In January we learned that Javier Bardem was the hot favorite to take the lead in Ron Howard’s screen adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. The Spanish Oscar-winner still hasn’t signed on (he’s also mulling over a villain role in the next James Bond film) but the producer of epic undertaking, Brian Grazer, says that Bardem is “locked in psychologically” for the film and its follow-ups.
Bardem’s fellow Oscar winners, Christian Bale and Viggo Mortensen, were also in contention for the role of Roland Deschain, but Bardem came out as an early front-runner. Now it looks like the only thing that may stop the No Country For Old Men actor from taking the role is scheduling (and possibly salary negotiations). When Grazer was asked by MTV about The Dark Tower he said:
“Dark Tower, Javier Bardem, that’s what we’re hoping. We’re in the process of trying to put that together.”
When he was probed if Bardem had signed onto the project he replied:
“He’s locked in psychologically. He really wants to do it, so we’re absolutely rooting for him to do it.”
Then asked if they were thinking about any other actors for the role, the veteran producer said:
“We’re really just focused on Javier right now.”
The plan to bring King’s seven-part novel series to the screen is an epic undertaking, and Grazer commented on the plan by saying:
“It’s going to go across all platforms- a movie, then a TV series, then a movie and TV series then a game to fill in all the pieces. It’s probably challenging just to capture all of it, the density of it.”
Grazer went on to say that he was excited by the metaphors of the novel and bringing them to the screen in the first film – The Gunslinger.
King’s first book in The Dark Tower series was published in 1982, and the final volume came out in 2004. The series – which has a mix of inspirations including Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns (with Clint Eastwood) and The Lord of the Rings – has a devout following who want the adaptations to be done right. Howard, when on form, can deliver the goods in a variety of genres – fantasy (Willow), action (Backdraft, Ransom) and science fiction (Cocoon). However, he can also be too slavish to source material (see: his adaptation of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code) so it will be interesting to see if the Oscar-winning director will be firing on all cylinders when he tackles King’s complex work.
It appears that no stone will be left unturned to not only make The Dark Tower a big screen spectacle, but also an event which television viewers and gamers can also participate in. The Dark Tower could be a industry “game changer” in terms of its multimedia scope, but we will have to wait until after 2013 to see if it really does change the way that we view entertainment.
Source: MTV
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I read The Gunslinger a month back and it would make an epic movie. Plus Bardem is just fitting.
Javier Bardem is NOT the right guy to play Roland Deschain, period! Think along the lines of Hugh Laurie (House)or maybe Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) or Christian Bale (Batman) but not Javier, please! Susan Delgado could be played by any number of actresses. Such as: Amanda Seyfried or Alice Eve. Rolands father could be played by Scott Glen and the Walking Dude, Maerlin could be played by Jamie Sheridan again or another. You see where I’m going with this.
NOT Sheridan..he was a terrible RF. Bardem doesn’t fit either. But at risk of furthering enraging his followers and fan base I will stop now LOL.
Hugh Laurie is by far the best pick I have seen. I never thought about him before today. I looked him up and got this pic: http://www.buddytv.com/articles/house/hugh-laurie-stars-in-new-movie-7689.aspx
That is the Gunslinger if I have ever seen him. The whole package is exactly what I read. The eyes are perfect and I have seen a few episodes of house and he could pull it off perfectly. Javier is just too much. They want to make him pretty. Eddie of New York would disagree. He describes Roland as Mr. Long tall and ugly. I really hope Javier goes and tests his skills against 007.
I agree. I never would have even thought of him. But now that I look at the picture he does Roland much more justice than Javier.
Isn’t Hugh Lurie a tad OLD for Roland? Also, the reservation I have about this whole thing…is the ending. Went throught this thing once before…and loved it…and then THAT ending!
Javier is a fine actor, as is Christian Bale, but I REALLY see Viggo as Roland… in my mind’s eye he is a PERFECT fit. I am beyond ready to see this project up and running though.
Amanda Seyfried would be a great Susan
Opie Cunningham is the wrong choice for director of this epic series.
LOL yes I agree there. I’ll more than likely skip this whole series of film/TV crap.
First I want to thank screent rant for following this movie as close as you have been. Since i finished the series 3 yrs ago ive been hoping for a silver screen adaptation. Im stoked. I dont care who plays Roland as long as they can really portray and understand who he really is. My son is named Rolamd, thats how fanatic I am. This story is beyond epic and will be bigger than The Lord of the Rings if evryone invests the dedication required to bring this to life. I am expecting more from this movies than any other movie ever released and I am really rooting for it. Plz continue to keep us posted SR, you guys effin rock!
“and will be bigger than The Lord of the Rings”
Well, that’s pretty big then. I think the the Lord of the Rings had a larger following over many more years than The Dark Tower has but that’s not to take away anything from it. King has his niche, hopefully Opie doesnt turn it into a rated G safe for the whole family type of fantasy.
As a fan of the series, I don’t really want to see it brought to life. There’s just too much in the books to make it successful on the big screen, if you ask me. But then again, writers these days are very talented. So I don’t know. I would just rather not see it on the big screen at all rather than have it be on the big screen and butcher the books.
WOW This is a huge undertaking as both a series of movies (trilogy) and tv series which are intertwined and whomever takes the lead sounds like they might have to make quite a commitment for a few years to come
Viggo Mortensen isn’t an Oscar winner
I would love Javier. But then again as long as they really invest in the role, I will love anyone. Finished book 1, 3 days ago. Trying to blow through book 2 right now. I hate King right now. I was told I will reading the second book, but it is worth it. The first book was epic. I have the first 4 purchased and ready to read. I am pumped for this. I am curious if book 8 (ie 4/5) would be part of this when it comes out.
Javier is a bad choice in my mind. He doesn’t even have blue eyes. And Roland isn’t a dang Spaniard not even close. I had never thought of Hugh Laurie as Roland but I could see that work too. I thought about Stephen Moyer myself. I know everyone now see’s him as a pale vampire from the awesome series “True Blood”. I hate it when hollywood changes things. Like the fact that they changed Wilson Fisk to a large black man in Dare Devil. Nick Fury is now a black guy. Might as well make Rolands posse Chinese. While they are at it messing up a movie that could truely be the next LOTR with firearms, might as well make Father Callahan a eskimo.
It’s about time these books are being made or thought about for movies. I just hope they don’t leave anything out. I’ve been saying ever since I read the books six years ago they should be movies. I think that whoever made the mist should be involved with the movies he kicked ass at that movie just like the book.
I’m telling you dudes that as good as Javier could be as Long tall and ugly, Viggo would rock this film! Opie can definitely pull this off, with King by his side. It’s just got to be Viggo. He’s got the look and as Aragon, he proved he can carry a big, epic picture. LOTR was completely epic! Dark Tower will be even more so with 3 movies, and a tv series as well. We will all salute Howard and King when it runs it course. They are going to show everyone what it is ALL about! Am I stoked. HELL YEAH!! Dark Tower? BOOYAH!!!!
Maybe it will be a short series 13 episodes or less that would work better dramatically I mean!