the DT movie thread

[jayson]

I love Bruce camobell but id keep expecting him to say, "Groovy!" or, "Gimme some suger baby!".

Yeah, it'd take a few minutes to not see him as Ash, but I think he'd be an excellent choice. I'm also glad some others have suggested Hugh Laurie, as I think he would be a great Roland Deschain, particuarly the look of his face and eyes. He looks like he has been questing for the Tower his whole life. It'd also be an interesting turn to go from playing the mega-sarcastic House to playing Roland who doesn't understand sarcasm. The last time I re-read the series this spring, I pretty much envisioned Laurie as Roland and it worked perfectly.

A few other casting choices in my personal version, Eric Bana as Eddie. I used to think Tim Roth, but he's a bit too old now to play a 21 year old. I think Jamey Sheridan did a great job as Randall Flagg in the tv "The Stand" and would prob want to see him again as Flagg/Walter [perhaps with better hair than the mullet in the stand].

Truth be told, if I had my choice of how it would be presented as a series of films, I'd prefer an animated version, perhaps based on the artwork for the comic series.

[Rjeso]

Jimmy and I were talking about this last night, and he brought up a point that I agree with. I had chanced across the Narnia movie last weekend and was very impressed with the quality of the CGI - there was one scene that showed Aslan walking from behind, and they even put muscle jiggle in there each time he took a step. It was perfect. Jimmy observed that CGI is getting to be more and more seamless with reality each year, and that if we waited maybe another five years or so, the Dark Tower could be done in CGI and we could have a Roland that looks like a young Eastwood.

I kinda dig that idea.

[jayson]

When it gets time for all the East Stoneham/Turtleback Lane stuff, I'd cast John Cullum as John Cullum. The actor John Cullum will be known to anyone who wacthed Northen Exposure as Holling Vincouer. He has also done several episodes of Law & Order and about a million other things. I think he'd be perfect as King's Cullum.

[sai blaine]

Roland!

[jayson]

How about Dick Cheney as the Crimson King?

[Aerion]

Someone mentioned Eddie as being a hansome frat-boy or some such; why not Ryan Reynolds for Eddie. He has that fast-talking, sarcastic humor I imagine Eddie having.

As for Roland. Does anyone remeber the scene in Tombstone when Wyatt is confronting Billy bob Thornton? When Wyatt says, "Damn right you're scared, I can see that in your eyes." Holy smokes, Kurt looked awesome. I was afraid for Billy Bob's life!

[Hixson Of The Eld]

I don't want the books tainted by a movie. If you must though the only man that could ever fill Rolands boots is Clint Eastwood, much younger of course, but him and only him.

[Matt]

But...that's impossible

[jayson]

But...that's impossible

No way dude, just grab the the Unfound Door and I'll bring Black 13 and we'll go back and grab a younger Clint.

[MonteGss]

Jimmy and I were talking about this last night, and he brought up a point that I agree with. I had chanced across the Narnia movie last weekend and was very impressed with the quality of the CGI - there was one scene that showed Aslan walking from behind, and they even put muscle jiggle in there each time he took a step. It was perfect. Jimmy observed that CGI is getting to be more and more seamless with reality each year, and that if we waited maybe another five years or so, the Dark Tower could be done in CGI and we could have a Roland that looks like a young Eastwood.

I kinda dig that idea.

Me too. That would be a different spin on who to cast as Roland. Whose voice is closest?

[LadyHitchhiker]

Don't throw things at me, but I have never liked Clint Eastwood...

I would cast perhaps Hugh Jackman or Thomas Jane as Roland. (anyone see him in the Mist? He was amazing!)

I do like the idea of Ryan Reynolds as Eddie...

Christopher Walken as Walter...

But if we're going to bring back people from the dead, or reanimate them, I would love to see Jonathan Brandis as Jake.

[Darkthoughts]

After watching Mean Creek last night, I think Rory Kulkin could do a passable Jake.

[Randall Flagg]

This site has gone to great lengths to cast the movie and explain their reasoning.

[TerribleT]

This site has gone to great lengths to cast the movie and explain their reasoning.

A lot of VEREY interesting choices there, and some that I'm kind of surprised that I agree with.

[jayson]

This site has gone to great lengths to cast the movie and explain their reasoning.

I've gotta say that I don't get at least 90% of their choices. To each his own I suppose but Peter Berg as Eddie? It's thinking like that which makes me hope it never does become a movie.

[ZoNeSeeK]

That site is fairly outdated i think Jerome. Hayley Osment and Angela Basset are far too old to play Jake and Susannah, by about 10 years.

(I just noted at the bottom it looks like it was put together in 1998, which would make sense given the choices.)

[Randall Flagg]

It certainly is outdated, but they did put a lot of time and effort into it.
It also shows that current thoughts could be 10 years stale-and the movie yet to be made, a decade from now.

[ZoNeSeeK]

Good point ;P

[timtempest6]

I have all 7 books on cd and can't go to sleep without them playing, and i know a movie would in no way live up to the book but I still want to see it just to put a face in my mind of the people. all I can see of Roland is a cowboy hat and blue jeans, Eddie is a white shirt, Sue is a wealchair with arms, and Jake is a boy with dark hair even tho I know he has blond hair.

thats just the pictures i get. i know its weird.....

As far as actors I think Tom Cruise for Walter or Johnny Depp

[ENDER1984]

The only person i know for certain, would be Edward Norton as Eddie. I have about 15 different rolands in mind.....what do you guys think???

[jayson]

The only person i know for certain, would be Edward Norton as Eddie. I have about 15 different rolands in mind.....what do you guys think???

I think if you had a time machine Edward Norton is a great choice. Unfortunately he is now too old to play Eddie. I'm not saying he looks "old" or anything, but he definitely could no longer play 25 convincingly.

[Big Coughin' Hunter]

This is my 2 cents.

I think the perfect director for this movie would have to be a fan, first and foremost. While I like all the directors names in this thread so far, I might be going out on a limb here but, I think they might put their egos before the film. "I'm a director so I'll change this and this and this." But like I said I might just be going out on a limb about this.

The director of the Dark Tower film would have to ask him or herself this question, "Can I bring this project to life, while pleasing the hardcore fans of the series AND and at the same time draw in new fans of the film AND try to make the money back that it cost to film this monster?"

Next, it would be very, very hard to put all of this material, 7 books, into a film and make it work. You'd need very good writers to make this work. After that, storyboard the heck out of it. Perhaps the only person that could work on a script that would even be suitable would be Sai King himself. And even that might be a stretch.

And if it even made it this far, you'd have to find suitable actors and actresses for the job. This might even be harder than shoe-horning the books into script-form. Again, egos and countless other small problems that would arise during pre-production and auditions might drive a person nuts.

And on top of all that, you'd need a good producer to oversee this entire project. A good producer and EVERYBODY on this project would have to work with each other for at least 6 months (rough estimate) to finish the film. And that's just one film! What if it's decided they're going to make 3 or 4 or even 7 films!

Wow!

It would be very, very hard to make this film. This may or may not be the problems this DT project would face. These are only some of the things I've been thinking of while reading the series.

I don't have any Hollywood credentials at all but I consider myself a screenwriter. And I'm only an amateur. And a screenwriter in Hollywood might be at the bottom of a totem-pole.

Many, many hurdles on the road to a DT film!

Again these are only my personal opinions.

[Darkthoughts]

I like what you wrote there Big C JJ Abrams is a major King and DT fan, I think thats why King felt comfortable with him getting involved.
Theres a good interview somewhere where he meets JJ, Damon and Carlton (all Lost producers/writers) I'll see if I can find it...

[Big Coughin' Hunter]

Cool, I'd like to read that.

[Darkthoughts]

Here ya go
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1562722,00.html