The Dark Tower, Official Casting
It's official: The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed. #DarkTowerMovie @McConaughey @IdrisElba
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 1, 2016
.@McConaughey you have one new follower. #DarkTowerMovie https://t.co/BSj1dHQtAB
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 1, 2016
.@idriselba come and get me, I look forward to it. #DarkTowerMovie https://t.co/7WhIO2rAph
— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) March 1, 2016
Stephen confirms stars Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey as production finally begins on The Dark Tower. Read the EW article and interview here.
Time to get through the last two books I guess. Didn't want the journey to end :(
id rather it be a tv series. you should be able to get a whole season out of each book. instead of hollywood doing the whole 'cram it all into one movie' and leave out a bunch of details
LOL When I read this book I pictured these two actors as the main roles but as the other character. Cant wait for this film
I'm not too happy with McConaughey, but Idris Elba is a superb choice!
So exciting! I'm concerned about how they are gonna make a black Ronald to work with Detta
So who is the Tirana Character that IMDB is listing? Apparently she doesn't even show up until book 7 but is rumored to be a major character in the movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1648190/?...
Kissmekate wrote: "I'm not too happy with McConaughey, but Idris Elba is a superb choice!"Matthew McConaughey will deliver a smashing performance, as always
So no Odetta-Detta love hate relationship, no "white muthafuckas" and no Susannah. This doesn't look well.
Raul wrote: "So no Odetta-Detta love hate relationship, no "white muthafuckas" and no Susannah. This doesn't look well."I know. The race of her compared to the others was actually an element in the books, that has to be removed if Roland isn't white like in the book because it wouldn't make sense to include it now. Otherwise it shouldn't be a big deal, I'd just rather it be faithful to the characters in the story. he was described as a sort of aging Clint Eastwood, which fits how I picture him.
McConaughey will probably be decent for the villain
As excited as I am to see anything related to Dark Tower, I think making a movie is a bad idea. It should be a HBO show, with a Game of Thrones budget, planned out over years. The Dark Tower is far too big to be a movie, even the kind of Hunger Games or Hobbit "Part I, Part II" silliness we get these days.
Who is Tirana, anyway? And no ka-tet??? I believe what we are gonna see would really have nothing to do with the books. Apart from two main characters.
I made it to the end of Book III and decided that I'd rather see this on the big screen than read it. Or, as has been suggested, in a long-form TV series. I'm still excited though - mind you, I'd read a while back that McConaughey was being lined up as Randall Flagg in The Stand. Are we possibly seeing some Marvel-type expanded universe building going on here? They have a bottomless well of material to draw on...
@Del, without giving away spoilers, let's just say that there are certainly parallels in the universe of The Stand and The Dark Tower....
Would not have cast Elba as Roland - just not going to work for me now. Hope it's good but serious doubts about that casting decision.
Erin (Paperbackstash) *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Raul wrote: "So no Odetta-Detta love hate relationship, no "white muthafuckas" and no Susannah. This doesn't look well."I know. The race of her compared to the others was actually an element in t..."
I completely agree with you.
I understand that "blondi" cowboy is not an option anymore but someone rugged, thin and strong like a steel wire would have done the trick. The same Matt, Bardem, Caviezel, Russell, Hoechlin or Isaac. All of them could have been great choices.
"Red" Redding as an african-american doesn't have the same impact in the story as Roland, to modify further a story to better accomodate another not necessary change seems counterproductive to me.
We can only hope this turns out right.
Erin (Paperbackstash) *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Raul wrote: "So no Odetta-Detta love hate relationship, no "white muthafuckas" and no Susannah. This doesn't look well."I know. The race of her compared to the others was actually an element in t..."
Actually the race element doesn't have to be removed, because instead of the whole "white muthafuckas" stuff it can "house nigger" instead.
I wish I could be excited about this but I fear Hollywood is just gonna fuck up another great story. Cast dosnt look good. Idk who the director is gonna be but probably some power hungry Hollywood playboy that thinks they know more about the dark tower than Mr. King.
T.W. wrote: "Erin (Paperbackstash) *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Raul wrote: "So no Odetta-Detta love hate relationship, no "white muthafuckas" and no Susannah. This doesn't look well."I know. The race of her ..."
I got to admit that your take is pretty good, haven't thought of that.
Still don't know if it could apply here, Roland is powerful and free by birth, he is royalty. It would be like Detta insulting T'Challa, he is who he is by legacy and strength, she would actually want to be like him or might even feel attracted to him.
Raul wrote: "T.W. wrote: "Erin (Paperbackstash) *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Raul wrote: "So no Odetta-Detta love hate relationship, no "white muthafuckas" and no Susannah. This doesn't look well."I know. The..."
But she won't know those things about Roland right away
I don't know why all these people speaks about racism when somebody disapproves Idris Elba as Roland. I would not like if they cast Monica Belucci as Susannah as well. For some it's a minor change, but what about Roland-Detta relationship?
I think it's a pretty astute piece of casting. I'm hard pushed to think of anyone who's going to look cooler kitted out as the Gunslinger, and Matthew McConaughey is in the form of his life right now. Two total dudes.
First, I agree with all of those that suggested this should be a multi-season TV production in the vein of Game of Thrones, House of Cards, or 11.22.63 (but longer). If I had my way, I would use anticipation of the next season of The Dark Tower as a reason to live one more year; I am 69 and I want to make 100. Stephen et al, you have your work to do.Next, I totally see Matthew McConaughey as Randall Flagg; perfect! But I am not I seeing him as Marten Broadclock or Walter O'Dim, both of whom I see as a psychotically smooth villains that are inches away from demonic madness rather than Randall's slick "Walkin' Dude" persona. Christian Bale?
Last, love Idris Elba, colossal actor with enormous depth, edge and cool, but I have to agree with those that have suggested he is too far from the Roland Deschain of Gilead mold. He needs to be commanding, iron-hard, and believably principled. And I to think it would be a mistake to ignore the black/white tension between Rolland/and Odetta. My pick would be Clive Owen.
Susannah Dean/Odetta "Detta" Hughes Dean needs to be played be someone with a wide range of character displaying a wide range of emotions. Nicole Beharie is the perfect choice. Look at her performances in "My Last Day Without You" and "American Violet".
More later ... got to pick up the pizza.
Oh dear... I was hoping a movie would never be made... I just can't see how the series would translate well into a movie. At the very least a tv series could have worked but... I don't know. Unless they plan on changing the story a little, I can't see how this movie will work as an adaptation of the Dark Tower I love so much. Especially with that casting.... I always kind of imagined Hugh Jackman as Roland (or Clint Eastwood, although of course he'd be too old for that now).
Dana wrote: "Oh dear... I was hoping a movie would never be made... I just can't see how the series would translate well into a movie. At the very least a tv series could have worked but... I don't know. Unless..."Yes. Agreed. This series means too much too many people to screw around with a movie that can't possibly compare.
Em wrote: "Dana wrote: "Oh dear... I was hoping a movie would never be made... I just can't see how the series would translate well into a movie. At the very least a tv series could have worked but... I don't..."I understand why people might be anxious - but then again, The Lord of the Rings meant a lot to a lot of people, and Peter Jackson didn't do too badly with the film adaptations, depite changing huge swathes of the story...
I really don't like the choice for Roland.... Yes, one point is the whole Roland/Detta story, but it's the picture the story gave the reader of Roland. And it has nothing to do with hate of black people or whatsoever, I also think that Elba is a great actor (really liked him in Thor). If it was the other way round I would be very disappointed in the same way.It's clearly not possible, but perfect for me would have been someone like Clint Eastwood. Because it's not a realistic choice, my second one would be Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes from TWD). And it's not only because I'm a huge TWD-Fan. In my opinion he has already shown in this TV-Series that he is a perfect Gunslinger with the piercing eyes and all.
I absolutly love The Dark Tower-Series and a part of me is excited that it's made into a movie. Put a huge part of me is also sure that the final product won't be something many lovers will be happy with.
Del wrote: "I made it to the end of Book III and decided that I'd rather see this on the big screen than read it. Or, as has been suggested, in a long-form TV series. I'm still excited though - mind you, I'd r..."King has made a whole universe. Many of his books have links to other ones, especially to The Dark Tower. I'm really exited every time I get another link ^^
Oh yeah, that's what I was getting at. Personally speaking, Id REALLY love to see Black House/The Talisman brought to the big screen (I enjoyed Black House a lot more than The Talisman but it would be hard to do one without the other).
Del wrote: "Em wrote: "Dana wrote: "Oh dear... I was hoping a movie would never be made... I just can't see how the series would translate well into a movie. At the very least a tv series could have worked but..."This is true; hadn't considered it from that angle. Perhaps all is not lost!
Let's see....a seven volume epic that's roughly twice the size of Lord of the Rings all compressed into one movie? I hate to sound cynical but I'm not sure Hollywood's magic can make that happen. I may just stick with the magic of reading them again....
Is it just the one movie? That would be hellish. I kinda just assumed it would be (at least) a trilogy...
Noooooo. It should have been Timothy Olyphant!!!
Tariq wrote: "Time to get through the last two books I guess. Didn't want the journey to end :("I know what you mean. I have been saving the last book for quite some time now...
Casting has already filed the movie version of a great book series as a failure. Diversity at the sake of creativity? If you can't have Detta hating everyone around a fire on the beach, don't waste my time. One of my favorite scenes from this series (and one of my favorite in any book) was when they talked about the proper term for a black person because each of them thought it should be something that was offensive to the other since they were each from different times. What was great was the acceptance that it didn't matter because she was part of their family so who cares which term they used.This race switching thing is sad. It really takes away from the great message of family seeing past blood and skin.
Del wrote: "Is it just the one movie? That would be hellish. I kinda just assumed it would be (at least) a trilogy..."The original plan was a trilogy and a tv mini series.... Before Sony jumped into the boat... I thought it would be the trilogy still 'till I read "Just one movie?" here a few times.
This way I can just agree that it will be a hell of a disaster... At least since "The Dome" I kinda know what to expect from such a production... I don't think that it will be anywere near the books...
I always wonder why readers feel the need to watch a production of a well-loved book. Is so we can all say THE BOOK WAS BETTER!? Anticipation is a wonderful feeling BUT... Movies seldom live up to the hype. Nothing can compare to the version, my version of the Dark Tower series. Even Mr. King didn't write the version I read. The imagination of the reader puts a personal stamp on any written work of fiction. Movies make concrete someone else's vision and once seen, forever change how the book is remembered. I guess I'm more reader than watcher and can't help feel there is no way to do justice to this wonderful amalgamation of genres.
OMG I love the books and I can't wait to see the movie *_____*
Barbara wrote: "I always wonder why readers feel the need to watch a production of a well-loved book. Is so we can all say THE BOOK WAS BETTER!? Anticipation is a wonderful feeling BUT... Movies seldom live up to ..."If treated with respect, I think a series could be monumental; and I DO believe these books deserve a monument. I also believe a single movie, or even a trilogy would be a monumental failure.
Barbara wrote: "I really don't like the choice for Roland.... Yes, one point is the whole Roland/Detta story, but it's the picture the story gave the reader of Roland. And it has nothing to do with hate of black p..."You are spot on. Maybe you should have done the casting. I'm black American and love Idris Elba's acting but he's not Roland.
This is a bad decision. In my eyes it’s not worth the creative compromise for the sake of political correctness. This decision mocks the integrity of the entire series. I say scuttle the whole thing. Especially if the project is being held ransom for the sake of politically correctness and equality. I guess what I’m really saying is a movie like Roots loses its effectiveness (onscreen) if the cast is white. It ties your hands and closes door that would otherwise be open. But hey, WTF do I know, I don’t make movies.
It's worth pointing out that Stephen King himself seems pretty pleased with the casting.
As a big fan of the series, I guess they will throw the audience a curve and surprise us with an African-American Roland and a caucasian Detta/Odetta (or another character that will take her place), which will reflect the race conflict in a different way. I think Mortensen or Caviezel would be perfect as Roland, but I'm still keeping my hopes alive for the flick. And McConaughey was the first name to come to my mind as Flagg, love him.
Del wrote: "It's worth pointing out that Stephen King himself seems pretty pleased with the casting."Funny how King hates Kubrick vision for The Shining (even when the film is highly regarded around the world) but is "okay" with this casting.
Just playing devil's advocate. I thought Kubrick's Shining was immense, but it's a completely different beast from the book. Maybe this will be the same?I remember the fanboys not being too pleased when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker in The Dark Knight, and look how that turned out. I understand the scepticism, but I'll reserve judgement until I've seen it.
The Dark Tower is the book of my life. I can't fcking wait to see this!