Is Ron Howard's Insane New Dark Tower Plan the Craziest Hollywood Gambit Ever?
On a day where Martin Freeman may have become Peter Jackson's new Hobbit, it looks like Ron Howard may have become our new Peter Jackson. Howard and Akiva Goldsman just closed the craziest deal ever ever ever to adapt Stephen King's Dark Tower series into a Lord of the Rings-surpassing movie trilogy and television series -- and they'll film it all at the same time, using the same actors and sets. What?
Reports Deadline:
The plan is to start with the feature film, and then create a bridge to the second feature with a season of TV episodes. That means the feature cast -- and the big star who'll play [lead character Roland] Deschain -- also has to appear in the TV series before returning to the second film. After that sequel is done, the TV series picks up again, this time focusing on Deschain as a young gunslinger. Those storylines will be informed by a prequel comic book series that King was heavily involved in plotting. The third film would pick up the mature Deschain as he completes his journey. They will benefit from being able to use the same sets cast and crew for the movie and TV, which could help contain costs on what will be a financially ambitious undertaking.
...to say the least! Howard (who intends to direct the entire first season of TV episodes, though I can't imagine NBC intends to commit him to the typical 22-episode order) calls the plan "unprecedented," and I surely couldn't disagree. Who knew that the director of Ed TV had the biggest balls in Hollywood? I'm kind of agog at the multiple ways this could go wrong, but let your fantasy casting proceed apace.
Subscribe to the new Movieline on YouTube
Comments
What happens if the ratings suck?
This has "won't actually happen" written all over it.
Russell Crowe IS your gunslinger. End of story. Zoe Saldaana wouldn't be a bad Susannah. Maybe Emile Hirsch as Eddie.
The key to making The Dark Tower work is having the filmmakers bring their own punk rock weirdness to this already weird story, as Kubrick did to The Shining and De Palma to Carrie. Adapting King's brand of horror literally, being a geek slave to the text, always ends badly.
Imagine Entertainment should use their considerable muscle to pull this thing off but hand the actual filmmaking to a badass like John Hillcoat or Alfonso Cuaron.
Dark Tower is an amazing series of novels, with the right director and actors there is no way it could fail. Now, to get the right actors...
I read this and I can't understand how this can possibly work. First a movie and then the TV show...and then another movie?? So, if you don't see the first movie, how can you watch the TV show? I'm thinking that this plan has got to change somehow.
The only good thing about this is it might keep Akiva Goldsman busy enough to keep him from writing other horrible movies for several years.
He better narrate it just like Arrested Development.
Actually, here's a fun game we can all play: Which will hit screens first, this or the Arrested Development movie?
Amuka putara 🙂
Russel Crowe would be a terrible Roland. You do realized hes supposed to be in his 50s and is grizzled as hell. Stephen Lang or Huge Laurie have the look but Lang has the attitude needed.
Just my opinion.
it's not gonna work
I think the best bet for these characters is relatively unknown actors. Bringing a big star in for Roland carries all this unspoken history with it.
Definitely a great article in relation to the subject, continue the great work and thus I wish to read much more within you in the near future.
this sounds like the way we do it in Cairns as well.
This may only mark the first update to the mysterious BMW coupe, which is seemingly (at least for now) based on a current-gen 6-Series, but the lack of quality images, video or information is already proving to be quite frustrating.Although we wish we could bring you more concrete information on this mystery car, we have little more than another video showing the aforementioned coupe driving straight at the camera. While we are certain it was by no mistake, the audio quality - or lack there of - manages to mask the sound of the vehicle sufficiently enough that we are still uncertain if there is an electric motor or a traditional gas engine powering the car.
Go for it RON!!!
You & Stephen be sure & let me know if I can be of any assistance!
Teacher from Bernie's or for Stephen that place in Bar Harbor Main
Movieline, please delete the weird ad posts.
This would be awesome, but I can't imagine how they would tell the story in just 3 movies and some TV episodes. Especially if the TV part focuses on the backstory and not what's in the books.
Russell Crowe would be a terrible Roland. The only actors currently tall enough and good enough are Liam Neeson or Viggo Mortensen. Roland is of ancient stock, tall, muscular, grizzled, world weary. Hugh Laurie is too slight, both in physical presence and acting ability. Stephen Lang is awful, just awful.
Roland will be tough to cast, but casting Detta, that will be even harder. Detta is beautiful, tough, and has a real split personality. An actress to pull that off without it being silly...I don't know, but it's not Zoe Saldana.
Christian Bale...Perfect for this role.
Tia Dalma for Detta.
tom hardy. perfect.
Get Clint Eastwood while he's still alive
Stephen King stated that he wrote the gunslinger with Clint Eastwood in mind, it is just such a shame that this project didn't happen years ago. the only actor that I can think of ,that is like Clint is Liam Neilson he has that gaunt face look that I imagine Roland had. Plus he is tall and thin like Roland.
Remember that Detta has to be a slight woman. Of all the Black actresses avaialble today. I see Jada Pinket-Smith as the closest to Detta, in her ability to play both the sophisticated Odetta, and and street tough Detta.
Just my thought.
Kerry Washington has always been my Detta/Suzannah character
How about Clint Howard as the gunslinger.
I don't think this movie/tv show/movie bit will work out well. As for casting, I see Viggo Mortensson as the gunslinger and Thandie Newton as Detta.
Next »