Back in July, we reported that Ron Howard’s epic vision for his adaptation of Stephen King’s seven-novel The Dark Tower series had collapsed when Universal pulled out of financing the project.
Howard had planned for the adaptation to be made through the mediums of both film and television, with his vision including a trilogy of films and two seasons of a television series all connected to the same project. A mammoth task, but if anyone could do it, Ron Howard could.
Apparently, Universal didn’t agree – or they at least weren’t willing to put their financial faith in the project. Which, admittedly, is a little understandable, since it would no doubt come at a big cost with a big risk attached.
What is excellent news, however, is that The Playlist are now reporting that the project has not been as dead as everyone first thought. Howard and his producing partner Brian Grazer have been working with screenwriter Akiva Goldsman to develop the project into something they can still get made. In an interview Grazer did with The Playlist for Tower Heist, he also spoke to about The Dark Tower still being very much alive:
“We found a way to cut out $45 million out of the budget without changing the scope and actually giving it a good ending,” Grazer said, suggesting a heavily re-worked approach. “In the $140 million draft, the ending wasn’t quite as satisfying. Now, we’ve got $45 million, $50 million out of the way and a really satisfying ending. It’s gonna get made.”
He’s also been speaking to MTV, and has told them that HBO has come on board, and it sounds like the project has finally found its home for the television series.
“We’re going to do [‘The Dark Tower’] with HBO… We’ll do the TV with HBO, and we’ll do the movie with… to be determined. We’ll do it right.”
With HBO now giving their support for the series, hopefully that will mean that another studio will now step in to ensure that the project get made, especially now with a trimmed down budget – though Grazer assures us that its integrity has not been sacrificed at all to do it, and that it’s even allowed for a more satisfying finish.
Javier Bardem is still thought to be attached in the lead role, but what isn’t yet clear is if there is still to be a trilogy of films, or just one now. The plan was originally to make the first film, then follow it with the first TV season, followed the second film, the second season, and then the final film. An epic vision, and one which could definitely have the potential to make for utterly incredible and engrossing viewing, unlike pretty much anything else happening in the world of television and film at the moment. Whether there will still be a trilogy remains to be seen, but either way, I really hope that this project will continue to move forward in the coming weeks and months.
