With a toothpick in his mouth and Shaun of the Dead t-shirt on his chest, EW contributor Stephen King strolled into New York Comic-Con like a rock star. Some bastard genius over at the Con hired two armed Stormtrooper “bodyguards” to escort in this Main Attraction, then lord over the mosh pit of photographers, creating a lightning-storm of flashes worthy of a Cannes premiere. (Two thoughts: We’re fairly certain those troopers’ guns weren’t real, and EW senior editor Marc Bernardin insists this lends itself to an Altamont joke.) Joined by Marvel honcho Joe Quesada, ridiculously talented artist Jae Lee, and an editor named Ralph Macchio (gee, he’s never heard that one before), the King shrugged off the ruckus with his usual confident dude-ness and held court at a Q&A panel in honor of Dark Tower, Marvel Comics’ adaptation of his fantasy series.
“No.” That was his response to the very first question — of the most vexing sort, asking if King would pony over an autograph in exchange for a $800 donation to his favorite charity. Thankfully, that didn’t kill the mood. Between ribbing Quesada for calling him “Mr. King” (he prefers more casual options such as “Your Honor” or “Your Lordship”) and casually dropping the word “man” about as many times as Tommy Lee is wont to say “bro,” King continued to answered any and all curiosities.
Apparently, King’s affair with nerddom may still be simmering. On the possibility of other Towercomics, he replied, “There’s always more stories.” He later adds thathe and Marvel have also been “kicking around” the idea of turning The Stand into a series. Ecstatic cheer. Oh, and he’s planning to rewrite the whole Towerseries, viewing the existing text as a “work in progress.” Befuddledsilence. Finally, time for the true test: Asked what his favoritecomics are, he made the Con proud by citing fine longer-form fair like Preacher, V for Vendetta, and The Sandman, also adding in Marvel’s Spider-Man.
Asked to elaborate on rumor of a big-screen Tower,King proclaimed that he doesn’t “give a s— about movies.” Previousadvances to turn the property into a film by Hollywood heavyweightssuch as writer-director buddy Frank Darabont — who adapted the King’s The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile — have gone unrequited. But King does give a s— about Lostcreators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. “I trust those guys,” saidKing, before unveiling the big scoop of the day: He sold them the Tower option rights for 19 bucks.
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I can’t say I’m a fan of King’s novels; I’ve read 4 or 5 and found them to be interesting enough to finish but not gripping enough for me to hunt down and read everything he’s ever written. That being said, I’ve talked to many a hardcore King fan who always say that the Dark Tower series are the best of King’s work and I should give those books a chance before passing judgment on him. I haven’t gotten around to reading them yet, but I am excited at the prospect of Abrams and Lindelhof having the rights to the material. Lost is so freaking awesome and the Dark Tower is supposed to be, so I am very much looking forward to the prodcut of the combined efforts of these three very talented creators.
This was one of the best things I have heard all week!! The Tower series on screen?? Just one request – please please please let Bruce Campbell play Roland!!!
Bruce Campbell? Are you bloody serious? That guy couldn’t act his way out a wet paper bag…. and do you really think he could emote 1/100th of the conflicted malice of ONE Roland look? I don’t think so.
Even though he is a great guy, and I enjoy watching him in films and TV, Bruce would not be right for Roland. Just doesn’t have the dramatic chops, IMHO. Who would be right? I have to think about that. Any suggestions?
So how many of you Tower junkies got a chuckle out of the $19 price tag? Let’s hope the Lost boys have better luck with the number than the members of Roland’s ka-tet did!
How about Hugh Jackman as Roland???
Short of Clint losing 25 years, the only man I can see as Roland right now is a very unconventional choice: Hugh Laurie. I say go for it.
Cripes, imagine what could be done with Danny Torrance, Charlie McGee, The Shop, Salem’s Lot, and Castle Rock, if King was interested in revisting these characters?
How about Sam Elliot? He looks like beef jerky with a few miles on it. But still tasty…
Hugh Laurie…PERFECT as Roland! I love it!
The unfortunate thing about the screen version of Dark Tower is that it’s coming 20 years to late for Clint to play Roland, whom the character is clearly based upon. Without Clint, it will probably go to one of four people: Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford or Tommy Lee Jones. I’m not saying their the best choices, but that’s who it will probably end up being.
Best choice for Roland, Viggo Mortensen, look at his character in Hidalgo. If you complain about him being to you, they can age him…look what they did in Lord of the Rings
I think the biggest problem is that everyone who has read the series have very definite images in mind for what Roland or any of the other characters look and sound like. With that in mind I suggest Thomas Jane
Halle Berry as that crazy 1/2 legged
Susanne would be perfect !
Halle Berry for SUSANNAH – I THINK NOT! geez i was so upset when she was cast as storm – shoulda been IMAN!!! sorry bad choice in casting! as for roland, no one could really play him but I’m thinking a leaner benicio del toro type… man i gotta go buy this comic now i didn’t even know he did this!!!
Halle Berry is too commercial to play Suzanna. I think a good if not perfect choice to play Roland would be Clive Owen. A younger Clint Eastwood would have been perfect since Stephen King admitted that, he was part of his inspiration for Roland. As for Suzanna, if you’ve ever seen “28 Days Later” the supporting actor Naomi Harris would be PERFECT! She is a great actress and definitely could do an amazing job of portraying Suzanna’s volatile personality!! As for Eddie, I think a slightly younger Edward Norton would have been good…
If not for having played the Green Goblin already, William DeFoe would have made an amazing Walter.
Ah yes, and as for Jake, the young boy from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/Neverland Freddie Highmore would be great.
I’ve always thought Sean Bean would make a great Roland.
How about Viggo Mortenson as Roland? He’d make a damn good one.
How about Viggo Mortenson as Roland? He’d make a damn good one.
Viggo Mortensen would be a good choice for Roland. Hugh Laurie or Clive Owen would be good second and third choices respectively. Unfortunately, if there is a DT movie, Mortensen will, most likely, opt out. He has done his quest movie already. Dark Tower has a lot to live up to to follow the Rings, which is the Quest to end all quests. How about Vivica K. Fox for Susannah. Eddie Dean is a harder pick. Here is a stretch, Ashton Kutcher. Jake is harder still. You would need a pretty good 10-15 year old male actor. The kid from Charlie and the chocolate factory seems like a good idea though. Alec Baldwin as Walter. Also, don’t make this story into a movie. Go the HBO route. It would just work better. C’mon King you don’t need the money. Put your foot down about this.
I tried to think of an actor who could play Roland and I kept returning to Clint Eastwood – he just is Roland. Shame he’s too old to play him now. Whoever suggested Hugh Laurie, I think he could possibly be brilliant in the role. And Freddie Highmore is a good choice for Jake, if he can pull of an American accent. As for Eddie, I’ve always imagined James Caveziel(sp?) in the role for some reason.
ok heres my take– Mortenson as the Gunslinger, Alfre Woodard as Suzannah, Edward Norton as Edddie, and last but not least, Christopher Walken as Flagg. whaddya think?
I don’t think many people reading this article did get the $19 tag – it was a nice touch, though.
I think taking the Tower series to comic form is a great idea, I couldn’t get enough of the artwork Michael Whelan did for his particular books.
I’d pass on seeing a Tower movie because of the fact already mentioned before, you have specific ideas of how each characters would look.
Rosario Dawson as Susannah, Jeremy Piven as Eddie, Keifer Sutherland as Roland.
Have to say i always pictured kevin costner as he was in open range as roland, gina torres is the perfect odetta/detta/susannah, james cromwell as flagg, ed norton is a great shout for eddie. no idea for jake, never going to be a movie though.
If people actually go through all of the movies and get tot THAT ending.. they’ll riot and burn down the theater.
hugh laurie would be better as walter, he’s to good at being cynical to act as roland
Gina Torres would definitely be an excellent Susannah. Jeremy Piven is way too old to play Eddie. Viggo Mortenson could possibly do Roland well. Hugh Laurie? I think not. Ashton Kutcher is an interesting choice. Willam Defoe as Walter is one I have thought of. Despite the protests, I like the idea of Bruce Campbell as Roland.
My personal cast list?
Jean Reno (he’d have to work on his accent) or Nathan Fillion – Roland
Gina Torres – Susannah
Casy Affleck, Topher Grace, or Danny Masterson – Eddie
Zach Tyler Eisen – Jake
(younger) Jeffrey Jones – Walter, Flagg (inspired by some artwork), or even Father Callahan.
Christian Slater – Jack Mort
Andy Garcia – Enrico Balazar
Adam Baldwin – Jack Andolini
Dominic Purcell – Tick-Tock Man
Alan Tudyk or Tony Curran – Brown the hut dweller
Sir Derek Jacobi – The Crimson king
Donal Logue – Henry Dean
Michael Clarke Duncan – Hax
Cloris Leachman – Rhea of the Coos
That’s all I really have room for so…
Bye.
Hugh Laurie has to play Roland!!! How good would that be?!
[...] Way back in February 2007, it was announced that J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, the original team behind ABC’s mega-hit Lost, would be adapting author Stephen King’s seven book epic The Dark Tower into film, most likely as a series. News was trickling out on it piece by piece, even though not much was known as time went on, it was at least assumed that development would really pick up after Lost concluded in 2010 and Lindelof would have his hands free to work on the multiple scripts that would be required. Abrams was expected to possibly co-write the movies and direct all of them, something that would certainly take up much of his time, and for somebody who has multiple projects on his plate, including the sequel to his Summer hit Star Trek, and he has a tall order. But now it seems as if he won’t have to worry about that. [...]