The Dark Tower on the big screen

So they are giving The Dark Tower the movie treatment. Interesting idea to spread it between actual movies and TV series, the thing is so darn long though, I wonder how they will keep everything in order - here is the link to the web-site:

http://www.stephenking.com/promo/dark_tower_film_and_tv/news_tracker/

I got the a message about this yesterday as well. I think it is an interesting idea to go from movie to tv but I think it may really make it difficult to cast.

One would assume that the cast would *have* to be the same, though, right? For both the movies and the series? Dear lord, I hope so. Unless the series are specifically focusing only on the younger Roland and his back stories (which was alluded to in one report or another that I read). Then casting could easily be separate and believable.

Anyway, I think it could work if everyone involved is completely committed. The movies would have to be filmed concurrently to prevent too much aging of the younger characters (Jake specifically) and so too, the television series...

We'll see. This is going to take some serious dedication to make it right. If that commitment is not there, I'd rather not see it done at all.

#3 - Anyway, I think it could work if everyone involved is completely committed.

Hollywood being commited to source material? I wouldn't hold your breath.

Roland will have an iPhone and at some point someone will be driving an Audi or whatever other manufacturer arranges a deal for product placement. I wouldn't be surprised to see Will Smith as Roland.

Check out the 'respectful' treatment Hollywood gave Isaac Asimov's I, Robot and Richard Matheson's I Am Legend.

The Lord of the Rings and Hellboy are the exceptions, not the rule.

Sorry to be such a downer. I've just learned not to be too excited about Hollywood turning something I care about into a movie.

Yeah, you are probably right. Most likely wishful thinking on my part. But of all the source material in all the world that I'd hate to see treated poorly, a terrible version of The Dark Tower, tops that list. I'd cry like a little girl.

The only reason I have any hope at all is that mention of three movies and the television show. If they have committed that much already...? It seems like they are at least trying to do it right.

Not that King's works have a history of good conversion. Still, one can always hope for another Shawshank.

Yeah, King should only sell his movie rights to Frank Darabont or Meathead. Those are the only two guys who have regularly done right by him.

You could mention Mick Garris too, but he's not in the same league as the other two. Maybe he can work on the TV series;)

#3 It would make sense that the TV series focuses on Rolands younger years (probably along the lines of the comic book series) and the movies follow along with the books.

#4 please don't "jinx" this with talk of I am Legend. That movie had no business being titled after the book. The story, characters, and setting apparently never interested the producers.

It had more business being called I am Legend, than I, Robot had being called I, Robot. ;-)

But not much.

Or for that matter, since we are on the SK board, The Lawnmower Man.

Speaking of the comics and the proposed television series though:

If that were the case (post 7), then that leaves only 3 movies to tell the "real" story (i.e. 6 or 7 books). I'm not entirely convinced with all of Furth's add-ons to King's world in the last few comic arcs.

However, if they devote the first season of the show to the first arc of the comic, essentially re-telling the majority of Wizard and Glass, then that would leave the remaining seasons to cover 2-3 books, depending on how it was split up. Which is doable. With the exception of The Gunslinger, though, I'd say you need close to one movie for each book...

Fingers crossed!

It had more business being called I am Legend, than I, Robot had being called I, Robot. ;-)

My thoughts exactly. Though I will admit to a secret fondness for The Lawnmower Man movie. I can see why SK sued to have his name removed though.

jseger, I just watched it again a couple of months ago on Netflix! Hahaa...

While I hold disdain for the filmmakers who thought they could ride on King's back coattails, I too find the movie in and of itself, strangely intriguing. Especially when it first came out and the effects seemed so real.

And I just added The Lawnmower Man to my queue! Looks like the title of the movie was supposed to be Cyber God. NewLine was the ones that got cute with the name.

What's sad is that Netflix still shows it as having the alternate title of Stephen King's The Lawnmower Man and the top rated review mentions it is based on a Stephen King story. Man, once the genie is out of the bottle, you can't put it back...

Clearly, that top rated reviewer has never actually read the real The Lawnmower Man. I'm trying to imagine a single similarity between the book and the movie and the only thing I am coming up with is the scene where Job runs the lawnmower through the kid's house chasing down the dad.

And that was about 30 seconds long... and still not really true to the premise of the what, three page short story?

#14 - Stephen King felt the same way.

By the way, I only just finally clicked on the link in post #1 and checked it out for myself. Seeing that Ron Howard is involved makes me feel better about the whole thing. Opie may not be Meathead, but I trust he will respect Stephen King's wishes rather than try to please a bunch of focus groups.

Apparently Javier Bardem has been offered the role as Roland : http://www.imdb.com/news/ni7226021/

I don't know much about him, can anyone enlighten me? Good choice, or not?

Javier Bardem is an excellent actor - he played, among others, in No Country for Old Men. I'm not sure whether I like him as Roland or not - I still picture Roland a lot more haggard, a bit like Clint Eastwood in his younger years. There were rumours that Christian Bale would be offered the role which would have been an excellent choice, in my opinion. Still, the guy that - except for Eastwood - is the embodiment of Roland to me, it's Viggo Mortensen. He has that slightly haggard look, he's about the right age, and I think he could pull it off nicely.

I think Javier could pull it off. He's about the right age, especially in "The Gunlsinger" I don't get the idea that Roland is very old. Sure, by book 7 the guy is beginning to fall apart, but they could age Javier a bit and he could do the role. And he has that "dark mysterious" vibe I think that Roland bears.

I'd like to see him drop some weight, though. He's a bit too full in the face for my idea of Roland. I picture the gunslinger as almost gaunt. That and I'd assume Javier would lose the accent for the role as well?

He may not have been my first choice, but I doubt any of the actors would be. Still though, assuming he takes the job, I'm sure he'd do well.

Bad news could be looming for the movie.

http://collider.com/the-dark-tower-production-turnaround/89282/

I like Javier, but (and don't laugh), I just saw Cowboys vs. Aliens, and I think Daniel Craig would be perfect.