Dark Tower Movie speculation

[prufrock21]

In a perfect world, Peter Jackson would direct DT on the big screen, Christian Bale would star, the movie would win 12 Oscars, Steve King would get the Noble for Literarure, and I would be awarded a signed copy of Steve King's The Plant Parts 1-6.

[bri0316]

This is terrible! I have been looking forward to how the Dark Tower series would be presented both on the big screen and TV, and Comcast buys Universal and dumps the project, the CEO of Comcast is a fool! I know it probably wasn't him directly that did this, but I'm so bitter about this. I hope that Stephen pushes to get this going again with or without Universal. And might I suggest he do an open casting call for some of the roles? It would be amazing to be apart of this project...

But if this does get moving again I think Ryan Reynolds would make a great Eddie. As for Roland...well that one is more difficult because I feel Clint is getting too old for the role, so I could only lean towards Harrison Ford, Hugh Laurie, Clive Owen, and maybe Aaron Eckhart. Yes they are all very different, but I like the potential they could bring to the role, though I can't say they look like the Roland I always imagined as I read the books...

I sincerely hope the idea of making the Dark Tower into a movie doesn't die here. I like so many others have been waiting to see what lies in the Dark Tower. If Ka wills it...

[Robert Gray]

I can't say I think it is terrible. The books will always be better in my head than any vision a filmmaker comes up with. While the Lord of the Rings movies were good, they were still far better (and more epic) in my head. I can't say that I look forward at all to the compromises and changes studios will demand of the scripts. Consider the changes that will be made to Ms. Holmes and Ms. Walker for example. Do you really think in our current, ridiculous climate that she will survive the translation? My own view is that financing is problematic because behind the scenes the "money" wants changes that Ron Howard doesn't want to make. That will be a factor just as much as the economy.

My advice, if you are somehow disturbed by this turn of events, is reread the book. That is always a good salve for the wound.

[Tiny]

so they wanted to change a bunch of stuff ??? And Ron -Opie- Howard was smart enough to say no ?
...think in our current, ridiculous climate that she will survive the translation?
please explain this: what climate ? what changes ? what transition ? Im afraid your gonna have to spell it out for some people (like me)
Your post is intriguing to me.
do you just mean the words she used "Honky Mo' fuc'rr" and such ?

Also, I dont think any other group is gonna pick it up, I think its dead in the water. Shattered ; like the blue "for special " plates under Susanne's foot.

[JohnDalglish]

I think its dead in the water. Shattered ; like the blue "for special " plates under Susanne's foot.

Hi,

But never say never.

It took almost fifty years to bring LotR to the screen properly!

Long days and pleasant nights

[Robert Gray]

so they wanted to change a bunch of stuff ??? And Ron -Opie- Howard was smart enough to say no ?

I am not privy to what went on behind the scenes, but that is my educated guess. I believe script would have been a big factor. A director like Ron Howard wouldn't have signed on to the project unless he liked the books. The trend of late has been for the directors with pull to try and stay very true to the source material. Ms. Walker/Holmes is enough all by herself to make Studios cringe. There is also the issue that Roland himself is a very unsympathetic character in the first book. It is a great story but not necessarily one that wins over Studios. I could go on and on. I have no faith whatsoever that a cinematic release of the Dark Tower would be remotely like the book.

...think in our current, ridiculous climate that she will survive the translation?
please explain this: what climate ? what changes ? what transition ? Im afraid your gonna have to spell it out for some people (like me)

I doubt it. I think you can figure it out just fine without my help.

Your post is intriguing to me.
do you just mean the words she used "Honky Mo' fuc'rr" and such ?

It goes way beyond language (although her being a colorful, insane caricature is certainly part of it). Racism is a central issue, sexuality implicit in sometimes violent ways. We should not forget Ms. Walker's comments about having a good pull on each other's candles. If Walker is watered down enough to be rough but not offensive, the game is already lost. I heard speculation sometime back about her not even being black in some script variations.

Also, I dont think any other group is gonna pick it up, I think its dead in the water. Shattered ; like the blue "for special " plates under Susanne's foot.

Eh. If it gets made, I'm sure I'll see it. I won't shed any tears if it isn't. The books are all that matter to me. I just hope that Sai King already got a fat check for the movie rights. That way he gets paid whether or not the abomination ever gets made.

[bobledrew]

I understand your reverence towards the books, folks. I really do. But y'know, NO novel or series of novels can be translated literally to the screen -- just as you can't translate a novel literally into another language.

It may come together, and it may not. It may be great, or not. I think you have to give the filmmakers a chance to do a good job. I suspect that if SK thought Ron Howard and his team were awful, he never would have let them get the option.

[Robert Gray]

I understand your reverence towards the books, folks. I really do. But y'know, NO novel or series of novels can be translated literally to the screen -- just as you can't translate a novel literally into another language.

It may come together, and it may not. It may be great, or not. I think you have to give the filmmakers a chance to do a good job. I suspect that if SK thought Ron Howard and his team were awful, he never would have let them get the option.

I don't think Ron Howard and his team were/are awful. That is irrelevant. Making movies, except in rare cases, is a battle between countless different groups all of whom want a say. The money almost always has the last say. As to whether or not Sai King would let someone have the option, of course he would. While he may not hold television in high regard, Sai King loves movies.

[garygak]

I just read that Universal Pictures has officially backed out of the production of the Dark Tower movie/t.v. series. I read further speculation on-line that the project may be shelved. I part of me would be very disappointed. I imagine it being done to the quality of Lord of the Rings. It could be a fine film! Another part of me thinks, Maybe it shouldn't be made into a movie. I am currently reading The Postman by David Brine. It is disappointing to crazy glue Kevin Costner's face into every scene. It takes something away from the book. A lot of movies do that. Shawshank is one of my favorite stories/SK movies but whenever I read it I hear Morgan Freeman. I see Tim Robbins. So, I don't know. Would it be that bad if The Dark Tower never made it to film.

[Tiny]

Eh. If it gets made, I'm sure I'll see it. I won't shed any tears if it isn't. The books are all that matter to me.

This is exactly how I feel also.