It seems that The Dark Tower films might get resurrected after being assumed dead. The initial plan was three films paid for and released through Universal Pictures while two limited TV series would run on NBC or a sister network. However parent company Comcast balked at the proposed budget. A lower cost script and plan was attempted but that was also rejected by Comcast executives.
Since then producer Brian Grazer said HBO expressed interested in the TV show aspect of the plan but nothing seemed to being on the movie front. According to Deadline this has no changed as Warner Bros seem to be close to signing a deal to have Ron Howard direct the first film with Akiva Goldsman making a script polish to meet WB's, not Universal's, notes for the film. This would then give the TV series side to HBO.
Until a deal is signed with a budget, cast, and filming start date, things can still change but this is a huge improvement over the dead status of the last year or so. Universal and NBC are no longer the place to bring any grand (or expensive) ideas and their parent company is tight as ticks and loath to spend any money that might negatively impact executive bonuses. The Dark Tower on NBC or any sister network would have been a watered down mess with virtually no budget. If HBO gets the TV rights, more than likely they will instead attempt to reproduce the successful formula of A Game of Thrones where reinventing the wheel is considered not necessary. More than likely the films will also enjoy a budget increase as I suspect Universal wanted the films to be made in the same $60 million ball park as the Twilight films while WB probably would want something more akin to The Lord of the Rings in scope and look (so at least $100 million per). Good news for fans but still a long road to go.
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