Idris Elba Being Eyed to Play Roland Deschain in The Dark Tower
John Squires
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After many false starts, Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair) has been tapped to direct an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, and it’s looking like the long-gestating project is finally getting off the ground. Today brings some potential casting news, and we think you’re going to like it.
Per Deadline, Idris Elba has emerged as the frontrunner to play gunslinger Roland Deschain in the franchise, and as we recently learned, he would star alongside Matthew McConaughey as the villainous Man in Black. From what we understand, no deals have been finalized. It’s also worth noting that Javier Bardem was recently in the running for the role.
King’s book blends horror and fantasy to tell the tale of a gunslinger who has taken up the lifelong quest of locating The Dark Tower – which is the nexus of the universe — before evil invades and destroys the tower, ending all existence.
The first installment of The Dark Tower focuses on the first book in the series, The Gunslinger, establishing the relationship between Roland and young protege Jake Chambers.
Sony Pictures and MRC are co-financing the ambitious feature film, which Nikolaj Arcel will direct from a script originally written by Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner. Arcel is currently working on a rewrite with Anders Thomas Jensen.
Producing are Weed Road’s Goldsman and Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and Erica Huggins. Stephen King is also a producer.
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