Variety just reported a whole slew of release dates for Sony Pictures through 2017, but only one really matters–The Dark Tower.
I won’t go into the sordid details of The Dark Tower‘s sordid past because our own GeekDad Raymond Masters did that when it was announced that Sony had acquired the rights. January 13th, 2017 is the announced date for the first installment of the The Dark Tower films, The Gunslinger. And it seems Sony is, at least for now, keeping with the idea of doing films and a TV series to fill in between films.
Although Ron Howard is still attached as the producer, Nikolaj Arcel, the screenwriter behind the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo film, is now attached as the director and is making a final pass over the screenplay. I think he is perfect to set the right tone and feel for the films.
For those who aren’t fans and have never read The Dark Tower, I will say–go read them now. To put in perspective how big of a deal this is to fans like me, I would rather The Dark Tower films get made than ever see another Star Wars movie. I love Star Wars, and I cannot wait to see Episode VII, but The Dark Tower means more to me and has been a bigger part of my life. If the project gets pushed or shut down again, it will absolutely break my heart.
I also want to thank the wonderful and talented Megan Lara for allowing me to use her art for this piece. She is my favorite pop culture artist and, in my mind, is the Dark Tower artist. You can find her work on shirts at TeePublic or as prints and a number of other items at her Etsy store. My plan for my next tattoo is her Dark Tower piece, He Followed. She is that good!
Yes…yes… a million times yes! Awesome news for those who have read and waited….and waited for the movie of Kings series.
Sony… Don’t you dare mess this one up.
I have a great deal of skepticism about this, but I’m also very, very hopeful because I have to be 🙂 Thanks for reading!
There are at least two more Megan Lara designs for the Dark Tower series. The Ka-Tet of 19 is great. (And, though not related, the Mudder’s Milk is fantastic.)
I think she has 5 or 6 total DT designs now but this is the one I plan to get permanently etched into my flesh 🙂
We also have the full set of 10 Firefly character prints hanging in our house. Its hard not to like her work 🙂
No. I just finished another re-read, and am a huge fan… but no.
Simply put, we should never see these books adapted to film, because it will never work. The only possibility for a tale of the Gunslinger’s quest to work on film, is to have the film start on the edge of the desert, and have the Gunslinger carrying an ancient horn.
The next turning of Ka is the only way to keep the book intact.
I’m so exited… I’d love to see Viggo Mortensen as the Gunslinger… He’s got the blue eyes and the ‘ka’ to be him… 😉
I think Viggo would definitely be a good casting! I’m trying not to do my own casting so I won’t get disappointed when they announce the actual cast 🙂
I like Viggo, but I think he’s too young. Maybe not in real years, but he lacks that ancient wisdom look. I like Josh Brolin. Totally has that stern, trail worn look, but you can see him cracking a smile (or dancing the commala) when the mood strikes.
I like Brolin for the role of Roland. That’s one I haven’t thought of. Its a hell of a lot better than the other names getting thrown around. If the novel “The Gunslinger” is getting its own film, than so should “The Talisman”. That’s my favorite of them all. Some badass events take place in that story.
I made a huge mistake in my comment yesturday (See above). Take out “The Talisman” and insert “Wizard and Glass”. Sorry.
If they do the whole series properly I can see there being at least one movie per book (a lot of them, like Wizard, could probably be multiple films) and then filling in details with the TV shows.
Will you be casting a podcast about it James? If so, will it be available only on iTunes?
So excited but…should of had marvel make the movie