Image Credit: Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty ImagesWith news that Stephen King’s enormously popular book series The Dark Tower will be coming to a big and small screen near you, we here at EW.com could not stop ourselves from reaching out to the bestselling author (and EW columnist) via email to get a few more answers about the highly-anticipated project. Here’s what he had to say:
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: The Dark Tower is such a dense series — did you always think it needed more than a single movie or TV show treatment?
STEPHEN KING: I always thought it would take more than a single movie, but I didn’t see this solution coming — i.e., several movies and TV series. It was Ron [Howard] and Akiva [Goldsman]‘s idea. Once it was raised, I thought at once it was the solution.
What about Ron Howard and NBC makes them a good fit for the franchise?
When working as a director, Ron is very similar to the way I work as a writer. We both tell honest stories that have (I flatter myself) style and substance but not a lot of show-offy frills.
In a perfect world, who would play Roland? Eddie? Susannah? Jake?
The Twilight cast, of course! Just kidding. I haven’t got as far as casting in my thoughts, but when I write about Susannah Dean, I always kind of see Angela Bassett in my mind’s eye. Mostly I just want good people in those parts. Ron Howard will find them, I’m sure.
And who would you want to play?
I’d love to be the voice of Blaine the Mono.
There’s a lot of blood in the series — how much is the TV series going to be censored? It likely would have been easier to join forces with a network without restrictions, à la HBO, no?
I don’t see that as a problem at all! We’ll have just enough latitude to make a great series. I’ve worked in network TV before, and every time I was squeezed a little, it just made me look for creative solutions. Besides, I always like to play in the biggest auditorium available!
I’m in the midst of reading the series now and am I thrilled that it may have a screen treatment in the near future? Just a little!
I think it is very clear who should be in the cast
Bridget Regan
Craig Horner
Brandon Routh
Joshua Jackson
Clive Owen
I think you’re a bit biased. But would love to see Bridget Regan and Craig Horner.
This cast will have to be lower tiered actors to be committed to a TV series and movies. This concept will take a long time to complete and NBC couldn’t pay Viggo that many millions for so many years.
The only one on that list that would actually Look like and act like His Charecter would be: C
I say no ! I know The DarkTower Books and none of you even fit the Charecters.
Roland (as adult) – my short list
Christain Bale
Josh Brolin
Brad Pitt
Viggo Mortensen
Hugh Jackson
Sam Elliot as Roland. Is there anyone that would be better? No.
We don’t want another mishap like the “Harry Potter” series and have the main chacter die before the last movie. But, yes I do agree.
Sam Elliot is Roland
Edward Norton is Eddie
Kimberly Elise is Susannah
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Jake
Michael Fassbender as Roland, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Eddie, Zoe Saldana as Susannah, for bad guys, Javier Bardem as Randall Flagg, Tom Wlaschiha-game of thrones assasin as the man in black (1st book, the sorcerer)
Roland= Gary Sinise!!!
He was perfect as Stu in The Stand.
tottaly agree about the stand.however, i can see clint eastwood as roland, and please, lets keep everyone from twilite as far from the bea mas possable.
yesyesyesyes! Please rescue GS from that CSI:NY hot mess.
Eastwood’s just a tad too long in the tooth for this role, but someone in their 50s or so and craggy like that would be perfect. I hate to say it because I’m not a big fan, but Mickey Rourke might fit the bill.
I think David Keith as Roland but Sinise is a good idea too.
Just as long as it’s NOT Russel Crowe!
The Stand was awful! (movie adaptation, of course) It made Gary Sinise, an actor i really like, bad! Saying he was perfect as Stu in the Stand doesn’t do anything for me thinking he should be in Dark Tower! Viggo Mortensen, as suggested on some of the other pages about this, is perfect – maybe too good looking, but I think he’d be fabulous. Pony up the money for Viggo, NBC, cuz he’s it!
I always pictured David Carradine. Too bad.
How about his brother Keith?
YES! Keith Carradine would be perfect. He was a wonderful Wild Bill in Deadwood.
Keith Carradine would work! Sort of world-weary, long, lean- yep, that’s Roland.
?? David Keith ?? Roland is a white man, He wouldn’t work ???
he’s the best suggestion i’ve heard so far
Hot!
I agree – Gary Sinise would be prefect!!!!!
Often Roland is described as “long, tall, and ugly (by Eddie). Gary Sinise is small, short and ugly. You’ve got to at least get two out of three.
Gary Sinise!? Gary Sinise!? As what? the slow mutants. Just a bunch of multiple Gary sinises!! hahaa
yeah, u know i think Gary Sinise would be perfect. but i would like a lower voice. like Frank Muller who did the first few audio books. his voice was perfect.
You do know why he didn’t do all of the Audio Books don’t, Boy you are behind the times. The reason he did do all of them was because he Died after the third audio book.
No way !!! Not Old Enough , Not Skinny enough, Roland is a Gun Slinger.Not Tall enough either.
Actually the reason Frank Muller didn’t do any more audio books was because he was in a very bad motorcycle accident in 2001. He didn’t die until almost 7 years later, but he wasn’t able to work during that time frame.
gary sinese–please he is the best.
Wow. this is eerie. I just started reading the first volume of the Dark Tower series (the Gunslinger) this morning. Very curious to see how this whole movie/tv series works out. Would rather see it on HBO but im sure Ron Howard has a plan and hopefully this all works out. Do we have any idea when this thing might start going into production?
Mel Gibson for Roland!
please no
Why are you still here? You realize everyone hates your guts, don’t you?
Nope… not everyone. I like my conversations with Ceballos. No need for anomosity. We can all have and share different opinions without being nasty or disrespectful.
You realize there was a fake one for a while that just wrote a bunch of troll crap, right? The real Ceballos is clever and funny. See above.
You’re right, Ayn – the real Ceballos is bright and a pleasure to converse with. Then this imposter came along writing idiotic garabge under Ceballos’ name. As a result, the real Ceballos seems to have abandoned the EW board (hopefully, just temporarily), making this site a little less enjoyable.
Mel Gibson is not worthy of playing any part in any movie or TV show. Especially Stephen King.
Please NO!
Not Mel For Roland , He would make a Curious Eddie dean though !!! ^-^
Maybe MEL should be Walter!
Roland = Viggo Mortenson
Eddie = Casey Affleck
Susanna = Angela Bassett
Jake = Colin Ford (kid who plays young Sam on the flashback episodes of “Supernatural”)
Would LOVE to hear Stephen King voice Blaine the Mono!
Oooh I LOVE the idea of Viggo as Roland!
Casey Affleck! That’s amazing, I hadn’t thought of that. For Susanna, I’d have to echo the Gina Torres crowd. She’s the young, gorgeous, complicated lady for me.
I immediately thought of Gina Torres.
GINA TORRES! Yessss! It’s been so long since she had a good role.
Casey Affleck is too old to play Eddie. Eddie is 21 when we first meet him in Drawing of the Three.
KarlHall- Love the Gina Torres idea. my husband and I were just discussing her as a fun option!!!
Gina Torres, brilliant!! I love her to death. Then have Alan Tudyk play Eddie since those two have excellent chemistry together.
Viggo and Casey are both *perfect*. You have great taste.
If Stephen King is the voice of Blaine, who gets to play Stephen King? With any luck, the production will end before the last few books so we won’t have to worry about that…
Joe Hill could pull it off. He’s a clone of his old man.
Angela Bassett is too old. Viggo would be a PERFECT Roland! Somebody get on that…
Jakie, u r right on the money with all of ur picks… i actually posted way later on that it should be viggo before i ever saw your pics. So i gotta give you credit….
however, i think aaron paul (jesse from breaking bad) would also be a good eddie… But casey would be money as well.
Aaron Paul is a great suggestion. At least we know he could play the addict. Maybe he should play Eddie’s brother instead.
Love it.
Viggo IS Roland!!! He has to be!
To me this is the ” Perfect” cast for the Dark tower movies ^-^
The Dark Tower
1. Roland: Viggo Mortensen
2. Susanne: Rutina Wesdtley
3. Eddie: Peter Petrelli
4.Jake:Uriah Shelton /or Trye Sivan
5.oy: George Guidall
6. Walter: Gabriel Byrne
7. Crimson King: Kellan Lutz
8. Blaine the Mono: Steven King
_______________________________
Would really like to hear everyones feed back on this list???
Wow! this is eerie. I just started reading the first volume of the Dark Tower (the gunslinger) this morning. Plan on reading all the books and im thrilled this acctually has a good chance of happening. Hopefully Howard knows what he’s and the series/movie is bada**
Anybody but Tom Hanks for Roland!
LIKE
Tom Hanks ???? Playing Roland No way !!
He’s too cocky. Can’t stand him!
Tom Hanks cocky? How ridiculous!
Clint Eastwood for Roland.
No one from Twilite should be allowed within miles of the Beam.
Good choice but to well known. Best one I heard so far is Viggo. But still looking for a no one from an old western I’m thinking that would be better, Viggo is a little young still.But, if they age him a little bit yeah, he would be good.But, who would play the younger Roland ?
You know Clint Howard is going to be in this – maybe as Oy?
lol awesome, I do hope they don’t overdo Oy with CGI
Clint Howard IS the adult Sheemie!
Clint Eastwood for Roland.
clint eastwood for roland
no one from twilite should be allowed within miles of the beam!!
4th try at posting this.
silverrose, your post made it this time !!!No I known everyone likes Clint Eastwood But I believe a co – Star from one of his movies would do better.
Here’s the thing- in The Stand they cast an unfamous actress as Lucy, and she embodied her perfectly (Lucy and Larry were my favorite characters in The Stand, and I thought both actors were perfect for the roles).
I meant to add that casting Rob Lowe as Nick originally made me roll my eyes, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good he was. So my point is that it doesn’t matter if they are famous or not, as long as they can give justice to King’s great characters.
If possible, they should use the same actors (one in particular) that appear in both books. I’m looking at you RF!!
ooh, good idea. hopefully jamey sheridan is up for it!!!!!!!
Jamey Sheridan killed it as Flagg. He was handpicked by King, if I remember correctly. He was awesome.
Angela Bassett = brilliant. Just let Steve cast the movie! He should have final veto power!
Oh, no, please, I hated Sheridan as Randall Flagg.
I’ve not read this series yet, but am very excited about the movies/shoes. Just got done reading ‘Under the Dome’ and I can’t WAIT till they turn that into a miniseries:)
Maybe you should consider seeing the movies first. I’m always disappointed when I see a book adaptation.
Me too, I got smart with the Harry Potter moves; I didn’t read the last book so I have no idea about the Ending,
AND DON’T GIVE IT AWAY !!!!
all I can say is I hope its better than the stand. they’ve made some real stinkers out of kings books like “the langoliers” or how ever you spell it.