The Gunslinger will ride again in Amazon's adaptation of The Dark Tower as the TV show will reportedly begin filming in April. Based on an epic series of novels by Stephen King, The Dark Tower follows Roland Deschain in a fantasy world as he tries to reach the mythical tower. Along the way, he faces off with his mortal enemy The Man In Black and various other supernatural threats. Considered to be King's magnum opus, the story is told across seven novels and fleshed out further in multiple tie-in novels.
An adaptation for The Dark Tower was in the works for many years, with Ron Howard initially working on a cross-platform saga that would have seen the adventure told on both the big and small screens. The project ultimately didn't come to pass, with Howard stepping back to serve merely as a producer on a solo film outing. Directed by Nikolaj Arcel (2009's Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), the eventual film adaptation starred Idris Elba as Roland and Matthew McConaughey as his nemesis. Serving as both an adaptation of the books, as well as a sequel, The Dark Tower featured elements from each installment of the literary saga. Despite praise for Elba's performance, the overall film was poorly received, and soon after, King announced that the in-development series - which was intended as a spin-off to the film - would now be a complete franchise reboot.
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According to That Hashtag Show, Amazon Studios is apparently gearing up to begin production fairly soon. Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead) and Akiva Goldsman (Titans) are already onboard the ambitious project, which will reportedly begin filming throughout Croatia in April this year. Production on the series - which will cover 13 one-hour episodes - is said to continue until late-June. There is no word yet on who will fill the iconic roles, but details for the show indicate that it will follow Roland in his formative years, as he and his friends seek vengeance upon Marten Broadcloak (aka The Man in Black) following the latter's affair with Roland's mother. As such, Amazon is looking for actors and actresses between the ages of 16 and 18 to fill the roles.
What's more is that King himself is attached to the project. It's unclear whether he will serve as a writer or merely assist on a producer-level, but his mere involvement will assuredly calm the nerves of many fans following the reception garnered by the movie. The author previously revealed why he thinks the film failed and so could help steer things in the right direction on the second go around. The Dark Tower will be one of two huge fantasy adaptation underway, with Wheel of Time also in development at Amazon.
The works of King have been experiencing somewhat of a renaissance in recent years, with numerous adaptations either already produced or in various stages of development. As well as IT: Chapter Two and Pet Sematary, the rights to many properties have recently been acquired by various studios and networks. A sequel to The Shining recently wrapped production and the crime-thriller Mr. Mercedes was renewed for a third season. It's certainly a good time to be a Stephen King - and Dark Tower - fan.
More: Every Upcoming Stephen King Movie In Development
Source: That Hashtag Show
