Katheryn Winnick Joins The Dark Tower

Katheryn Winnick (Vikings, Bones) has joined the cast of The Dark Tower. While Variety did not know what role she is playing, AICN is reporting she may be playing a character called "Jill". The name is likely a placeholder considering the character is described as "non-human and is someone who tries to abduct Jake in New York. She's one of The Man In Black's henchpeople and plays a significant role in the story." She would also be appropriate as Alice who in the novels is a barkeep in the town of Tull that Roland Deschain has a kind of "with benefits" relationship but without the friendship or much else. Considering previous castings have indicated that a major set piece will be a town that Roland comes across that is overrun with minions of the The Man in Black, I kind of like my theory more. As someone who has had a long time crush on the actress, this might be the first casting news about The Dark Tower that has got me more excited about the movie.

Fran Kranz Joins The Dark Tower

The Dark Tower cast continues to grow as Fran Kranz (Dollhouse, The Cabin in the Woods) has joined the cast of The Dark Tower. According to THR the Whedon-verse actor "will play Pimli, the right-hand man of the Man in Black." According to the Dark Tower Wiki, Pimli Prentiss was the Wardon/unelected Mayor of Alguil Siento (also called Devar-Toi) that was over-ran by the series big bad (The Crimson King) and his henchman. It can get confusing. To sum Pimli is in charge of a town and reports to the Man in Black character played by Matthew McConaughey. He in turn reports to the bigger bad called The Crimson King (basically Stephen King's version of the Devil) who goal is to destroy all of creation. To destroy all of creation he needs to destroy the Dark Tower. The one to stop the destruction of The Dark Tower is Roland Deschain (Idris Elba).

Jackie Earle Haley Joins The Dark Tower

A new cast member should be reporting to The Dark Tower set soon as Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, RoboCop) has signed on. Deadline reports "Haley will play Sayre, a menacing humanoid who is the vampire leader and kowtows to no one." His role in the books was fairly minor but I guess in this adaption the role becomes more significant.

The Dark Tower Casts Jake Chambers

A new actor has joined Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey in The Dark Tower. Newcomer Tom Taylor has been cast as Jake Chambers. Jake is one of the core characters of the series, first introduced in the first novel of The Dark Tower series and plays an important part in the character evolution of Roland Deschain (Elba). If Tom Taylor does not seem familiar it is likely due to only have a few roles on TV in the last year or so.

The Dark Tower Casts Role of Tirana

It seems the movie adaptation of The Dark Tower is very very slowly moving forward. Deadline is reporting that Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road) has been cast in the role of Tirana. The character is described as "she’s sexy and dangerous, she has fake human skin and cold snake-like eyes. She doesn’t come in until the seventh volume, apparently, but she’s going to be starring in the first film." I read the seventh book and I don't recall the character. Based on looking at various Dark Tower sites, she apparently an incredibly minor character described as "A low woman in the Dixie Pig." The use of the name could be to clear any legal problems (yep the names of characters in movies and TV have to clear legal hurdles cause people will sue claiming "that is me"). My theory is the name is a fake-out and she was really cast in the role of Susan Delgado who was the first girlfriend of teenage Roland Deschain (the lead character of the Dark Tower) but only suggesting that because there really isn't a character (or a combination of characters) that fit the description above in the books that I can recall.

Idris Elba as Roland Deschain, Matthew McConaughey as Walter?

Deadline is reporting that Idris Elba (Luthor, Pacific Rim) has potentially been tapped to play the lead role in The Dark Tower movies. No deal is signed but apparently director Nikolaj Arcel and the producers are interested. The actor might be facing off against Matthew McConaughey who would plan Walter O'Dim aka Randall Flagg aka...well he has a lot of names but from the first movie he is simply the Man in Black and the series main big bad. If talking about casting again it seems like a good sign the film might go forward again. I am very interested to see how they interpret the books which are not really ideal for a movie series but probably be just fine for a TV series a la The Walking Dead. Turns out there was some controversy in some quarters on the casting choice but Stephen King gave it a seal of approval.

To me, the color of the gunslinger doesn't matter. What I care about is how fast he can draw...and that he takes care of the ka-tet.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) December 12, 2015

Norma Reedus Joining the Dark Tower?

Despite the possibility of The Dark Tower going into turnaround, it does seem that casting was in full swing (at least until this weekend) as a new casting rumor has popped up. The IMDB page for Norman Reedus (Walking Dead) has him listed as "Eddie Dean" a major character from the book series. Now normally IMDB is notoriously wrong about information on films while they are in pre-production since it is user generated content but in this case his response of "no comment" to MTV indicates that he at least auditioned for the role. Sadly the news doesn't really matter until another studio steps up to relieve Comcast of the financial burden of making the films.

Bardem On Verge of Joining The Dark Tower

Deadline is reporting that Javier Bardem is on the verge of signing a deal to join The Dark Tower in the lead role of Roland Deschain for the 3 picture trilogy and 2 limited TV series.

Bardem's WME reps are putting the finishing touches on the deal, and they are close enough that Howard has begun meeting with other actors to cast the roles around Bardem. It's a complex deal, almost unprecedented, because it calls for Bardem to star in the feature film and the TV component. His deal will also include options for two sequels (the TV program that runs between the second and third films will be a prequel). I'm told it will add up to a career-best payday for Bardem. Howard and Goldsman have told me they see the trilogy as their answer to the Peter Jackson-directed adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. While Middle Earth had a mystical medieval feel, The Dark Tower vibe is one that Goldsman described as “an alternate Americana, one part post-apocalyptic, one part Sergio Leone.”

Bardem Tapped for The Dark Tower

MTV is reporting that Javier Bardem has been chosen to play the role of Roland Deschain for The Dark Tower trilogy and TV series. The information comes via Brian Grazer, producer on the project along with Ron Howard.

“Javier Bardem, that’s what we’re hoping. We’re in the process of trying to put that together. He’s locked in psychologically. He really wants to do it, so we’re absolutely rooting for him to do it.”

Grazer also reiterated the plan of a movie, TV series, movie, TV series, then final movie along with video games and the like for the project. The last bit is that it does seem the films will start in chronological order of the books.

"It's challenging to capture all of it, the density of it," he said, adding that he's excited to explore all the metaphors involved, and that the first story they're exploring is that of "The Gunslinger."

Just be aware that this means Bardem is the first and most wanted choice but there are contract details, salary and more that have to be worked out in advance. If those details can't be worked out they may have to move onto another choice. Chances are small of that occurring but the casting doesn't really become "official" until the contract is signed.

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.

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.

Bardem Or Mortensen as Roland?

The New York Post, not exactly a bastion of fact checking, is reporting that Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) is the front runner for the role with Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings) "a close second" for the role of Roland Deschain in The Dark Tower series that Ron Howard is producing. Whatever actor is chosen would have to commit to at least three movies and appear or star in one of the two TV series that is planned to air in between the movie releases.

Of the two, fans post want Viggo Mortensen as his Lord of the Rings experience and of any Hollywood actor probably most matches the imagined "look" of Roland which is basically the classic desert worn western movie gun for hire. However, there is a reason he is running in second as getting that kind of commitment from the actor will be incredibly difficult. He also has a rumored history of being difficult on set. This doesn't even include the high salary he can and will demand.

This assumes the report is true. Considering the series is probably at least a year away from beginning any meaningful pre-production, I would be surprised if casting has begun as the first step would be to have at least a working script and detailed outline for the series so actors would know what they are committing themselves too.