Flanagan Races to Redeem Dark Tower After 2017 Disaster
The acclaimed horror director is fast-tracking his Amazon series adaptation of Stephen King's epic saga, determined to erase memories of the critically panned film starring Idris Elba.
Stephen King adaptations run the gamut from masterpieces to complete disasters. The 2017 film version of The Dark Tower definitely falls into the latter category. Nikolaj Arcel's big-budget attempt at bringing Roland Deschain's story to theaters crashed and burned spectacularly.
Idris Elba played the gunslinger Roland, while Matthew McConaughey took on the villainous Randall Flagg. Critics tore the movie apart. Audiences stayed away. The box office numbers killed any hope for sequels.
Amazon Partnership Offers Second Chance
Mike Flanagan has built his reputation on successful King adaptations. Doctor Sleep proved he could handle the author's complex material. The Life of Chuck showed his range. Now he's tackling a Carrie series for television.
His next project might be his biggest challenge yet. Flanagan is developing a Dark Tower series for Amazon Prime Video. The streaming giant previously backed his other King projects.
Scripts Ready, Priority Set
Flanagan told Empire magazine the project is "moving." Multiple scripts are already complete. "It's the first priority," he confirmed.
The source material presents unique challenges. Eight main books plus additional short stories make up King's sprawling saga. Adapting that much content requires careful planning.
But Flanagan's main concern isn't the scope. He wants to deliver what the 2017 film couldn't. "We can't let that be the final word. We really can't."
Erasing Past Mistakes
The original movie tried cramming multiple books into 95 minutes. Character development suffered. Plot points felt rushed. Fans of the books felt betrayed.
Television offers more breathing room. Multiple episodes can explore character arcs properly. The format suits King's detailed world-building better than a single film.
Flanagan understands the stakes. His track record with King material gives fans hope. Maybe this time, Roland's journey will get the treatment it deserves.