Javier Bardem Is "Psychologically Locked In" To Star As Roland In The Dark Tower

Loved The Books.
This Is A Great Casting.
Cant Wait!

never read the books but i'm looking forward to the movie.

If not Mortensen, isn't Bale's time freed up?

Bardem is great and all, but he doesn't look like Roland. And how will he look in 7 years? He wouldn't make a terrible Man in Black however.

Just be glad King didnt cast that guy from Wings as Roland.
Wasn't that his 'improvement' selection for his remake of the Shining?

I have read every book and I feel compelled to write what a huge mistake this casting choice would be. Roland is a caucasian(pale skin) with black hair and blue eyes. Glazer is basically like "[frick] the books and the readers; I'm gonna do whatever I want.". I wonder if he has read the books?

Tough call on this one. As a Bond fan, I'd like to see him there. I don't know anything about Dark Tower but I've heard nothing but great things about it.

Good for fans either way though.

JOSH HOLLOWAY=ROLAND DESCHAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, dellamorte... Didn't even realize you pretty much reached the same conclusion (Mejis/Mexico).

I hope this guy doesn't get it, not even sure why they would pick him since the character is fleshed out in the books and comics and this guy doesn't even come close.

Not sure what all the hate is for Viggo @EvilOlivE have you seen his movies, he has played all kinds of characters so not sure where the "he's a warm actor" completely ruthless in A History of Violence, Eastern Promises and has the look of a cowboy; which he has also played numerous times. Roland is a gunslinger and that is what we need for the character, not some Directors ideal of this character but King's original description of the Roland.

On another note please no Christian Bale; why does his name always get put up for things, the guy really isn't that great that he can play any character. Early stuff was great now I always feel like I'm watching Christian Bale play the same guy in every action movie and not the character (of course I haven't seen The Fighter)

I understand most of your comments since I am from Spain. You guys haven't really seen Bardem acting but a couple of times. But he has been in the job for more than 20 years now. He has been dealing with main roles for a very loooong time and his acting skills should not be questioned (if you have the chance check one of his most succesful roles as Ramón Sanpedro in The Sea Inside). As far as the language is concerned I have seen how much he has improved not only with the grammar and vocabulary but specially with the accent and I thnk it will not be an issue. The only thing which worries me a bit is how much weight he is gaining, and this is what doesn't really make him fit as a perfect Roland. He'd better start his wife diet as soon as possible!!! Luis Tosar and Bardem are currently the best spanish actors and if you haven't seen Tosar, he would be a great Man in Black, but hey, i guess that's too many spaniards ;)

Gunslinger@ I'm with you on this one, bro, Viggo is the better choice.

I loved Bardem in "No Country For Old Men", and I'd love for him to play the next Bond villian, but I do not want him to play Roland. I can't believe I'm seeing comments on here from folks saying that he fits the look of Roland more than Viggo.....did you really read the Dark Tower series?

I wouldn't care if a spanish-origin actor played Roland, as long as he actually LOOKS like Roland, and Bardem looks nothing like the description of Roland. Besides, Roland was from Gilead, not Mejis, Susan Delgado was from there.

And Christian Bale>Viggo for Roland?... c'mon man! you can't be serious. I love Bale as Batman, loved him in The Fighter, but he isn't Roland, no way.

My answer to everything is "Tom Jane".

What would i like for breakfast? Tom Jane.
What's my favorite car brand? Tom Jane.
What's the secret ingredient to my award winning spaghetti sauce? Tom Jane.
Who should play Roland of Gilead? Tom Jane.

End of.

Gunslinger- He was a great Jonah Hex vocaly, and his portrayal of Punisher was quite western in presence. The man knows westerns ;)

Can't argue much with Viggo (great actor), but he's just not the secret ingredient to my award winning spaghetti sauce. :P

evilolive you got the right idea. if any buddys worried about rolands blue eyes contacts pretty sure will fix that. and for the matter of being a white guy Clint Eastwood is white but has the tan of mexican, and isnt Roland a Eastwood highbreed any way.. ojodehalcon your right about the spaniards lol

I love it when people say stuff like "He looks nothing like Roland". What does Roland look like then eh??Anyone who has read the books has their own version of Roland from their minds eye. I never pictured Roland looking like Javier. But I don't think Viggo Mortensen was "born" to play the role either. I first read the first four books 13 years ago, and I had a Michael Douglas style character in mind (he is a bit too old to play him now though lol).
Javier not been "white" is irelevant aswell. As EvilOlivE said on his post, Roland's skin is weather beaten and leathery from all the years of roaming under the sun, so he is definitely not "white". I don't think having an accent will matter all that much either. For god's sake, Roland is from a made up place called Gilead don't forget. It's like saying the Hobbits from Lord of the Rings don't talk like they're from the Shire, or the orcs don't sound like their from Mordor.
Javier's a good a choice as any, and Ron Howard should do a sterling job directing. Looking forward to the first instalment :D

@ Marvel72 - The books are awesome mate, you should check them out. Avoid the Marvel comics though imo, (you've heard the phrase milking a cow lol) A lot of what goes on in the comic series you know/read about from the books anyway.

@ chroniclord - They have things called contact lenses now lol ;) I don't think the colour of his eyes will affect the films anyway. They didn't have an affect on the books anyhow (yes, I have read all the books).

JOSH HOLLOWAY=ROLAND DESCHAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

King was pretty clear about what Roland looked like in the DT. Javier does not fit that description.

But I'm sure it will be great no matter who they get. Howard needs this series to be an A+ because he'll be in diapers by the time its done and it will likely be something that he's associated and remembered for, for the rest of his life.

Maybe he can just use the cast of AD for the DT and narrate the whole thing.
Gob for Eddie, Lucille for Suzie, Buster for the MiB, and Michael for Roland.
Geo.Michael could be Jake and Oy could be a seal w/ the MiB's hand in it's belly.

@AlexDeLarge87 you are so RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I VOTE BROLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i always thought this would have been a better role for the guy who plays wolverine in those crappy xmen movies as well