So…I’m listening to Stephen King’s Dark Tower series on audiobook and remembering all the things I love about the series. I’ve read the books countless times but until recently I only had the audiobook for “The Drawing of Threeâ€. Now I’ve managed to get all of them and I’m currently listening to “The Wastelandsâ€. Well…I’m listening when I’m on break or at lunch. Still, it’s good even in 10 minute doses and makes for perfect listening material while knitting Jayne Hats.
As much as I love the series I have to admit that I’m terribly worried about seeing it in a visual format. I mean, they’re talking about making a miniseries and movie out of the books and while I think it could definitely be interesting, I’m worried that they won’t be able to do it justice. The books are so complex and rich that I don’t think you can convey that all on a screen. My other huge concern is the actors that they’ll get to be in the movie.
If I had my way I’d want every single actor to be a complete unknown. Yeah, that would be preferable. However that’s also extremely unlikely. So I’ve been following the news of who they are considering and asking to play the part of Roland. I mean, no one will measure up to the Clint Eastwood look that the character is based on except the man himself. Too bad he’s not a bit younger.  Still, they’ve asked the guy who played the rather creepy bad guy, Chigurh, (Javier Bardem) in “No Country For Old Men†to be Roland.
*facepalm* That’s like asking Antonio Banderas to be the Phantom of the Opera, IMHO.
Yes, he was a very good and creepy bad guy, even with that ridiculous haircut. Still, I can’t see him as Roland, no matter how many pictures of him out of that haircut that I find. I also can’t hear him as Roland. Definitely not. The other name that was being tossed around was Viggo Mortensen and I have to admit, if I can’t have an unknown actor playing Roland and I can’t have Clint Eastwood, Viggo would be my choice. He’s got the right look and sound to his voice.
I haven’t heard any other names seriously mentioned for the other roles but I’m scared. They really have to choose the right folks for each part or they’ll piss off a horde of fans. Course, you guys might be of a different opinion on the whole Roland issue. Are you? Or do you really think that the creepy dude from “No Country for Old Men†can pull it off?
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. I’m much more concerned about the script and how they try (or don’t try) to weave in the back story of characters like Ted Brautigan and Father Callahan.
FYI: Naomie Harris (28 Days Later) apparently is the primary candidate for Susannah.
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/01/07/the-dark-tower-rumors-draw-naomie-harris-for-female-lead/
I agree about the backstories. Like I said, there’s just so much that blends together to make the story that I’m afraid they’ll sacrifice too much in order to make it fit on screen. 🙁
Really? Wasn’t she Tia Dalma in PotC? She might not be so bad. I could probably handle that.
I think Gina Torres (Firefly) would make a pretty darn good Susannah. I have no real ideas for Eddie or Jake though.
First- I could have cried when I heard that JJ Abrams didn’t continue with this. He was the person originally up to direct the Darktower stuff… oh, what might have been…
I love the idea – the plan is to release the 1st movie, have a season’s worth of TV to follow it up, release a 2nd movie, another season’s of TV, then release the final 3rd movie (and possibly have video games that interact with the story as it goes along). Sounds about as complicated, long and intertwining as the books. Sound hard to pull off. Sounds too good to be true… but I’ll wait and see what happens… I’ll give them a chance… hell – they are the only ones making a Darktower movie… I have to give them a chance.
I recently watched Firefly for the first time and then serenity for the first time right after it. While I wish Firefly could have gone on for many more seasons – I loved the effect- it was like watching a very long movie. I have always said that I would watch a 7-10 hour movie if it was good enough, but no one will make it. This is about as close as we are going to get – but a lot of things can break in there and that is scary.
As far as the actors – yea – I would love to see a group of no-names. My first option would be Clint Eastwood at the age he was in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. My 2nd option would be his twin, Hugh Jackman. But I’m not too worried about Javier…. I think he can pull it off and most cowboys were Hispanic anyway…. The blue eyes are gonna be lost though… I throw a dream cast at the bottom.
Now for the nightmare….
My biggest concern… is who is involved off screen. Let us back up a few years and re-visit another book to screen event… I am Legend. I love this book. I was super excited when I heard it was going to be a movie. Then they took 99% of why I loved the book and totally threw it down the drain. Most people can’t even tell you why it is called “I am Legendâ€. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the movie by its own right – but they should have called it Will Smith and his Dog vs. Light Sensitive Zombies, not I am Legend. I was super pissed… most of my friends know better than to even mention the movie around me.
Ok, back to the present… who is writing the Dark Tower to screen adaptation? Akiva Goldman, same a-hole that wrote the I Am Legand adaptation. We. Are. Not. Pleased. But wait – what other things does he have on his resume that might save him? Batman Forever and Batmand and Robin– critically the worst Batman movies ever made… The Lost in Space movie… anyone remember that? I, Robot – another “Good movie on it’s ownâ€, but nothing like the book (To be fair, the book is more a collection of short stories). But I don’t want a Darktower that is “good on its own, but not faithful to the book†– I want the same story via a new medium. Akivia also wrote the adaptations for both Da Vinci Code movies, which I didn’t read nor see, so I can’t say much about them. He is a writer on Fringe, which is apparently pretty good, but again, I have no personal experience with. There are a few other movies that have some promise on his resume, but overall, he currently holds the highest number of basterdations of things I am a fanboy – Batman, I am Legand and IRobot – and now he is working on the Darktower. What’s next? Star Wars? Is this man actively picking on me?
Ok, dream cast:
Roland : Clint or Hugh (Seriously, google it- they are twins – both even did less masculine, singing musical rolls – Paint your Wagon and The Boy from OZ)
Viggo wouldn’t be bad at all….
Eddy: Ed Norton, Jason Lee(not sure if he has a serious side, but the humor fits), Johnny Depp(if he could make a new character out of it – like he did for pirates)
I love Ryan Reynolds, but I’ve yet to see him play something serious enough to pull off the drama. Heck, same with Dane Cook.
Susannah: Jada Pinkett Smitt or Rosario Dawson
Young Roland/Cuthbert/Alain: They are supposed to be 14… have to go with no-names…
Walter: Willem Dafoe or Dan Day Lewis
Cort: Clint Eastwood (lol, would be funny – but not a perfect fit)