deal that will give Ron Howard the chance to direct at least the first feature movie based on King’s The Dark Tower, potentially with Javier Bardem starring as gunslinger Roland Deschain. And Akiva Goldsman (who wrote the script) is producing with Brian Grazer and the author.

Read more here.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma and Rick Urban.

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The Dark Tower is alive

Posted: March 5, 2012, 00:28

Talk Stephen King caught this interesting news from Ron Howard about The Dark Tower. Not much news but it’s good to see it’s not dead yet…

Thanks to Herbert West

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The Dark Tower Still Homeless

Posted: November 23, 2011, 23:08

My favorite King blog Talk Stephen King reported the following today.

While Ron Howard signs new deals with HBO, Deadline gives this quote from Akiva Goldsman, “we’re still pushing the boulder uphill.” Deadline says that Goldsman is optimistic that the ambitious project will find a home “very soon.” But he just signed a 2 year deal with HBO to make a series about Doc Holliday. Ron Howard is expected to direct the pilot.

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Howard talks Dark Tower

Posted: November 2, 2011, 11:58

Here is an interview with Ron Howard and the last question deals with The Dark Tower.

THR: What’s the future of Dark Tower?

Howard: We are continuing to work on the script to find ways to make the budget more manageable and still deliver the work in a way that the project deserves. We were always racing and fast-tracking the project, so I always wince when I see something written about it and there’s a release date in there. These kinds of projects often take years to come together in the right ways. But I am in love with the material, and the minute it can come together in the right way, I am fully committed to it. Rush was kind of like a gift. I love stories that center on fascinating characters, and here you have psychologically complex, rare human beings, and they are also young and cool -- and it’s all in this unbelievably glamorous, sexy period in the mid-’70s. And yet, in terms of emotion and the heartbeat of the story, I think they will be very relatable. If you don’t know anything about Formula One, I’m going to present it in such a way that you’ll very likely fall in love with it. If you do know Formula One, I’m going to be very respectful and deliver a film you’ll love, too.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

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Dark Tower heading for HBO?

Posted: October 25, 2011, 22:42

Is The Dark Tower moving to HBO? Well, according to Brian Grazer it is. This is what he told MTV:

"We're going to do ['The Dark Tower'] with HBO," Grazer told us. "We'll do the TV with HBO, and we'll do the movie with… to be determined. We'll do it right."

If this is correct it's very good news. HBO is known for thir solid work and huge successes.

Read more here.

Thanks to Gordon W. Olson

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Brian Grazer says Dark Tower is gonna get made

Posted: October 24, 2011, 11:57

Producer Brian Grazer Says $40-50 Million Cut From ‘Dark Tower’ Budget Means “It’s Gonna Get Made”

We spoke to Brian Grazer during the “Tower Heist” press rounds today, and while we could only score a few moments with the prolific producer, he did inform us that the budget has been shaved way back, possibly to the project’s benefit. “We found a way to cut out $45 million out of the budget without changing the scope and actually giving it a good ending,” Grazer said, suggesting a heavily re-worked approach. “In the $140 million draft, the ending wasn’t quite as satisfying. Now, we’ve got $45 million, $50 million out of the way and a really satisfying ending. It’s gonna get made.”

Read more here.

More on Dark Tower

Posted: August 17, 2011, 23:30

More from Grazer about The Dark Tower movie.

But don't polish up your six-shooters yet: Grazer also stated that none of this will get underway until next year, after Howard finishes his Formula One racing movie Rush. And, yes, Javier Bardem is still attached to star as Roland ... but who knows what wrinkles may arise in an actor's schedule in a year's time?

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

Howard, Grazer and Goldsman seeks funding

Posted: August 17, 2011, 19:50

Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Akiva Goldsman are seeking funding for The Dark Tower movie. Javier Bardem remains attached to play Roland Deschain in the features. And one venue for the TV aspect of the project could end up being Netflix .

Brian Grazer told Page Six:

[We're] trying to get outside financing to make it, and distribute it through a major [studio].

Read more here.

King on Universal dropping the Tower

Posted: July 21, 2011, 03:20

Today King commented on Universal dropping The Dark Tower. Here is a repport from Entertainment Weekly:

Stephen King 'not really surprised' about 'Dark Tower' roadblock -- EXCLUSIVE

With the news that Universal has canceled its planned film-and-TV adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower book series, the author tells EW.com that he’s still optimistic that director Ron Howard will find a home for Roland the Gunslinger on the big (and/or small) screen. “I’m sorry Universal passed, but not really surprised,” he writes in an email. “As a rule, they’ve been about smaller and less risky pix; maybe they feel it would be better to stick with those fast and furious racing boys. I bear them no ill will, and trust Ron Howard to get Roland and his friends before the camera somewhere else. He’s very committed to the project.”

No Dark Tower for Universal

Posted: July 19, 2011, 22:23

Universal announced today that they are NOT doing The Dark Tower. Now Ron Howard and company have to convince another studio to back them IF they are still interested in bringing The Dark Tower to the movies. Here are some articles about it:

Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo! News
Collider

Thanks to Al Mattice, Herbert West, Daniel Taylor, John Scoleri and Ari.

Bardem trades Roland for Bond?

Posted: July 12, 2011, 00:07

Good news for James Bond fans but not for The Dark Tower fans. It has now been confirmed (see here) that Javier Bardem will be the villan in the next Bond movie. This will make it hard for him to star in The Dark Tower movie and might be an indication on where thta movie is heading...

Thanks to Mike Cahill

Dark Tower or not...

Posted: June 25, 2011, 23:39

A lot of rumors and speculations are going around right now about The Dark Tower and whether or not Ron Howard will direct it. People at Universal claims it’s still on but the fact that Ron Howard has signed on to do the biopic about formula one racer Nicky Lauda and also an adaptation of the “Spy vs. Spy” comic strip (if rumors are correct) will make it hard for him to get the time to do The Dark Tower. Howard also said recently that Javier Bardem formally hasn’t sign on to do the role of Roland yet (“Nobody is pay or play but he has said he wants to do it. We’ve spent a lot of time together. He’s fascinated by the character and has great instincts for Roland. I’m hoping when we go, he’s available and will join us.”) which is yet another bad sign for the movie.

However, Universal has to green light the film by next month or the rights revert to Imagine, Akiva Goldsman and King.

Howard & Grazer talks Dark Tower

Posted: June 21, 2011, 13:36

Here is an interview with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer in which they talk about The Dark Tower movie.

Howard comments on The Dark Tower

Posted: May 25, 2011, 08:31

Entertainment Weekly was supposed to talk to Ron Howard about his upcoming photo contest but ended up asking about The Dark Tower.

“We had to pull back to our September start date due to budget delays and ongoing story development and logistical issues, but Dark Tower is moving forward,” Howard said. “We’re thinking of starting in early spring now. I can’t really say who’ll be in it yet, but Javier Bardem has shown a great deal of interest. We’ll know by the end of the summer, when our flashing green light goes solid.” The project would start with a feature film, followed by six hours of TV content, starring the same actors as in the movie. “There are elements of the Dark Tower saga that are more personal and can be best dealt with on television,” Howard continued. “TV allows you to roll out details of the characters in a more methodical way.”

Thanks to David Squyres

Shooting The Dark Tower pushed to 2012?

Posted: May 18, 2011, 08:33

Reports says that shooting of The Dark Tower has now been pushed forward to February 2012 but that we might know if it'll happen or not by July...

After reports about The Dark Tower going into turn around at Universal, suddenly rumors abound that the epic Stephen King adaptation is now slated for a Ron Howard-directed February 2012 start date.

However, the project must get the green light by July or the rights will go back to the author and filmmakers.

Read more here.

Dark Tower update

Posted: May 15, 2011, 01:12

A somewhat sad update on The Dark Tower:

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Universal has dropped plans to start shooting the fall, as Goldsman is rewriting the script to reflect a lower budget. It hasn't been revealed how much lower the budget will be, or how that will affect the script, but it's still going to be a trilogy of movies and two TV series. Ron Howard is also still signed to direct the movie and the first episode of the TV show, with Brian Grazer producing and Goldsman writing all three movies.

The big question is whether this will affect the involvement of Javier Bardem, who signed on to play lead gunslinger Roland for at least the first movie and TV series back in April.

Read more here.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson

More news on The Dark Tower

Posted: May 9, 2011, 08:40

HollyWood Reporpter has an update on the status of The Dark Tower. And it it's correct it's not good. This line made me worried...

A final decision is said to be expected soon on whether to move forward, seek additional financing partners or cancel the project entirely. But cast and crew have been told to stop prepping the project.

Here is the rest of the article:

Imagine Denies 'Dark Tower' Trilogy in Turnaround As Questions MountMay

The ambitious plan by Universal, Imagine Entertainment and NBC to turn Stephen King’s The Dark Tower opus into a film trilogy with a television supplement has hit a major snag.

Read the complete text

The Dark Tower to high for Universal?

Posted: May 6, 2011, 12:41

Dread Central reports that Universal might have taken on to much when they agreed to do The Dark Tower. Here is what they say:

The challenge of bringing Stephen King's epic tale of gunslinger Roland Deschain in The Dark Tower is nothing short of a monumental task. Herculean even. With movies and TV shows promised, Universal is feeling some of the heat.

As per Variety:

Universal's unprecedented "Dark Tower" movie trilogy and interlocking TV series, seen as a hugely ambitious project from the start, may wind up being too big for the studio's appetite.

Sources tell Variety that in the last couple of days, the project, based on Stephen King's sweeping seven-book-and-counting series, has run into budgetary complications that have caused Universal execs to rethink their original plans. Insiders expect U brass to meet in coming days to decide whether to put the project into turnaround, whereby producer Imagine Entertainment could shop it to other studios, either to partner with Universal or take over entirely.

To be clear: Sources tell Variety that right now, Universal is moving ahead and is anxious to get the project up and going. The studio had no comment.

Ron Howard unveiled plans in September to adapt The Dark Tower for three films, the first of which he plans to direct, bridged by a pair of TV series. Universal soon came on as a distributor, given Imagine's production deal with the studio; NBC (or an affiliated cable net) was expected carry the TV component.

Javier Bardem's (pictured right) deal to play the lead role of Roland Deschain is nearly closed, while Howard is still eyeing thesps for other roles. Howard and Brian Grazer are producing through Imagine, while Akiva Goldsman is set to write the script.

Javier Bardem IS Roland!

Posted: April 26, 2011, 13:48

Javier Bardem has signed on to play Roland:

Bardem nails 'Tower' saga

Javier Bardem has officially signed an epic deal to star in the movie and TV adaptations of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" book series. The Oscar-winning actor will play Roland Deschain in the eagerly awaited Ron Howard and Brian Grazer adaptation of King's beloved seven-novel saga. It's a momentous deal because each of the three movies in the series is to be followed by a TV miniseries. A well-placed source confirmed to Page Six, "Bardem has signed on to the first movie and the miniseries, but the intention is that he will star in all three movies and each of the TV series. It's an enormous deal for any actor, but Bardem was always the first choice." The story follows "Gunslinger" Deschain as he travels through an Old West-like landscape in search of the mythical Dark Tower to save civilization. The first movie is expected to go into production in September with Howard directing.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

Mark Verheiden joins the Tower

Posted: April 13, 2011, 13:20

Here are some news about The Dark Tower movies:

There’s some good news pertaining to the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. It was announced today that Mark Verheiden has been signed on to co-write the NBC TV series alongside Akiva Goldsman.

Stephen King’s series of novels is set to be adapted on both the big and small screens. The TV show will fit between the first and second movie in the trilogy that’s set to play out in theaters.

According to Deadline, Mark Verheiden is set to co-write and executive produce the series. Verheiden’s TV credits include Heroes, Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, and the upcoming TNT drama Falling Skies. Needless to say, he’s no stranger to sci-fi/fantasy… unless you’re a stranger to sci-fi/fantasy, in which case, I suppose it does need to be said. Regardless, with a background that includes some very popular TV series (and also the film Timecop!), and Ron Howard’s direction, I’m thinking the Dark Tower project is in good hands.

Thanks to Ari

Bardem closing in on the Tower

Posted: April 11, 2011, 10:42

Looks like Javier Bardem is close to sealing his deal with Universal Pictures to play Roland in The Dark Tower. Several reports has stated that it's just a matter of time before the papers are signed. If this happens it would also open up for further casting to move along. Stay tuned for more news...

Thanks to Hans Wilhelm von Wirth and Louis Sytsma

Dark Tower and Javier update

Posted: March 2, 2011, 14:48

Here is a report from MTV about the latest with The Dark Tower and Javier Bardem:

With the ever-changing, ever-flowing news cycle surrounding the goings on in the film industry these days, it gets tougher and tougher to get concerned parties to actually confirm or break news. Nevertheless, our tireless team of intrepid reporters here at MTV News will not give up in trying to push people for info! Like whenever we happen upon super producer Brian Grazer and pump him for details about "The Dark Tower," for example...

The last time we checked in with Grazer, the Roland casting process was moving along, but slowly. When I stopped him while on his way into the Vanity Fair Oscar party last Sunday, solely with the purpose of peppering him about the reported casting of Javier Bardem as the ruthless gunslinger, he seemed pleasantly puzzled by the fact that MTV is so interested in the project.

"'Dark Tower,' Javier Bardem, that's what we're hoping," Grazer said when I asked him for an update. "We're in the process of trying to put that together. Will that make you happy? Will that make MTV happy?"

Yes, I told him. Very happy! But has he officially signed Bardem onto the project?

"He's locked in psychologically," Grazer said. "He really wants to do it, so we're absolutely rooting for him to do it."

When asked to address other potential cast members, Grazer said they're too busy with Bardem.

"We're really just focused on Javier right now," he said.

Grazer went on to say that in addition to the challenges involved with locking in a lead actor, they'll have their hands full trying to roll-out the project across multiple platforms including film, TV and video games.

"It's challenging to capture all of it, the density of it," he said, adding that he's excited to explore all the metaphors involved, and that the first story they're exploring is that of "The Gunslinger."

Thanks to Bev Vincent

More Javier as Roland

Posted: January 27, 2011, 16:48

Here is a comment about Javier as Roland from the moderator of King's official board:

I have the official go-ahead to announce that Ron Howard/Universal has offered Javier Bardem the part of Roland. I do not know if he has accepted the offer but chances are they wouldn't make this announcement if he wasn't considering it. The announcement was made through Deadline Hollywood--here's the link for the full story.

Javier Bardem is Roland

Posted: January 27, 2011, 15:35

Mike Fleming of Deadline Hollywood is reporting that oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem will play Roland Deschain in the upcoming Dark Tower films and television series.

This is also reported by King's official site so it looks like it's the real deal this time.

The contracts have been signed

Posted: January 25, 2011, 11:21

There has been word that the Dark Tower movies/TV series hasn't been green lighted but here is what the moderator of King's official board said about it:

Steve just had a meeting with Ron Howard and Akiva Goldsman a couple weeks ago and the contracts have all been signed. I think he would have mentioned if there was a problem but he said the meeting went fine. My understanding is they're planning to start announcing casting choices, possibly this week.

Howard talks some more Dark Tower

Posted: January 20, 2011, 16:39

When MTV spoke to Howard during the press day for his comedy "The Dilemma," he talked a bit about his plans for "The Dark Tower" series and how involved he will be.

"Right now what we're talking about is a movie and six or eight hours of television to bridge. My plan is to do most of those TV hours, if not all, and certainly the movies." And, in case you thought the roles of the main characters would be recast for the TV series, Howard confirmed that the actors from the films will indeed reprise their roles on the small screen.

Clip of Brian Grazer

Posted: January 20, 2011, 16:27

Here is a clip of Brian Grazer where he says we'll know who'll play Roland within a week.

And as a vice man told me (yes it was Bev Vincent), getting a big name attached to the movie might give them the 'go' they need...

The Dark Tower no 'go' yet?

Posted: January 20, 2011, 14:17

From an interview with Ron Howard published today (don't really know when it was done though):

How are things progressing with The Dark Tower?
"I'm working on it. We don't know if it's a 'go' but it is picking up a lot of momentum and a lot of creative momentum. I've had fantastic conversations with Stephen King. Akiva Goldsman, who wrote A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man and Da Vinci Code, is on it as a writer and also a producer and brought the project to me. We're already gathering this interesting team of people who love these genres - fantasy and horror. For me it's creatively very exciting. The possibilities are rich."

If this interview is done recently the fact that Howard says he don't know if it's a 'go' speaks against that we'll know in a week who'll play Roland...

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Dark Tower casting to be revealed soon?

Posted: January 19, 2011, 08:35

Comic Book Movie Fansite had an interesting article about the casting of The Dark Tower today. Apparently MTV caught up with producer Brian Grazer who had the following to say:

"...when we asked if he'd talked to the two actors about the part, he simply laughed and responded, 'Sure.' Grazer did say, however, that a casting announcement is imminent. How imminent? 'Within a week,' he said. Seriously? 'Seriously. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Seriously,' he assured us before asking, 'Who do you want?' Honestly, we'll take either of them. 'OK, great,' Grazer concluded."

This sounds a bit early but stranger things have happened. Personally I was hoping for an unknown actor but if it is down to Javier Bardem and Viggo Mortensen I'm hoping for Bardem.

Thanks to John Haberkorn

Dark Tower on TV is a six hour special

Posted: January 17, 2011, 00:19

Ron Howard recently spoke to Howard Stern about The Dark Tower and told him that the television portion of the adaptation”is really a six hour special”. Read more about the interview here.

Ron talks Dark Tower

Posted: January 14, 2011, 08:44

Ron Howard briefly mentioned his work on The Dark Tower movies at the end of his Today Show appearance promoting B>The Dilemma today. Check it out here

It's great to hear him speak about it even if he just mentions it briefly.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Susannah Dean casted?

Posted: January 9, 2011, 01:18

This rumor from The New York Post was reported earlier today:

The New York Post has the rumor, stating quite simply and without attribution: "'Pirates of the Caribbean' beauty Naomie Harris is being considered for the female lead in the Ron Howard's eagerly anticipated 'Dark Tower' trilogy." Without any official confirmation, let's treat Harris' involvement as a rumor for now — but it's certainly a rumor we're excited about.

Who is Roland?

Posted: January 3, 2011, 13:24

Looks like two men are the top contenders for playing Roland in the upcoming filmversion...

Ron Howard's adaptation of Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" has set off a casting frenzy in Hollywood. Agents are tripping over themselves to land their clients coveted roles in what promises to be a blockbuster film and television franchise. Leading the pack for the principal character, Roland Deschain, is Javier Bardem, with Viggo Mortensen a close second, sources tell us. Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman have a deal with Universal that will translate into a TV show and three movies, all using the same cast. Brian Grazer will produce with Goldsman and King. According to reports, they plan to start with an epic movie, then continue the story with the TV series, followed by a second film, and then a second TV season showing gunslinger Deschain as a young man. Then, the third movie will end the saga with Deschain as an older man.

LA Times article about The Dark Tower movie

Posted: December 19, 2010, 00:38

Here is an very interesting article about the upcoming Dark Tower adaptation. It mentiones some possible names and also confirms that the plan is movies #1, a TV season, movie #2, a second TV season and then the third movie.

Thanks to Louis Sytsma

Dark Tower update

Posted: December 14, 2010, 23:18

Here is an update on the upcoming Dark Tower movies from Bloody Disgusting.

Deadline caught up with Rob Howard, who is set to direct the first of three Steven King The Dark Tower adaptations, which will arrive in theaters May 17, 2013 from Universal Pictures. They write that they plan to turn King's masterwork into a film trilogy with a network TV series programmed between films. Howard will direct the first film and the limited run series that will create a bridge to the second feature. "It is going well, and it has been incredibly stimulating to work on," Howard said. "It's dense, a great author's life work is not to be taken lightly. It has been utterly fascinating to explore it, and we are having great creative conversations. I've begun tossing and turning at 3 in the morning over it, so that's a good sign." The books chronicle the mysterious The Gunslinger as he travels across a desolate and vaguely post-apocalyptic landscape in his quest for a black tower. Portals along the way eventually allow contact with our own modern world.

Thanks to Al Mattice

The first Dark Tower movie only 2½ years away

Posted: October 29, 2010, 21:34

2 days ago I told you about NBC's plans for The Dark Tower TV series and today it looks like the first movie is just about 2½ years away. From this article I got this:

And Ron Howard's first movie based on Stephen King's The Dark Tower has been scheduled for May 17, 2013.

Thanks to Herbert West

The Dark Tower on TV next season?

Posted: October 27, 2010, 15:46

Today I found an article called NBC - Full drama development slate for next season - almost all Fantasy/Sci-Fi and in it I found this interesting section:

DARK TOWER, THE: Eerie, dreamlike, set in a world that is weirdly related to our own, The Gunslinger introduces Roland Deschain of Gilead, of In-World that was, as he pursues his enigmatic antagonist to the mountains that separate the desert from the Western Sea. Roland is a solitary figure, perhaps accursed, who with a strange singlemindedness traverses an exhausted, almost timeless landscape. The people he encounters are left behind, or worse—left dead. At a way station, however, he meets Jake, a boy from a particular time (1977) and a particular place (New York City), and soon the two are joined—khef, ka, and ka-tet. The mountains lie before them. So does the man in black and, somewhere far beyond...the Dark Tower.

King on the Dark Tower movies

Posted: September 10, 2010, 08:51

King talks about the upcoming Dark Tower movies:

Stephen King exclusive: Who should star in 'The Dark Tower'? 'The Twilight cast, of course!'
by Kristen Baldwin

With news that Stephen King’s enormously popular book series The Dark Tower will be coming to a big and small screen near you, we here at EW.com could not stop ourselves from reaching out to the bestselling author (and EW columnist) via email to get a few more answers about the highly-anticipated project. Here’s what he had to say:

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: The Dark Tower is such a dense series — did you always think it needed more than a single movie or TV show treatment?

STEPHEN KING: I always thought it would take more than a single movie, but I didn’t see this solution coming — i.e., several movies and TV series. It was Ron [Howard] and Akiva [Goldsman]‘s idea. Once it was raised, I thought at once it was the solution.

What about Ron Howard and NBC makes them a good fit for the franchise?

When working as a director, Ron is very similar to the way I work as a writer. We both tell honest stories that have (I flatter myself) style and substance but not a lot of show-offy frills.

In a perfect world, who would play Roland? Eddie? Susannah? Jake?

The Twilight cast, of course! Just kidding. I haven’t got as far as casting in my thoughts, but when I write about Susannah Dean, I always kind of see Angela Bassett in my mind’s eye. Mostly I just want good people in those parts. Ron Howard will find them, I’m sure.

And who would you want to play?

I’d love to be the voice of Blaine the Mono.

There’s a lot of blood in the series — how much is the TV series going to be censored? It likely would have been easier to join forces with a network without restrictions, à la HBO, no?

I don’t see that as a problem at all! We’ll have just enough latitude to make a great series. I’ve worked in network TV before, and every time I was squeezed a little, it just made me look for creative solutions. Besides, I always like to play in the biggest auditorium available!

Thanks to David Squyres

Dark Tower movie news

Posted: September 9, 2010, 00:28

Today a press release was released about the future of The Dark Tower movies and as it looks now there will be a movie, followed by a TV series, followed by a movie, followed by a TV series, followed by a movie. Check out the full press release here.

Thanks ot Alex Carmona

King comments on the recent Dark Tower news

Posted: May 1, 2010, 01:57

King comments on The Dark Tower movie:

"It looks good. Things are happening and they are happening fast but any reports you see might be taken with a grain of salt for the next couple of weeks. You will know the news from the official source as soon as we are able to post it."

Steve

Conflicting info about DT movie

Posted: April 30, 2010, 11:46

It looks like there is some conflicting info about what the format for The Dark Tower will be. THR says one feature film and then a TV series and Deadline a trilogy and then a TV series.

I'm still looking for confirmation about this but it would be so much easier if Ron Howard could just e-mail me :-)

Dark Tower as a screen trilogy and TV series?

Posted: April 30, 2010, 08:29

Very interesting information surfaced recently. If it’s correct King’s Dark Tower books is set to be a screen trilogy and TV series. Exactly what this means isn’t all that clear. Is it three TV movies? That will be extremely hard to succeed with. Is it three TV series with say 12 episodes each? That would work. Can Akiva Goldsman (script), Ron Howard (directing) and Brian Grazer (producer) pull it off? I have no idea. And, what happened JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof? I have no idea.

I’m working on getting more info on this as we speak so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the full news (as it was reported by Deadline below.

Read the complete text

Thanks to Joel, Ariel Bosi and Maribel Deschain

No Tower for Abrams

Posted: November 11, 2009, 18:03

It looks like there won't be a Dark Tower movie for J.J. Abrams after all.

This is what Abrams told MTV News:

It coulda be great, but it ain't gonna happen, as Abrams himself told MTV News' Josh Horowitz recently. "The 'Dark Tower' thing is tricky," he said. "It's such an important piece of writing. The truth is that Damon and I are not looking at that right now."

Read more here.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson, Alex Carmona and Joseph Altomere

Damon Lindelof: I shouldn't be the one to adapt it

Posted: October 27, 2009, 17:04

This was in USA Today :

I am actually curious as to the status of Damon's involvement with the Dark Tower series. Is there hope for us Stephen King fans that this project is in the works? -- Lorrie Q.

You'll be hard-pressed to find a huger fan of The Dark Tower than me, but that's probably the reason that I shouldn't be the one to adapt it. After working six years on Lost, the last thing I want to do is spend the next seven years adapting one of my favorite books of all time. I'm such a massive Stephen King fan that I'm terrified of screwing it up.

I'd do anything to see those movies written by someone else. My guess is they will get made because they're so incredible. But not by me.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

More Dark Tower movie

Posted: May 12, 2009, 14:13

Here is more about The Dark Tower movie:

As “Star Trek” makes its case for the new J.J. Abrams age of the franchise this weekend, he and fellow “Lost” creator Damon Lindelof continue to have early discussions about Stephen King’s cult series of books “The Dark Tower.” Lindelof confirmed Abrams’ assertion that “Lost” is priority number one at the moments, but said the project would require at least as much care as Zack Snyder’s adaptation of “Watchmen.”

“Having seen Zack go through what he went through on ‘Watchmen’ in terms of saying of where can I digress from the material I just get headaches thinking about changing anything,” Lindelof told MTV News. “It was the defining literary tale of my young adulthood into adulthood.”

Lindelof is keenly aware of how that level of attachment can affect his approach to the project. “My reverence for Stephen King is now getting in the way of what any good writer would do first when they’re adapting a book, which is take creative license in changing stuff,” he explained.

If the Hollywood power duo indeed moves on to King’s fantasy/Western tale when they finish with “Lost” it may be an extended commitment in addition to being a demanding one, given the scope of the seven-book series.

“Paramount is certainly looking at it as a franchise movie and thinking about sequels but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” Lindelof said. “Ideas have been thrown around that are very informal at this point.”

And more formal conversations very well may not be in the cards until the fates of Oceanic Flight 815’s passengers are firmly on the ground for the the “Lost” finale.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Abrams talks Tower

Posted: May 4, 2009, 12:02

J.J. Abrams recently got the question about what’s happening with The Dark Tower movie and said that as soon as Damon Lindelof is done with LOST they hope to get started on The Dark Tower project.

See the clip here

Thanks to Al Mattice and John Haberkorn.

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