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Acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan is tackling Stephen King’s epic fantasy horror series The Dark Tower, and there are already a ton of exciting updates about the new TV show. Starting with the publication of 1982’s The Gunslinger, the Dark Tower series is set in a bizarre parallel world in which a mysterious Western-style gunslinger named Roland traverses the land in search of The Man in Black and the eponymous monolithic tower. A stark departure from many of King’s other works, the deft blending of genres makes The Dark Tower one of the most unique book series of the 20th century.
Stephen King’s works have been adapted into film and TV shows since the debut of his first novel, but The Dark Tower has always been something of a bugaboo for Hollywood, and the industry has struggled to tackle the massive universe. The 2017 film was resoundingly rejected by fans of the book series, and its lengthy production timeline seemed to spell doom for any further exploration of the Dark Tower mythos. However, noted Stephen King fan Mike Flanagan has opted to take another stab at the complex horror property.
Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower Latest News
Though the project has been gestating for a few years, the latest update seems to suggest that things are moving forward as a familiar Mike Flanagan collaborator has teased a Dark Tower role. Though nothing has been confirmed regarding the show’s cast, frequent Flanagan actor Carla Gugino has dropped a cryptic hint that she might be securing a role in the Stephen King adaptation. “There has been a conversation about ‘The Dark Tower,’” said Gugino, “but I don’t have any intel I could share other than that.”
Gugino is no stranger to Mike Flanagan projects, and besides starring in his critically-acclaimed 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game, she also appeared as Olivia Crane in The Haunting of Hill House. The artistic duo recently worked together on The Fall of the House of Usher, and the frequency of their collaborations suggests more is on the way.
Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower Is Confirmed
While news has been somewhat scant on the project, The Dark Tower has been confirmed since 2022 with Mike Flanagan attached since day one. The series has been in talks with Amazon Prime Video, though nothing is certain about that deal at this moment. Regardless of where the project does eventually land, its high-profile creative talent such as Flanagan and Stephen King will make it a hot commodity.
Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower Cast Rumors
Nothing is known about the cast of The Dark Tower, but the rumor mill has been churning ever since the project was announced in 2022. Carla Gugino’s recent comments seem to suggest she is on a short list to appear in the series, though it is unclear who she could play. Additionally, Mike Flanagan collaborator Henry Thomas has expressed interest in The Dark Tower, but Thomas has not been tapped to play a role yet. Like Gugino, it is unclear exactly who Thomas could play. The role of Roland is perhaps the most hotly-contested, but Thomas isn’t likely a candidate for the part.
Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower Story
Unlike the failed 2017 film adaptation, Mike Flanagan has already boasted how his take on King’s fantasy opus will stick more closely to the source material. That means, with seven main books and a host of short stories and spinoffs, Flanagan has his work cut out for him. The Dark Tower will likely begin with the first novel, The Gunslinger, which introduces Roland as he journeys across the desert in pursuit of The Man in Black.
On his journey across the wasteland, Roland encounters Jake Chambers, a young boy with odd memories from a world not unlike Roland’s. At this juncture, it isn’t clear if Flanagan will go one novel at a time or if seasons will combine and truncate the lengthy story for narrative clarity. Either way, The Dark Tower could be the most ambitious Stephen King adaptation ever.
