Will Stephen King's THE DARK TOWER Finally Find A Home On Netflix?

Will Stephen King's THE DARK TOWER Finally Find A Home On Netflix?

House of Cards has been a huge success for Netflix, but would they ever be tempted to attempt an adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower? After all, it's a project which has been stuck in development hell for as long as any of us can remember! Read on for details.

By JoshWilding - May 01, 2013 01:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Action
Source: Collider


The Dark Tower was at one point set to be adapted into a trilogy of movies and a couple of TV spin-off's which, when combined, would have done the sprawling Stephen King penned book series justice. Rush director Ron Howard signed up to helm the first instalment from screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and Javier Bardem was even in talks to play Roland Deschain. However, budgetary concerns led to Universal pulling the plug and it has since been stuck in development hell as Warner Bros. ultimately passed on it as well before Media Rights Capital considered having a go at financing it. Well, Collider now reports that Netflix Chief Creative Offficer Ted Sarandos has revealed that he has talked to Howard about bringing The Dark Tower to Netflix.

"I spoke to Ron about it, actually. The last time we talked about it the thing was being kicked about HBO – but it’s no longer there. Once Arrested Development gets through we’ll keep talking about it."


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Hellsing
Hellsing - 5/1/2013, 1:44 PM
Make it happen mother[frick]ers, you spent 100 million on House of Cards, I think you can do the same with this.
asavagevandal
asavagevandal - 5/1/2013, 1:46 PM
This is an epic, instant classic, billion-dollar franchise and no one has the balls to make it happen. It's just sitting there. Pure gold. Untapped. Sad.
BigDamnHero
BigDamnHero - 5/1/2013, 1:51 PM
@SlaveMasterFlexXx House of Cards was fantastic and they have new, guaranteed to be amazing, Arrested Development out on the 26th. I'll admit, Hemlock Grove was pretty poor though.
Alex909
Alex909 - 5/1/2013, 1:52 PM
House of Cards is excellent and I'm sure Arrested Development will be of the same quality as it always has been so if this deal went through, it would be amazing.
FoxForce5
FoxForce5 - 5/1/2013, 1:53 PM
I'm sure any consideration about this, from Netflix standpoint, will hinge on how successful Arrested Development fairs. Of course, I love AD and hope it does well so I guess we'll just keep watching an see what happens.
Jennifervandamsel
Jennifervandamsel - 5/1/2013, 2:01 PM
Yessss. I want this!
Zuriel
Zuriel - 5/1/2013, 2:11 PM
I've read all the books, and I want you all to know that I would never have said this 5 years ago, but I think the SyFy channel could handle the series. Their series are getting better in the effects department and so is the quality of writing/acting. Being Human is fantastic and Defiance isn't too bad.
BlazinTexan
BlazinTexan - 5/1/2013, 2:18 PM
PLEASE HAPPEN
Hellsing
Hellsing - 5/1/2013, 2:20 PM
I've only read the first 3(and I'm already in love with them, the prequel comics by marvel are also badass. and look absolutely gorgeous) but I've heard that the quality of the books declines quite significantly.
CuChulainn
CuChulainn - 5/1/2013, 2:35 PM
Hope this gets made. But I hope if it gets made, there's enough money behind it in order to do it justice both production wise and casting wise. Bardem could be cool as Roland. I used to think Guy Pearce might be cool as Roland after seeing him in The Proposition. But I just don't know who could really nail the Roland character properly.

I just hope it's done right. Another favourite series of mine is the Sword of Truth series but the show they based on that (Legend of the Seeker) was such cheap terrible crap and an insult to the books IMO. The Dark Tower series deserves the best treatment.

I'm a big fan of the series, one of my favourite series ever and I think the books actually get better as you go along @Hellsing! Enjoy the rest of 'em!
Jennifervandamsel
Jennifervandamsel - 5/1/2013, 2:47 PM
lol Hello, Albert... Pooholes? haha

I'd have to disagree with putting this on SyFy. They cancel everything I love :( I miss Alphas! What a great show!
tazmaniak
tazmaniak - 5/1/2013, 2:52 PM
If this goes through and Netflix believes in the series, they'll definitely put the right amount of money into it. Someone mentioned House of Cards. The reported budget for the 13 episode first series was $4.5M an episode, but it was later revealed they actually went over budget. So Netflix spent over $60M on the first season.

HBO spent $60M for the first season of Game of Thrones. Game of Thrones had about 25 lead characters and a lot of extras, which takes up a sizable portion of the budget. The Dark Tower would have nowhere near that amount of lead actors, so the majority of the budget would be focused on production.

If they're willing to spend in that ballpark, I can see them putting together a worthy series.
NorrinRaddical
NorrinRaddical - 5/1/2013, 3:15 PM
Anyone, perhaps Tazmaniak, who can breakdown how Netflix could afford all their original programming?

Is 100% of funding from subscriptions? Is there any way they see "returns" on HOC, Hemlock Grove, Arrested Development, etc?

It seems like the shows are a success, in that people watch them, but I don't know how they make money to make more, beyond more people subscribing?
kingnp2n
kingnp2n - 5/1/2013, 5:39 PM
First, I think people are being too superficial with their casting wishes. Urban or even Bardem could be good, but I think an approach like Bryan Cranston would rock the part of Roland.
Second, I was ecstatic about the idea of this show happening... until I read the 6th book. Then, when I stopped reading the last book 2/3 through and never picked it back up... I can say honestly I would like this show through the first couple seasons, then would quickly lose interest. *SPOILER ALERT* the minute the author writes him/herself in as a character, the game is lost.
Huh
Huh - 5/1/2013, 5:44 PM
I dont care who the hell plays the part. The story is interesting for fans. Moreso, the story could BLOW the minds of those newly acquainted. Think LOST and whatnot...that v series made no damn sense, but the oddity of it was grasped. Watchers will jump to Roland from the coverage of the frist text. Then hit The Drawing of the Three? POssessing peopleFUG YES!
kingnp2n
kingnp2n - 5/1/2013, 6:14 PM
Okay, Bats. Your enthusiasm is appreciated, but take your meds and read: I've already said the first few books are great (to include Drawing/3). I love them and would be very interested to see them played out on-screen. However, I'm telling you the story will fail when everyone looks at the screen and says, "why the fux is Stephen King on the show?"
Dud-a-chum, my friend. Watch your fingers.
Superzero
Superzero - 5/1/2013, 6:56 PM
kingnp2n- an inspidred casting choice for big, tall, and ugly but...while his voice and acting ability are spot on, Cranston is far too removed from the Physical representation of Roland which is just as important as the meta-physical. I think Cranston would be FANTASTIC as Father Callahan. As for Stephen King the character? Cut him out. Plain and simple. The man himself at one time was going to go back and re-write 6 and 7 simply to remove himself. They can still leave in the material that ties it into other books sort of like easter eggs.I really was hoping this would land on HBO but I'll take Netflix. Hemlock grove, HoC, and Arrested-freaking-Development are all good enough to pass for HBO shows. I love this series in a big way and would be more than excited to see it brought to life. My only concern is that it would get canceled before the series ends. Some things could be changed without altering the story as a whole. They could build more for the quest of Black Thirteen and use that as a reason to bring the ka-tet into our time etc.I honestly don't know who I would like to see as Roland. That's tough. It won't happen on Netflix but I always thought Hugh Jackman would've done just fine say thankya.
Superzero
Superzero - 5/1/2013, 7:06 PM
? as Roland
Kerry Washington as Susannah/Detta/Odetta
Adam Driver as Eddie
David Brochu (Tj in "Hesher") as Jake
Mickey Rourke as MIB/Flagg/Marten
subzero1077
subzero1077 - 5/1/2013, 8:59 PM
Please Netflix, don't tease me with this. Do ya kennit?
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/2/2013, 5:33 AM
There's no way this could ever be done justice.

There is too much going on and too many characters from other Stephen King books that make an appearance and play important roles. Without doing a unified universe and introducing people like Callahan, people are going to be confused when he just shows up. Same with the kid that draws pictures.

Likr i said, there is just too much going on to be done any justice at all.
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