There is no doubt committing to a three-picture franchise with a television series filling the gaps in-between is a risky venture for a studio. So who really can blame Universal for ultimately deciding to bail on distributing The Dark Tower based on the seven-novel Stephen King book series? Of course, I’m sure some people are frustrated, though I also saw some jubilation from other corners as some may not be as impressed with the idea of Ron Howard (The Da Vinci Code) and Akiva Goldsman (Angels and Demons) being the ones to bring the gunslinger Roland Deschain to the big screen. I know I certainly have my doubts about the duo.
Javier Bardem was expected to star as Roland Deschain of Gilead, as he searched for the titular Dark Tower in a fantastical world where Deschain stands as the last living member of a knightly order of gunslingers. Throughout the course of the series Roland becomes humanity’s last hope to save civilization. Howard was set to direct from a screenplay hatched by Goldsman.
Universal was only willing to commit to one film, which ended up not being enough for the filmmaking team who had also hired “Heroes” and “Battlestar Galactica” writer/producer Mark Verheiden to co-write the TV component with Goldsman. Like I said in the opening, I can understand Universal being afraid to take the risk, but when they’re reportedly willing to spend upwards of $200 million on Peter Berg’s Battleship and yet unwilling to take a risk on Guillermo del Toro’s At the Mountains of Madness with Tom Cruise attached to star and now The Dark Tower with Oscar winners Howard and Bardem, you do begin to wonder what kinds of films this studio wants to be known for.
In fact, Stephen King seems to also notice Universal’s current track record as he refers to the “fast and furious racing boys” in an email he sent to Entertainment Weekly this morning:
“I’m sorry Universal passed, but not really surprised,” he writes in an email. “As a rule, they’ve been about smaller and less risky pix; maybe they feel it would be better to stick with those fast and furious racing boys. I bear them no ill will, and trust Ron Howard to get Roland and his friends before the camera somewhere else. He’s very committed to the project.”
Deadline‘s Mike Fleming reports he heard back in May that Warner Bros. may end up being the landing place for the project that is now looking for a home. Considering the studio has currently committed money to bringing The Hobbit to life in two parts, perhaps they’re ready for another risk, especially since there has already been talk of another King franchise taking place at the studio.
Just yesterday I referred to rumors that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 helmer, David Yates, was considering whether or not he wanted to tackle a multi-picture adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Stand” for Warner Bros. and now with The Dark Tower floating around out there wouldn’t it stand to assume they may be just as likely to take a risk on the hotly anticipated fantasy franchise from the same author?
By the way, for those of you that haven’t read King’s “Dart Tower” series, you should, it’s excellent.
