tuttle300
August 3rd, 2012, 06:32 AM
I would post a link to the article but I am not sure that is allowed though you all can google it and find it
According to this article, ( from Deadline Hollywood) Warners is talking to Russel Crowe for the massive Dark Tower project
They are about to read the script for the Dark Tower project and a decision should come down in two weeks if not sooner If they say okey dokey to funding it, I suspect pre-production will start this Fall
That's IF they say okay
I hate to be a wet blanket here but I will again go on record saying this is all doomed to fail BECAUSE - despite our many hopes and dreams-- the studio IS looking at the bigger picture
At 8 books in length- and considering they are not as popular in sales as any number of King's singular efforts--there just isn't a big enough audience out there to support such a huge project
Especially switching formats the way they have planned..... two or three major feature films and then a two season TV series set to run in between the films????
Here's a better more practical idea......How about condense the best portions of all eight books and make a large budget three season series on AMC or HBO and be sure to only have 10 to 13 episodes per season and be doubly sure the cast and crew agree to a limited tight budget. This means that everyone will take a pay cut and THAT means it will be a more attractive project to the studio
Even better is if they can film on location in Canada or someplace
And maybe even tell the story AS one long story. Don't break it up into "chapters" that signal where in the story we are compared to the books ( like Wolves of Calle for instance) because even while it would be a good cross promotion for the books , I doubt most people watching this would run to the store the next day and buy the book.. especially when they find out there are EIGHT books in the series
And THEN the studio needs to be committed TO the series so it all gets all three seasons filmed and then let the chips fall where they may-- unless of course the ratings numbers truly signal that nobody is watching then they have no choice but to cancel
But sticking to TV and locking in a limit of three seasons is the only way for this to possibly work--
If they stick to this current plan of jumping back and forth between film and television ( more than once) I would imagine the money they need to spend for the marketing ALONE is going to be a huge amount since you have to remind the people who went to see the films that the next portion of the project is running on TV and then after that you need to remind them to go back TO the theater to see the NEXT portion of the story etc etc etc)
And you all HAVE to know by now that very very few books adapted to film or television are able to keep everything in the book- there is simply no room nor time to fully adapt EVERYTHING from this book series. So while the mainstream audience may love the project, what we dont need is for a thouand fans of the books to go online bitchin' that there were favorite parts from the book that didnt make the cut
Lets step outside the fandom box a moment
You have to seriously compare the readership numbers here Its a huge risk In fact I dare say its an ever bigger risk than Lord of the Rings ( and that was JUST three books)
But then again, Hollywood does step up now and then and takes risks.
But I personally dont see Russell Crowe committing an entire year (or more) of his life to this but hey, I could be wrong
What would be best is if they find a director and an actor who HAVE read the books or are at least somewhat familiar with the material outside the scope of Hollywood and then maybe you would have some people in there who are encouraged by the material and that will translate on the screen
And they need an unknown ( and someone who has a likeness to Eastwood) to play Roland with a good number of 'name' actors in supporting roles This way EVERYONE will be on board
But again-- this whole thing is a risk
( see while every adapted book has its own built in audience, that NEVER means that the much much much larger group of people who do not actively READ for their entertainment are aware of the book)
I hope it works of course as I too, am a Constant Reader just like you
But there are a variety of factors that have to line up for this project to fly including a commitment from several directors, a large cast- including a few "names" so that the mainstream audience will be attracted to it- as well as a dedicated crew
Even if it doesn't work, remember what Uncle Stevie always says....... the books will always be there
Any comments? Thoughts on this?
According to this article, ( from Deadline Hollywood) Warners is talking to Russel Crowe for the massive Dark Tower project
They are about to read the script for the Dark Tower project and a decision should come down in two weeks if not sooner If they say okey dokey to funding it, I suspect pre-production will start this Fall
That's IF they say okay
I hate to be a wet blanket here but I will again go on record saying this is all doomed to fail BECAUSE - despite our many hopes and dreams-- the studio IS looking at the bigger picture
At 8 books in length- and considering they are not as popular in sales as any number of King's singular efforts--there just isn't a big enough audience out there to support such a huge project
Especially switching formats the way they have planned..... two or three major feature films and then a two season TV series set to run in between the films????
Here's a better more practical idea......How about condense the best portions of all eight books and make a large budget three season series on AMC or HBO and be sure to only have 10 to 13 episodes per season and be doubly sure the cast and crew agree to a limited tight budget. This means that everyone will take a pay cut and THAT means it will be a more attractive project to the studio
Even better is if they can film on location in Canada or someplace
And maybe even tell the story AS one long story. Don't break it up into "chapters" that signal where in the story we are compared to the books ( like Wolves of Calle for instance) because even while it would be a good cross promotion for the books , I doubt most people watching this would run to the store the next day and buy the book.. especially when they find out there are EIGHT books in the series
And THEN the studio needs to be committed TO the series so it all gets all three seasons filmed and then let the chips fall where they may-- unless of course the ratings numbers truly signal that nobody is watching then they have no choice but to cancel
But sticking to TV and locking in a limit of three seasons is the only way for this to possibly work--
If they stick to this current plan of jumping back and forth between film and television ( more than once) I would imagine the money they need to spend for the marketing ALONE is going to be a huge amount since you have to remind the people who went to see the films that the next portion of the project is running on TV and then after that you need to remind them to go back TO the theater to see the NEXT portion of the story etc etc etc)
And you all HAVE to know by now that very very few books adapted to film or television are able to keep everything in the book- there is simply no room nor time to fully adapt EVERYTHING from this book series. So while the mainstream audience may love the project, what we dont need is for a thouand fans of the books to go online bitchin' that there were favorite parts from the book that didnt make the cut
Lets step outside the fandom box a moment
You have to seriously compare the readership numbers here Its a huge risk In fact I dare say its an ever bigger risk than Lord of the Rings ( and that was JUST three books)
But then again, Hollywood does step up now and then and takes risks.
But I personally dont see Russell Crowe committing an entire year (or more) of his life to this but hey, I could be wrong
What would be best is if they find a director and an actor who HAVE read the books or are at least somewhat familiar with the material outside the scope of Hollywood and then maybe you would have some people in there who are encouraged by the material and that will translate on the screen
And they need an unknown ( and someone who has a likeness to Eastwood) to play Roland with a good number of 'name' actors in supporting roles This way EVERYONE will be on board
But again-- this whole thing is a risk
( see while every adapted book has its own built in audience, that NEVER means that the much much much larger group of people who do not actively READ for their entertainment are aware of the book)
I hope it works of course as I too, am a Constant Reader just like you
But there are a variety of factors that have to line up for this project to fly including a commitment from several directors, a large cast- including a few "names" so that the mainstream audience will be attracted to it- as well as a dedicated crew
Even if it doesn't work, remember what Uncle Stevie always says....... the books will always be there
Any comments? Thoughts on this?