Stephen King Says The Dark Tower “Likely To Happen,” Confirms Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey Casting Rumors

For years, a cinematic rendition of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower has languished on the brink of development, fast becoming one of the more prominent white whales that continually ducks out of sight before Warner Bros. can wrangle it into production.

In that time, a string of writers have come and gone, with the most recent development securing Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinker for the gig. As for the other side of the lens, things have proven tricky.

From Javier Bardem and Russell Crowe to Breaking Bad fan-favorite Aaron Paul, numerous actors have flirted with a role in Warner’s genre epic; however, according to King himself, it is Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey that are closest to sealing a deal for The Dark Tower.

Speaking with Rolling Stone, the author remained coy about the specifics, simply saying that the adaptation is “more likely than not” at this point. Even still, news that Elba and McConaughey are at the very least attached is exciting in and of itself.

“It looks to me like it’s more likely than not it’ll happen at this point,” he says. “Let’s put it that way. I think that it’s more likely than not that Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey will be in it,” King says. “But I can’t say with any certainty. I know that they’re trying to make deals with these actors [and] with Sony, and that’s the extent of my knowledge.”

In accordance with those rumors, Elba is now seemingly the frontrunner to take point as gunslinger Roland Deschain, with McConaughey in line for the role of The Man in Black – i.e. the chief villain. Last we reported, Nikolaj Arcel was primed to direct The Dark Tower, with a tentative release date set for January 2017.