Dark Tower Reveals the Sombra App

It turns out last week's Entertainment Weekly cover has a secret that an app can reveal. Head over to The Sombra Group for the link for the Apple or Android version of the app for a little Augmented Reality on the cover that other tidbits that only die hard Dark Tower fans will currently get. If curious or (like me) can't be bothered, head over to Consequence of Sound for the full details of what the app currently reveals.

Entertainment Weekly Reveals More Details About The Dark Tower

Entertainment Weekly has released a few of the articles that will appear in their new issue that should hit newsstands starting tomorrow. Probably the most important bit is a huge spoiler for those that have not read the book is the movie has been verified as a sequel to the novels. From director Nikolaj Arcel, "The hardcore fans of The Dark Tower series will know that this is actually a sequel to the books in a way. It has a lot of the same elements, a lot of the same characters, but it is a different journey." The reason it can be a sequel is in the novels Roland Deschain in his quest to reach the Dark Tower. It turns out very early in his quest he lost the very thing he needed to complete the quest - the Horn of Eld. The novels ended with him once again in possession of the Horn but starting his quest from the beginning. Assuming the first movie is successful, the hope is the can tell the full story of Roland's final attempt to reach the Tower and save his world. Below are other highlights from the articles linked below. EW Articles: Overview | Changes from Books | Idris Elba | Matthew McConaughey | EW Image Gallery Summary: - A scene set in New York being filmed involved the Taheen who are "demonic, half-human creatures" who disguise themselves with masks that are "given away by a scar-like read seam running down the sides of their necks." - Elba on Roland: "There’s a mystical element to him. He’s about 200 years old. He’s been around for a long time, and has a deep-rooted connection with the [supernatural] nature of the film. Roland’s completely tuned into that. When you meet him, he’s very much a stoic man, doesn’t want to talk. But when you get to know him, he really knows quite a bit about the world and his world’s history. And he very much knows the way The Man in Black works. He’s so clued up on that, which is what frustrates him. Because he can’t catch him." - Stephen King did provide input on the script during various drafts. An example, "I took a pen and cut Roland’s dialogue to the bone. The less he says the better off, and why not? Idris Elba can act with his face. He’s terrific at it. He projects that sense of combined menace and security. [Roland] is the Western hero, the strong, silent type: ‘Yep,’ ‘Nope,’ and ‘Draw.’" - The movie takes bit and pieces from all 8 novels for inspiration, with a focus on the themes of sacrifice, friendship, accepting the past. - Eddie and Susannah are not in the first movie but would be in a sequel along with their pet called Oy - Matthew McConaughey on Walter, the Man in Black: "They wanted to go very human and grounded with this. Obviously there are mythical proportions of good and evil in Walter. But we didn’t want to go overly fantastic. That would drop the humanity. So Walter, for me, is a man who exposes hypocrisies. You know, he’s not literally the Devil, but I sure as hell think about him like the Devil. I think like the Devil would. I [Walter] revere [Roland]. He’s really the only true adversary I have. I expose hypocrisies, and he’s the closest to pure there is. It’s his persistent, resilience to be good and altruistic. He’s very precious to me. I almost don’t want to see him go. My want, my need, my mission is to bring down the Tower. My love, my adoration, my muse, my shadow, is Roland." - Walter is always searching for "Breakers" and in New York there is a young boy called Jake that is strong in "The Shine" which would be very helpful breaking the beams that support the Tower. Since Walter wants Jake, so does Roland. As Elba says "Until he meets Jake, he doesn’t have anything to believe in, really. He’s really pent up and releases his soul through [defending] the boy."

The Man In Black Costume Revealed

Due to filming on the streets of New York, we now have the first look at Matthew McConaughey as the Man in Black from the Dark Tower (character also goes by Randall Flagg and Walter O'Dim among other names). Its pretty straightforward with an all black look that is a mix of modern and western. More pics can be found at Lilja's Library and JustJared.

First Look at The Dark Tower's Gunslinger

In a behind the scenes picture, we now have our first look at Idris Elba in his Roland Deschain costume on the set of The Dark Tower that is currently filming. Much like as suggested by the books, he is dressed in the classic cowboy style.

Stephen Kings Reveals New Hook to The Dark Tower

Spoiler warning for the end of The Dark Tower books and the movie. In a single tweet, long time fans of The Dark Tower books suddenly had complete understanding of why it appears the upcoming movie doesn't follow the books and why. From the various casting decisions made, it appears that very little of the first Dark Tower film is going to follow the books in a familiar way. Characters and some situations may echo the books but already its clear that the movie is a kind of "inspired by" take. A take that Stephen King has supported. To start, a little background (spoiler warning). The AV Club summarizes it best "The Dark Tower saga centers around a guy named Roland who is on a quest to reach the eponymous tower and stop a villain called the Crimson King from using it to destroy all of reality. When he gets there, he’s supposed to triumphantly blow the Horn Of Eld, an object that has been passed down through his family for generations. However, when the reader meets Roland in the first book, he has long since lost the horn. Therefore, he’s unable to blow it when he reaches the Dark Tower, so when he tries to finally finish his seven-book adventure by entering the room at the top, he—last warning—gets sucked back into the very beginning of the first book and loses all of his memories. ...Tellingly, though, Roland has the horn when he starts his quest anew, suggesting that his next attempt will really be his last." From this, now this tweet has new meaning:

The Dark Tower is close, now. The Crimson King awaits. Soon Roland will raise the Horn of Eld. And blow. pic.twitter.com/rqGSKM3dWL

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) May 19, 2016

In short, the books are Roland Deschain's first attempt to reach The Dark Tower and save reality. The movie (and hoped for sequels) will be Roland's second and final attempt.