Movie: Stephen Kings The Dark Tower Idris Elba & Matthew McConaughey

[blankslate]

based on the Last Time Around with the horn in the dirt....

And the ending of the books

Spoiler

hinting that Roland can make different choices in each cycle i.e. leaving the horn in the dirt... or stopping to retrieve it.

I'm more curious about this adaptation now as it may not have to hew so faithfully to the books considering how things were set up by Stephen King in the last paragraphs of the story.


_______________

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

I'm curious how they will depict Roland's world, especially in flashbacks of when his father was around. There is a technological atmosphere of the US old West (gunslingers) sure, but at the same time it always felt like Camelot too.

 

[destrekor]

I have serious issues with this movie/series. I'm a huge fan of the DT books and have read them numerous times. There are far too many character development points that honestly depend on Roland's race.

Spoiler

the infinite amount of times that Detta calls him beloved patriot or greymeat or.... and then there's the Chap

I really was hoping for a direct translation from book to screen, but that's not gonna happen any time soon.

You'll never see a major series ever get a "direct translation" - it's impossible, some things just do not transfer to screen from book.

Also: the character development does not rely upon specific race and chosen words, it's the intent of the words that makes the message. They can easily come up with some other choice words and actions (no words needed, perhaps, if conveyed appropriately) that gets the message across and develops the characters.

 

[nageov3t]

 

[Paratus]

The plot thickens!

Wonder "when" in New York they'll be filming for.

 

[Thebobo]

I read the series or rather listened to it, think King was on acid while writing them.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

This is a perfect way to bridge novel series to movie format: there are always changes in adaptation, it's absolutely necessary, but this explicitly demands there be changes.


It definitely sounds like the movie will begin with some story material from the final three books, but I'm curious just how this will be done, as either they have kept the casting for Odetta and Eddie a secret, or they won't be in the first film. Which makes it awfully odd if Roland will be reaching into our world and timeline where characters like Tirana reside (iirc).

I'm excited to see where this all goes, and hope they, above all else, just make a damn good movie, accuracy be damned. They've been given free reign to do just that, take advantage of it.

Here's to it being so good, and Idris so awesome, he wins an Oscar for it! Hollywood and Hollywood's haters would both be happy to see that happen.

Developing the ka-tet out of sequence is just another mistake in a long list of easily recognized dumbs. Considering Tom Taylor (Jake) was just cast a few months ago does not bode well for the early plot development.

I guess I am going to have to accept the fact that this movie/screen adaptation will be very loosely based upon the original books. Then I can share in your enthusiasm a bit. You are well met destrekor.

 

[destrekor]

Developing the ka-tet out of sequence is just another mistake in a long list of easily recognized dumbs. Considering Tom Taylor (Jake) was just cast a few months ago does not bode well for the early plot development.

I guess I am going to have to accept the fact that this movie/screen adaptation will be very loosely based upon the original books. Then I can share in your enthusiasm a bit. You are well met destrekor.

I'm one of the first to become annoyed when I learn a movie or TV show does not follow the source material as closely as I would like... but I think I am also among the first to just accept it and enjoy it for what it is. I already enjoyed the source material most of the time - this lets it become something different, something unpredictable so that I can almost experience it all over again like many other viewers who never read the source. It's a joy to not let the small stuff bother you - life is far, far more warm and inviting when met with a more positive outlook.

I think, for the best chance to see the movie series develop fully and capture the whole source plot, they have made the right decision to not start the movie series right at the beginning of the first book. I would love to see that movie first, believe me, but in terms of plot, it's not a studio's best bet. Starting in media res gives them a stronger chance to earning a strong box office response, which is crucial to secure funding for following chapters.

But I certainly hope a lot of the main elements are still presented, even if out of order. How Roland meets Jake and what they both have to go through, that's a pivotal moment for Roland. If we don't get that in the first movie, perhaps the sequel can start there. Or perhaps they can still carry through with TV series in-between film releases.

There is so much backstory though, I just don't know how they can incorporate it all into the films and do it all justice with running time. Wizard and Glass deserves some form of adaptation, ideally a 10-episode miniseries or an entire film. But I fear we won't get any of that. At best maybe bits and pieces thrown throughout a single film.

 

[nageov3t]

The plot thickens!

Wonder "when" in New York they'll be filming for.

I've anecdotally heard that they're filming in Chinatown this week too, but this picture was taken outside of my office which is near Madison Square Park

 

[Paratus]

McConaughy as The Man in Black aka Randall Flagg

 

[Paratus]

Unfinished trailer leaked on to the net:

Spoilers obviously
http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/first-trailer-dark-tower-leaks-online/

Spoiler

A lot of Jake in a somewhat similar timeframe to the Wasteland in New York. Present day however. Only really showing Jake, Roland and the man in black. No Eddie or Susannah. Although the first book was only them as well.

 

[destrekor]

Unfinished trailer leaked on to the net:

Spoilers obviously
http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/first-trailer-dark-tower-leaks-online/

Spoiler

A lot of Jake in a somewhat similar timeframe to the Wasteland in New York. Present day however. Only really showing Jake, Roland and the man in black. No Eddie or Susannah. Although the first book was only them as well.

I think it's gone already. Any other links? Seems its been pulled everywhere, and I didn't get to see it!
I've read the details of the trailer but still, I gotta see it.

 

[Paratus]

I think it's gone already. Any other links? Seems its been pulled everywhere, and I didn't get to see it!
I've read the details of the trailer but still, I gotta see it.

Sorry man. I got that link from a comment at Ars.

It was such an early release there were still green screens in some shots.

 

[MongGrel]

Calling King a hack and then putting Kubrick on a pedestal is rich. Either they are both hacks or neither are.

See if you can pick some of the awesome movies Frank Darabont produced/directed in collaboration with Stephen King.

List of great King films:
Stand by me
Green mile
Shawshank
Shining

List of decent King films:
Carrie
Cujo
Running man
Pet Cemetary
Children of Corn
Hearts in Atlantis

It isn't the material it's the producer and director. The Dark Tower is King's magnus opus. It's good. Having Opie produce it is the big mistake not the work itself.

The only way to salvage this monorail wreck (blaine is a pain) is to get Clint Eastwood to direct it, fire Idris Elba (whoever the hell that is), and cast someone like Daniel Craig as Roland.

I used to read a lot of him here and there, but like Zin said, he is similar to Koontz, not what you would consider a master. But movies are usually tweaked a bit from the books of course.

Kubrick as a Producer is art, King as a Producer has always fallen flat on his face.

I haven't read any of the Dark Towers since the 3d one, but they were above par I thought for King.

I'll agree with Paratus on cautious about how it turns out.

 

[Paratus]

New poster with release date.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Unfinished trailer leaked on to the net:

Spoilers obviously
http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/first-trailer-dark-tower-leaks-online/

Spoiler

A lot of Jake in a somewhat similar timeframe to the Wasteland in New York. Present day however. Only really showing Jake, Roland and the man in black. No Eddie or Susannah. Although the first book was only them as well.

I am a big fan of the DT series and this is not a film adaptation of the books, but

Spoiler: SPOILER

this is just a continuation of Roland's saga. He's had untold journey's to the dark tower, and this is just another one, in a different time.

So go then, there are other worlds than this

 

[destrekor]

That new poster ^ I want it! I want one now! That's seriously a great movie poster, it really is wonderful. I wonder which character is walking at the top of the poster, in the shadows. And yes, I know the one near the center at top is the man in black, but it would seem there are no pedestrians so, that character obscured in shadow has got to be someone important. hmm

I am a big fan of the DT series and this is not a film adaptation of the books, but

Spoiler: SPOILER

this is just a continuation of Roland's saga. He's had untold journey's to the dark tower, and this is just another one, in a different time.

So go then, there are other worlds than this

Spoiler: YUP A SPOILER!

While what you say is true and has been uttered from even King's mouth, I'd still bet it will be a relatively faithful adaptation of the events throughout the book series, but there will be differences that they can easily explain away. I think this will really be more of a King-blessed adaptation that isn't 100% identical to the books and they get additional leeway thanks to King's controversial ending. But it is safe to say that 99% of book movie adaptations have changes that are necessary for the difference in medium. That's why I was always OK with the idea that things would change in this adaptation, because it was inevitable. As long as they get to proceed further into the story, I bet we'll get good adaptations of each book, but there will be some major changes to either the character roster and/or perhaps the sequence of events.

 

[Paratus]

So we have a teaser for the trailer.....

Yup that's a thing now.

The full trailer is out tomorrow.

(I did like Roland saying he kills with his heart)

 

[Paratus]

So with shared universes being all the rage for movies, does anyone think they will keep the shared literary universe from the Dark Tower and IT stories in their respective movies?

 

[destrekor]

So with shared universes being all the rage for movies, does anyone think they will keep the shared literary universe from the Dark Tower and IT stories in their respective movies?

Oooo, wonderful question! I think they should, but what they do? Who knows.

 

[destrekor]

 

[Paratus]

You know it doesn't look half bad.

 

[KMFJD]

looks good to me

 

[Feneant2]

Looks real good- I am looking forward to it.

I never got into the series but I have to read it. It's not my fault tough because my parents, in all their wisdom, bought me a random later book in the series or something- in French no less, so it made no sense to me at all. This was many years ago but being young it was enough to make me thing this series was stupid and sucked...

 

[ImpulsE69]

I only read the first 2 books. I find them very difficult to read compared to his other stuff, but I always did intend to read them. Word is this movie takes place AFTER the books. One thing that is interesting is I believe they took the ideas from The Talisman and Black House and merged them for this movie. It makes sense since they actually are essentially an extended universe that directly relates to the Tower. Having not read all the books, I will probably enjoy this, but I have a feeling fans of the series are not going to be happy at all.

As for the question about IT and DT..I doubt it. I think the 'same world' of that was never originally intended and only mentioned by King as an afterthought. The same could have been said about The Talisman, but any doubt was erased when Black House came out (Black House is the sequel to The Talisman and is similar to IT in its storytelling - kids that have grown up and more or less comes right out and says "this is related to The Dark Tower series").