View Full Version : The Dark Tower
As directed by J.J. Abrams.
From Wikipedia
IGN Movies has reported that a film adaptation is in the works; whether it is for a movie or a television series is unknown. J. J. Abrams, who has been behind shows such as Lost and Alias, is supposedly attached to produce and direct. Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, also affiliated with Lost and J. J. Abrams, have optioned the Dark Tower series from King for a reported nineteen dollars, which of course, is the infamous number from the Dark Tower series of novels. According to issue #923 of Entertainment Weekly, King "is an ardent supporter of the desert-island show and trusts Abrams to translate his vision" into a film franchise with Lindelof being "the leading candidate to write the screenplay for the first installment."
Roland as depicted in the opening credits of another Stephen King movie The Mist.
In King's 2007 film The Mist, the main character David Drayton can be seen painting a movie poster with Roland in the center, standing in front of a trans-dimensional Ironwood door, with a rose and the dark tower to each side.
In April 2009, both Abrams and Lindelof revealed that they would most likely begin adapting the series when Lost concludes in 2010.
In May 2009, rumours emerged that Christian Bale was the top contender to play Roland.
I may have just Jizzed a little. According to IMDB, J.J. is making this, only you need Pro to see the details. Thoughts?
Riddlebox
05-13-2009, 9:21 AM
Thoughts?
He better not fuck it up.
Javier Bardem would be a better Roland.
Ziggy St. Valentine
05-13-2009, 8:24 PM
If this is done right, it will be amazing, if it is done wrong, many, many people will be pissed off.
timbot
05-13-2009, 9:17 PM
The chances of this being done right are pretty slim. No matter how it's done, a lot of stuff is going to be left out. Of course, by the time the movies come out I'll have forgotten most of the details from the books. That's probably a good thing.
Eh, making 7 long movies that take place right after eachother(except the few month difference between II and III) would be a challenge.
They could make movies loosely based on the books and themes but that sounds pretty dumb, even for the later ones.
And Christian Bale is Roland-ish, but just not Roland enough.
Even though I've only read 4 of them(been reading connections and other stuff in between) and I hold this series closer to me than other, if it's wrong I'd be pretty pissed. And Abrams is only producing last time I checked, which is a good thing since he's good with action and while the series has it's share, I don't know if Abrams would get the symbolism and themes right.
Well the thing is, I feel as if the only person good for Roland is a young Eastwood, seeing as how thats who Roland is based off of. However, if they can pull the Harry Potter movies off, I suppose they can do this. Sure, we'll lose some shit, but honestly, this being on the big screen would be great.
Well the thing is, I feel as if the only person good for Roland is a young Eastwood, seeing as how thats who Roland is based off of. However, if they can pull the Harry Potter movies off, I suppose they can do this. Sure, we'll lose some shit, but honestly, this being on the big screen would be great.
True but Wizard and Glass itself is longer than The Deathly Hallows which is split into two parts, not to mention most of the HP has some unncesscary subplots.
There's also the issue of Randall Flagg and Father Callahan which would be hard to do considering no recent The Stand or 'Salem's Lot movies.
Well, Salems Lot had that miniseries awhile back.
Well, Salems Lot had that miniseries awhile back.
Yea but Father Callahan's storyline was completely changed.
And Bale was in 3:10 to Yuma which I can see him as more of a Roland from watching that. But the source for that isn't very credible anyways.
Yeah, 3:10 to Yuma was wicked good.
Also, on JJ Abrams IMDB page, it has The Dark Tower down. Pretty credible I guess
Yeah, 3:10 to Yuma was wicked good.
Also, on JJ Abrams IMDB page, it has The Dark Tower down. Pretty credible I guess
I was just talking about the Christian Bale rumor.
Riddlebox
05-18-2009, 10:06 AM
Actually, how about Viggo Mortenson as Roland? Could that work?
Jason Lee as Eddie?
Just not Christian Bale, he doesn't need to be in every movie. Also, he's not roland-ish enough.
Hats of!
05-18-2009, 11:05 AM
Actually this won't happen for a while. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are suppose to do the writings, and they won't be free 'till after the spring of 2010 (as Lost ends).
But it will be cool.
Jason Lee as Eddie... I could work with that. He could probably pull it off nicely, but knowing Abrams, he'd probably have an unknown that does it amazingly.
Matterialize
05-19-2009, 9:38 PM
There's some seriously surreal shit that goes on in the novels. Not sure how well that'll translate to film.
And no, god no, not Christian Bale as Roland. I can't think of an appropriate actor at the moment but it'll come to me.
I hope this is only the first one and not the series all wrapped into one movie
Amazingly
05-19-2009, 10:03 PM
They'd have to leave Wizard and Glass completely out, or work it in as flashbacks.... how would that get in there without confusing people or pissing them off?
Well to make it work, they'd have to do each book as a movie.
A Dark Tower TV series seems like it could be plausible.
The books are all broken into parts, so an hour for each would work pretty good.
I was wondering if they would ever make a movie or a series of movies for The Dark Tower. I think Bale could pull off Roland, though he'd he to work at it first. I hope I can finish the books by 2010, the library is screwing up my holds.
Hats of!
05-21-2009, 4:41 PM
I wonder why everyone are so deeply in love with Bale? I hope he doesn't get cast, I'd rather see some unpopular guy getting the part, just so all the Bale-lovers out there goes on a massuicide.
InTransit
05-24-2009, 8:52 PM
And no, god no, not Christian Bale as Roland. I can't think of an appropriate actor at the moment but it'll come to me.
2nded. Though I think Hugh Jackman might be a good choice. He's a great actor, and he has the right look for it, maybe if he was a little bit older.
And if this ends up as films, I'm refusing to watch them because I honestly think it would ruin the books because they would have to miss sooooooooooo much. And everything in the books intertwines with the plot at some point, so if you do miss something there'll be more things down the line that'll have to be left out to accomodate it.
I think a series would be a great idea. Some parts of Firefly reminded me a lot of the books so if it's done right, it could be a great series (and probably cancelled in it's first season).
I actually thought of Jackman as good Roland, I dunno, not enough cowbpys(or "gunslingers") in films these days. I hope they work with King. this has the chance to go beyond IT and Shawshank.
InTransit
05-25-2009, 1:10 AM
Exactly, if you watched Jackman in Australia, you know he can play the gunslinger-style character so well. He has that rugged, outdoor look to him already, does scruffy really well, and, like with Wolverine, can portray a dark-innerness (haha new word) in a character.
Antisaint
05-25-2009, 9:32 PM
Or you could just get Viggo Mortenson.
timbot
05-26-2009, 9:02 AM
this has the chance to go beyond IT and Shawshank.
Wait, is this a joke? Or am I misunderstanding you? I don't have high hopes for this project, but if it can't be done better than IT, there are major problems. If not, what are we going to get? 15 hours of Creepshow?
Riddlebox
05-26-2009, 11:09 AM
Wait, is this a joke? Or am I misunderstanding you? I don't have high hopes for this project, but if it can't be done better than IT, there are major problems. If not, what are we going to get? 15 hours of Creepshow?
I thought IT was easily the best of the Stephen King movies, I watched it when I was young, and clowns still scare the shit out of me.
I have a feeling that this will turn out like The Stand though, it had great potential, but the movie was a shit-storm. Maybe JJ Abrams can pull it off alright, but based on other things he's done, I predict a whole bunch of cgi effects so that it has mass appeal. Sucks.
InTransit
05-28-2009, 12:52 AM
Or you could just get Viggo Mortenson.
Nah he's too typecast into the goody-two-shoes style king a.k.a Lord of the Rings. Like people won't be seeing him as Roland, because due to the storyline, and the way Roland is, he'll be played almost the same as Aragon (?? can't remember his name) and won't be a unique character at all.
Nah he's too typecast into the goody-two-shoes style king a.k.a Lord of the Rings. Like people won't be seeing him as Roland, because due to the storyline, and the way Roland is, he'll be played almost the same as Aragon (?? can't remember his name) and won't be a unique character at all.
Still, did you see A History of Violence?
He was pretty badass in that, and not really like Aragon.
Amazingly
05-31-2009, 12:54 PM
You guys are way off, Channing Tatum should totally be Roland.
Ok, but serious time now... who would Jake, Eddie, and Susannah be cast as? I can't even begin to think of anyone.
Also, what about George Clooney as Roland...? He has the look, he'd just have to practice to get the right style down.
Riddlebox
05-31-2009, 1:20 PM
Also, what about George Clooney as Roland...? He has the look, he'd just have to practice to get the right style down.
George Clooney would be a good pick if they were trying to steal the dark tower, using a large team of suave super thieves. That's not what the books are about.
Also, Roland isn't supposed to be handsome, he is a grizzled and scarred badass who has lost everything he ever had.
I think they should get some washed up singer who has had moderate fame to play Eddie, maybe that Billy Joe Armstrong guy, wait maybe not. what about sean penn? he could do roland, or maybe Eddie. I cant think of s\child actor to play jake, or anyone to play Susannah.
I think the person playing Roland should have some kind of accent, not any certain distinct one, but it would make sense. Viggo Mortenson is the best contender i've seen in this thread but I doubt it since he doesn't want to do any more blockbusters and I'm sure they'll make this into one.
Riddlebox
06-01-2009, 10:03 AM
I think the person playing Roland should have some kind of accent, not any certain distinct one, but it would make sense. Viggo Mortenson is the best contender i've seen in this thread but I doubt it since he doesn't want to do any more blockbusters and I'm sure they'll make this into one.
I feel like Javier Bardem could pull off Roland pretty well, but this film should more be undiscovered actors, seeing as Roland was literally based off of Clint Eastwood and he's too old for the role.
If this movie is done with a mix of undiscovered and well-known actors it will turn out good I think, like how Lord of the Rings had great actors and people you'd never heard of before.
One thing I know for sure is James Cromwell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000342/) would be a perfect Callahan, he's almost exactly like how I pictured him in the book.
Edit: in fact, He already has played Callahan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%27Salem%27s_Lot_(2004_TV_mini-series)#Cast) in a 2004 mini-series.
I feel like Javier Bardem could pull off Roland pretty well, but this film should more be undiscovered actors, seeing as Roland was literally based off of Clint Eastwood and he's too old for the role.
If this movie is done with a mix of undiscovered and well-known actors it will turn out good I think, like how Lord of the Rings had great actors and people you'd never heard of before.
One thing I know for sure is James Cromwell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000342/) would be a perfect Callahan, he's almost exactly like how I pictured him in the book.
Edit: in fact, He already has played Callahan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%27Salem%27s_Lot_(2004_TV_mini-series)#Cast) in a 2004 mini-series.
I had actually watched the series before reading the book, and thats all I pictured the entire time.
As for Jake, there are plenty of child actors to choose from. Hollywood is dripping with them. And honestly, theres bound to be a good one out there for him.
Honestly though, for Eddie I can't quite explain it. I definitely see the washed up rocker look. You know, drugs and all. But like, I can't picture a face. While reading this thread, I thought "What about Timothy Olyphant" but then I shot that down quick. The casting for this is going to be brutal.
Roland will be the toughest though. Not Javier.
Interesting:
AMC comes through for the second week in a row after their revealing Mathieu Kassovitz interview last week this week they have a new interview with Damon Lindeloff which is meant to talk more about “Lost” and Star Trek than the bit of news I am interested in but that’s just the way it goes.
The final question in the interview concerns the adaptation of Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series, a series Lindeloff optioned with J.J. Abrams almost two years ago for the miniscule price of $19 keeping in tow with the recurring number in the series. King told SCI-FI Wire, “My attitude is, ‘Go make a movie, and if it’s good, that’s terrific, and if it’s bad, then it will go to the video stores and back shelves of Blockbuster, and I still get royalties on the book.”
For a long time it was thought they may try and take the series to television, but it seems Lindeloff is still considering a movie adaptation… actually he is considering seven of them to correspond with the seven books in the series centered on the gunslinger Roland Deschain of Gilead and his search for The Dark Tower. Here is what Lindeloff had to say about the potential film series:
Sold it for 19 dollars eh?
Just random updates:
So Lindeloff(writer of Lost) is no longer writing the adpation.
Stephen King is writing a new Dark Tower book, seems like it won't about Roland and his katet but will take place between four and five.
The Dark Tower website has just made a very indepth online game called Discordia that takes place after the last book.
The Dark Tower comic series will continue on to The Gunslinger.
dancoulter
12-28-2009, 2:14 PM
They will never be able to get this right and I will hate them for trying because there's no way I'll be able to not watch it. Then, any time I try to read the series I will have to visualize whatever dumb-ass actors they pick. Fucking Hollywood.
Idioteque
12-28-2009, 4:12 PM
Bit off topic, but, I just finished reading the first novel and wasn't too impressed. Does it get better?
SourChicken
12-28-2009, 4:16 PM
If this is done right, it will be amazing, if it is done wrong, many, many people will be pissed off.
Not that I'm disagreeing, but that's the way everything is. Ever.
DrSpacemann
12-28-2009, 4:18 PM
I thought it got better continually until the 6th (maybe midway through the 5th). At that point it was sort of just finishing the series off because you've come so far. That said, I did really enjoy the first book also, so maybe it's just not your style.
Bit off topic, but, I just finished reading the first novel and wasn't too impressed. Does it get better?
It does. King actually wrote most of The Gunslinger before Carrie.
The Drawing of the Three actually has relatable characters, a solid plot and pace, and doesn't have a bunch of shit that even King has no idea what it is. At least those were my problems with the first. Plus it's one of King's best books and I know alot of people just read that one instead of any others.
Idioteque
12-28-2009, 4:35 PM
It does. King actually wrote most of The Gunslinger before Carrie.
The Drawing of the Three actually has relatable characters, a solid plot and pace, and doesn't have a bunch of shit that even King has no idea what it is. At least those were my problems with the first. Plus it's one of King's best books and I know alot of people just read that one instead of any others.
Alright. I'll keep reading then.
I do love Stephen King (just finished his latest-which was meh) so I do have good reasons to keep reading now.
Your reasons for disliking the first are exactly mine. I was supposed to care about the barkeeper that the Gunslinger sleeps with, really?
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