The Dark Tower Release Date, Video Game?

A source to AICN reports that The Dark Tower has a tentative release date of May 13th, 2013 along with a video game in the works. Since there is no script, no money has yet been allocated for the epic but it does seem like things are moving along very quickly considering how long the series has been dormant up to now.

Hey, Capone. There are genuine plans for a May 13th, 2013, release theatrical, with T.V. hours to follow. [However,] there is no green light in place yet, as the scripts are not done, which means the budgets are not done, but Universal is giving very strong support. There's also a very ambitious Game component being planned that will further utilize elements from the books. [If everything continues on schedule and the budget is approved], it looks like things are coming together for a late-summer or early-September start. Call me Eddie Dean.

Bardem Offered The Dark Tower Lead Role?

Deadline.com is reporting that Javier Bardem has been offered the role of Roland Deschain for The Dark Tower trilogy and possible two television series about the Stephen King 7-novel epic.

I'm told that Bardem has officially been offered the lead role by director Ron Howard and Universal Pictures. While formal negotiations haven't yet begun, there's a high level of enthusiasm internally that they've got their cowboy. Akiva Goldsman has scripted the first movie, and will write the TV component as well. Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer is producing with Goldsman and the author. Universal is financing and distributing the films, and NBC Universal Television Entertainment is backing the TV component, which will either be a limited run series or a miniseries.

Bardem was considered a frontrunner for the role along with Lord of the Rings' Viggo Mortensen. Earlier today there was even a rumor that Christian Bale was a contender for Roland.

The same source, the NY Post, has also said that Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) "is rising on the short list for the role of Susannah, as is French/Moroccan Ghita Tazi." Considering the character of Susannah Dean is a black woman from 1964 that suffers from dual personalities and lost both her legs in a subway accident, the idea of an anorexic looking white woman in the role strikes me as a bit absurd. Previousily, Naomie Harris was rumored to be under consideration for the role. Especially when consider there are not really that many minority characters in the book. None of this has been officially confirmed so it all remains in the rumor column for now.

More Details on Dark Tower TV Series

In an interview with Howard Stern to promote his latest movie The Dilemma, the producer of The Dark Tower adaptation for movie and TV revealed a little bit more about his plans for the TV series. The known plan is three movies and two TV series. Howard revealed the plan would at least the first TV program is a six hour mini-series. Chances are if that is successful then the second TV series would be the same. He also verified the recent rumor that Viggo Mortensen and Javier Bardem are his frontrunners for the role of Roland Deschain.

Exactly how the seven book Dark Tower series and the comic book series that fills out more of the back story and youth of Roland will be broken up remains unknown. I wouldn't be surprised if story points, flashbacks and details that flesh out the epic (like Roland's youth and fall of Gilead) but not needed to understand the trilogy will be relegated to the TV series. Despite its length, there is plenty that could be cut from the epic that non-Dark Tower fans wouldn't miss and something like a TV series is a good way to service those stories. Besides, I just don't see either frontrunner agreeing to a TV series outside of a cameo appearance and the producers probably are not going to push it as paying the salary would be very expensive.

Harris as Susannah Rumor

The New York Post has dropped a Dark Tower related rumor, saying "Pirates of the Caribbean" beauty Naomie Harris is being considered for the female lead in the Ron Howard's eagerly anticipated "Dark Tower" trilogy." I am assuming the female lead role is referring to Susannah Dean, a split personality character that joined the Gunslinger on his quest in book 2 of the series. Currently there is no evident for or against the casting but until confirmation that at least a script exists for the first movie, any casting rumors should be taken with a grain of salt.