The long-touted big screen adaptation of Stephen King’s fantasy novel series has finally found a home. The Dark Tower, a comprehensive story spanning some 8 books, has been slowly simmering away in development for over a decade. Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Erica Huggins have shepherded the movie adaptation from Universal to Warner Bros. and now into its latest spot, at Sony. The studio is teaming up with MRC to co-finance and produce the movie, with the aforementioned names also on board to produce.
Sony intends to develop several movies based on The Dark Tower mythology to launch a brand new franchise. A script is already in place for the first movie, penned by Goldsman and Jeff Pinker, and is said to revolve around The Gunslinger; the opening book in the series which chronicles the journey of Roland Deschain as he travels across a vast wasteland in pursuit of the mysterious Man In Black. MRC is simultaneously developing a tie-in TV series to accompany the film.
Deadline reports that the studio is aiming to fast-track production and is currently putting out a call for directors. This would suggest that, despite earlier reports, Howard will not take up residence in the director’s chair. Similarly, the trade makes reference to previously-linked stars Russell Crowe and Javier Bardem, who were both considered for the leading role, but are not expected to be in contention any longer.
With no cast and no director, we might be waiting for quite some time to see Roland’s journey through the fantastical realm of Mid-World. That delay hasn’t hampered the excitement of King though, who offered this response to the news:
“I’m excited that The Dark Tower is finally going to appear on the screen. Those who have traveled with Roland and his friends in their search for the Dark Tower are going to have their long-held hopes fully realized. This is a brilliant and creative approach to my books.”
Sony’s plan to spawn multiple cinematic universes is certainly picking up speed. Not long ago the studio announced plans for a Ghostbusters CU. With the addition of The Dark Tower to that roster, it looks as though we may see a story that’s actually worthy of several movies hitting the big screen.
