IGN is reporting that J.J. Abrams is set to direct a large- or small-screen version of Stephen King's Dark Tower series. Read more at:

http://movies.ign.com/articles/764/764210p1.html

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SSB

Wow. No reaction?

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SSB

Sounds interesting. I'd much rather see this as a mini-series on TV, tho. Or, more accurately, a series of mini-series. They could easily condense each novel in to a two- or three-part miniseries, methinks. My only concern would be who would do the teleplay so that it makes the most sense, seeing as they'd have to leave out a lot of stuff. I think they did a great job w/regards to the miniseries for The Stand and wouldn't have a problem w/this one being made if handled in a similar fashion.

A movie doesn't really grab me, tho. Too many chances for a craptacular telling of the epic story if it goes to the Silver Screen. This series deserves to be done right - or shouldn't be done at all.

'Course, I'm only up to Wolves of the Calla at this point. I plan to read the next in the series when I get back to The World.

I agree that a miniseries is the only way to go. Even then, the first novel strikes me as the most challenging to adapt, given that it is only slightly more dialogue heavy than 2001. Much of the "action" of the first book is in Roland's head. Television is up to depicting things well, but I wonder how King feels about it in regard to this work. He wrote at some length about how his vision in the beginning was combining the idea of the epic quest of The Lord of the Rings against a backdrop inspired by the gigantic landscapes of films such as The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Of the latter, he remarks that if you haven't seen it on the big screen, you haven't really seen it.

Still, television is the only way to adapt the story without condensing it too greatly. I'd eagerly await Abrams' take on the story. And maybe I'll have a large TV on which to view it in HD.

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Tried the first book in the series, it didn't grab me. King peaked with The Stand imho, nothing he's written since has come close.

Tried the first book in the series, it didn't grab me.Many die-hard fans of The Dark Tower have trouble with the first book (which was, incidentally, published about the same time as The Stand, and much of the writing predates it). My advice is to make it through the first book however you can, and start on the second book. Most readers who have trouble with the first book find they love the second one.

Incidentally, many of the ideas in The Stand come from the same place as those in the The Dark Tower -- and The Stand crosses back over in the fourth book, Wizard and Glass.

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SSB

How does this affect the Trek project?

Its slated for 2008 and here it is 2007, seems like they should be further along on this.
Neither of the history channel shows on Trek last night mentioned a new movie.
So it got me curious.

The Trek reboot is still happening. At this point Abrams is still slated to co-write and produce, but it's doubtful he'll direct.

You need AT LEAST an 8- hour mini-series to do this any justice.
Remember the clipped storyline disaster 'Hearts in Atlantis'?

Got to admit, I'll look forward to actually seeing the Lobstrocities (Dadda-chum? Didda- chick?)

Book 4 (Wizard and the Glass) could be practically omitted as it held little bearing on the big story as does for that matter Wolves of the Calla. These are but adventures along the way on the quest for the tower.

Tried the first book in the series, it didn't grab me.
I understand where you're coming from, Scott. I struggled w/the first book, as well. However, it's a necessary evil so that you get a good idea of what's going on, as well as who Roland really is. Nice thing, tho, is that The Drawing of the Three is a great book, well-paced and the third book (drawing a blank on the title and too lazy to go to the living room and look thru the King Collection) is even better. If I may suggest, try reading it again, but with the mindest that you're gaining invaluable knowledge about the entire series.

King peaked with The Stand imho, nothing he's written since has come close.
Insomnia was great and came after The Stand, so I gotta disagree w/you there. It sort of had that near-epic feel that The Stand had for me. Lisey's Story is also another great novel, tho it starts off really slow.



You need AT LEAST an 8- hour mini-series to do this any justice.
Remember the clipped storyline disaster 'Hearts in Atlantis'?
If you took the movie by itself, it wasn't such a bad thing, really. It's one of the very few book adaptations by King that I didn't read first and I wasn't disappointed, nor have I been since.
Got to admit, I'll look forward to actually seeing the Lobstrocities (Dadda-chum? Didda- chick?)
Oh, HECK yeah! I still have bizarre dreams occasionally which feature those things!
Book 4 (Wizard and the Glass) could be practically omitted as it held little bearing on the big story as does for that matter Wolves of the Calla. These are but adventures along the way on the quest for the tower.
You could almost take elements from the two stories and work them in to one. However, Wizard and Glass has a lot of background info on Roland which - once again - shows you why he's the main he is, as well as just what he's really capable of doing in his quest for The Tower.

Nice thing, tho, is that The Drawing of the Three is a great book, well-paced and the third book (drawing a blank on the title and too lazy to go to the living room and look thru the King Collection)That would be The Waste Lands.
Wizard and Glass has a lot of background info on Roland which - once again - shows you why he's the main he is, as well as just what he's really capable of doing in his quest for The Tower.On one Dark Tower forum, someone suggested that since Wizard and Glass is mostly flashback, it might be possible to spread those flashbacks across other films. It's an interesting thought.

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Its coming more clear how several of SK's novels are tied into the Dark Tower: (Insomnia, The Stand, Hearts in Atlantis, Lisee's Story, ect) with the common villian 'The Crimson King'. I'm half way through Wolves of Calla now, so I'm not sure if Randel Flag/ John Farson / The Walking Dude/ Ect IS the Crimson King or is servent to the Crimson King.

Even Salam's Lot is tied in as Father Callahan is a major player in Wolves

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that J.J. Abrams will be directing (as well as co-writing and producing) the next Star Trek feature after all.

If the Dark Tower project happens at all it'll be post-Trek.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that J.J. Abrams will be directing (as well as co-writing and producing) the next Star Trek feature after all.

If the Dark Tower project happens at all it'll be post-Trek.Good news all around, far as I'm concerned. I'm a fan of all three (Abrams, Trek, and The Dark Tower), so it's all good.

I kind of figured that The Dark Tower would come later; it's a much larger commitment than a single Trek film, and it hasn't progressed beyond the "talking about ideas" stage, whereas I think Trek is a little further along. I just hope Abrams has time to direct an episode of Lost here and there along the way; he managed to direct an episode of The Office recently, after all.

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