The Dark Tower has long been linked to a possible big-screen adaptation, but it seems that Warner Bros are now close to agreeing a deal to bring Stephen King's mammoth fantasy to the cinemagoing public.

Director Ron Howard was thought to be making the film last year, only for Universal to reject his script. Next up were Akiva Goldsman and Brian Grazer, who were planning to make the property into a TV show, before Warner stepped in to resurrect the idea of a film.

The studio are apparently keen for Howard to direct, with Goldsman giving his original script a bit of a polish. Javier Bardem had been linked to the project the first time around, and Warner would be receptive to him playing the lead in their newly revived version.

The story focuses on gunslinger Roland Deschain in his attempts to locate a mythical structure known as the Dark Tower, the nexus of a number of interlinked universes. The saga has sprawled across seven books to date, with an eighth set to arrive later this year.

Early projections have production slated to start on the film in 2013, giving Goldsman plenty of time to finesse Howard's script. Source: www.totalfilm.com

HBO grabs TV production rights for The Dark Tower [26th October 2011 17:22:05]

If last week you'd asked us to bet on The Dark Tower getting made anytime soon, we'd have saved our money for something with less financial risk. Like buying Netflix shares.

This week the project is surrounded by so much positive buzz it could be the uplifting "And finally..." segment at the end of a TV news report.

We've already heard producer Brian Grazer's comments that shaving $45m-$50m from the budget and improving the ending has given the project a new lease of life.

Now he tells us that the rights to the TV show that would follow a trilogy of movies have been snapped up by HBO.

"We're going to do [The Dark Tower] with HBO. We'll do the TV with HBO, and we'll do the movie with... to be determined," he teased, before adding: "We'll do it right."

With backing from HBO, can a film studio willing to tackle the series be far behind? Source: www.totalfilm.com

The Dark Tower cuts $45m from its budget [24th October 2011 17:54:47]

It's been a good week for Stephen King fans. First Warner Bros. chooses Ben Affleck to adapt and direct The Stand and now it seems the movie version of The Dark Tower is back on track.

The Dark Tower producer Brian Grazer (Tower Heist) is still busy pitching the project with director Ron Howard and writer Akiva Goldsman and some big changes have added a new lease of life.

"We found a way to cut $45m out of the budget without changing the scope and actually giving it a good ending," Grazer told The Playlist.

"In the $140m draft, the ending wasn't quite as satisfying. Now, we've got $45m, $50m out of the way and a really satisfying ending. It's gonna get made."

Stephen King's epic multi-book story follows Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger in Mid-World, as he pursues the Man in Black on his journey to The Dark Tower.

The plan is to shoot three films and follow that with two seasons on TV. See, we told you it was epic. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Universal turn down Ron Howard's adap of The Dark Tower [19th July 2011 06:12:05]

Universal have bailed on the ambitious multi-media adaptation of Stephen King's seven-book series The Dark Tower.

Previously, director Ron Howard had painstakingly set out a game plan with the studio that involved turning the books into three movies and two seasons of a TV show.

Just last month, Universal stalled the project, and requested that Howard, his producer Brian Grazer and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman find a way to tighten the project's budget.

Now the studio have ditched the project entirely, balking at the costs involved in such a grand undertaking.

But could Warner Bros come to the rescue? With Universal passing on the adaptation, Howard can now shop his project around the rest of Hollywood.

And seeing as the WB is desperate to find a megabuck replacement for its recently completed Harry Potter franchise, Dark Tower could be just the ticket.

In the meantime, Howard will helm Formula 1 biopic Rush, which will star Thor's Chris Hemsworth. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Javier Bardem officially signs on to The Dark Tower [27th April 2011 09:08:11]

Javier Bardem has officially signed on to star as Roland Deschain in Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower, surprising literally nobody.

This is no normal casting news however, as the project is planned as an ambitiously huge franchise.

As well as a trilogy of films, the story will continue through three TV miniseries that are planned to follow each film.

The New York Post quotes a source as saying: "Bardem has signed on to the first movie and the miniseries, but the intention is that he will star in all three movies and each of the TV series.
"It's an enormous deal for any actor, but Bardem was always the first choice."

The Old West-inspired fantasy epic sees "Gunslinger" Deschain on a journey to find the mythical Dark Tower, with the hope of saving civilization.

Production on the first film looks likely to start this September with Howard directing.�
The first of the TV series will follow and then the franchise will continue inexorably, into the distant future, seen only by whatever alien race conquers us humans.
� Source: www.totalfilm.com

Javier Bardem offered Dark Tower role [28th January 2011 08:50:13]

Javier Bardem has emerged as the frontrunner for the big screen/small screen (the what now? we explain below...) adaptation of Stephen King's epic multi-genre 7-novel series.

Ron Howard and Universal pictures have reportedly offered Javier Bardem the role of Dark Tower hero Roland Deschain.

Christain Bale and Viggo Mortensen have also been vying for the part, and Bale is reportedly still very keen.

Whoever signs up will star in three films and a TV miniseries that will run between each installment.

The Dark Tower has sold over 300 million copies, and several adaptations, both film and televesion, have been mooted over the years.

The series follows hero Deschain, a 'Gunslinger' who must journey through a semi-magical world to the nexus of all universes.

King described it as his magnum opus, and the producers are rumoured to hope it will rival The Lord Of The Rings trilogy in scope.

It remains to be seen if Bardem will accept Howard's offer, but at least he'll know that he's the belle of this particular ball.

The Spanish actor has had a pretty exceptional week so far by any standards - he's up for a Best Actor Oscar for his Biutiful performance, and his wife Pelenope Cruz gave birth to their first child.

Past Stephen King film adaptations have traditionally been hit and miss affairs, but if Howard and co get htis right, it should hit big. Source: www.totalfilm.com